A contribution to the debate taking place inColombotelegraph from Tamil Solidarity

TU Senan

28 August 2013 will mark the 50th anniversary of one of the great moments of American ‘rhetoric’. In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr gave his ‘I have a dream’ speech.

However, the eradication of racial discrimination from the surface of this planet still remains but a ‘dream’. But that is not to deny the importance of the struggle five decades ago. Every life sacrificed and every minute spent on pursuing this dream is in no way a loss. Our conclusion is the need to keep the fire alive and continue to chase that dream – but with the clear understanding  of the class antagonisms that exist and what is needed in order to ‘finally’ win justice for all.

But there are ‘dream killers’ such as the International Crisis Group (ICG). It indirectly represent the interests of the so-called “international community” and puts “practical” demands on us to “support the TNA” and denounce the LTTE(1). While we are subjected to this pressure from the right wing of the political spectrum, there is also a cry from the left wing, with the likes of Kumar David and Kusal Perera, so-called “Marxists”, to do the same.

Without entering into the controversial question of what demands should be advanced (those who read Tamil can view our points on this on Keetru.com, 2), our main aim here is to touch on the question of political representation for (and of) Tamils.

Already the debate has attracted a not so surprising response from Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah who was quick to hail the ADMK-led TN resolution. She represents the TGTE, but shares in general the view of many Diaspora groups.

There are, however, fundamental differences and a new development of political acuteness taking place in the Diaspora. Those who belong to that group are calling for ‘thinking outside the box’. The box we are forced under is this: In Sri Lanka only choice is TNA. In Tamil Nadu only choice available is AIADMK and DMK. Tamil Solidarity and few others were alone, until now in arguing against falling into this trap of limited choices. We want create a new choice, based on the strength of mass movement such as that of student movement taking place in Tamil Nadu now.

No one will question now that the actions of these Dravidian parties is a reaction to adopt and curtail the developing movement. Look at the conclusion of the resolution passed by TN government. Its ask the students to stop the protest. We must see through this political games. Both Dravidian parties has a history against Eelam Tamils. Jayalalitha first came to power on the sentimental wave against the killing of Rajiv. She was instrumental in inflicting suffering for refugees from Eelam. I was one of the Eelam student thrown out of university at that time. Role of DMK during the 2009 war is well known and hated. In a 600 strong Tamil Solidarity meeting in 2009 held in Loyola college, we put out a call for mass movement to stop the war. This was a outcry by many others at that time. Students responded – but DMK took steps to stop every movement. Students remembered that very well to this date. Hence the reason they denounced all political parties- No political party members are allowed platform and congress party representatives in particular received unflattering welcome. But note that the students are not against politics as such. They are against the established ruling party politics. This movement registered a clear and louder cry for new alternative to be formed – one that accountable to the masses and represent their interest.

Similar situation could have emerged in Eelam too, if not for the brutal control of the regime. It is Mahinda who keep the TNA alive. TNA is not formed as a ‘party’. Rather a grouping of forces with massively conflicting interests who are glued together by sheer force of LTTE’s will. With that gluing factor removed, survival of TNA constantly hanging by the thread. Kusal quite naively throwing electoral results at us. But Kusal who closely follow Sri Lankan politics would know what choices are given to the Tamil voters. A Tamil man or women standing at the ballot box had a simple choice. Vote Rajapaksa and their cronies or variant of Sinhala bourgeois party or vote TNA. For many election results were bit of a surprise that TNA managed to lose some seats at all! Does TNA electoral victory means they represent Tamils. NO. It’s not automatic. Yes TNA or its constituent part – the old TULF will retain some support. But given the real choice TNA will soon become extinct. Mood of the students partly reflected by the writers like Theepaselvan, were not in support of TNA but a cry for new alternative. If there is democratic space, there will emerge a movement in Eelam.

Of course the period we are living, a period of acute crisis of capitalism, is pregnant with the development of mass actions internationally. But inIndiaandSri Lanka, the state, its institutions the ruling parties, and the big corporations they support stands hugely exposed. There is no doubt in the minds of masses how corrupted the Dravidian parties were. In the minds of youth the killing of MR regime is as fresh as the massive ‘2G’ spectrum corruption of DMK. It is from these experiences that an acute conclusions were drawn – one that some may accuse as of ‘radicalisation’.

In Kusal word we could sense a fear– one that we could share. Will youth take the road of another armed conflict as an alternative? Understandably he is uncomfortable about the possibility of this and willing to put all argument against this. Hence also the reason Diaspora ‘radicalised’ youth were given ultimatum by the ‘practical’ ICG that first they should denounce LTTE before they can think about putting forward their demands. But the fundamental question is this. Who controls the turn towards ‘terrorist’ methods? Its not in the hands of ICG, Kusal, me or any Diaspora group. While the state harbouring the conditions for such a development how can we stop it? Peace negotiation with fighters did not stop the emergence of stone throwing new layer in Kashmir orPalestine. The riots we saw inUKand various riots taking place in many other countries are not a result of organised groups. Among many other conditions two factors drive people – youth in particular- towards such an action. One is the level of oppression and exploitation of the state – the other is a lack of alternative venue for them to express their anger. Will Kusal or Kuamr argue that TNA offer way out for emerging angry youth in North and East ? Then where is the alternative? Let us not drive them to rotten TNA. Let us give them energy to build new political alternative – one that is not sectarian and puts forward united struggle to achieve real change – isn’t it what we all want.

Finally, there is this that some activist would call a ‘blackmail’. There are some in TN,Sri Lankaand in the Diaspora will argue that the Tamils outsideSri Lankashould not dictate the rhythm – and its down to Sri Lankan Tamils to decide their future. Some claim such a Diaspora will only help MR as he will punish the Tamils in Lanka to teach the Diaspora. Kusal quite incredibly argues that others don’t have ‘the right’. According to him others can only ‘support’ or express ‘solidarity’.

Expressing solidarity with the oppressed is not about being ‘witness’ to their suffering and ‘crying loud’ about it – but to act to prevent it- to seek justice – and build a force to change society in such a way that these sort of horrors will never happen again. Solidarity is an active participation, not a passive one. Further more protests and mass actions are like viruses – they feed on each other to grow, learn lessons etc. Movement outsideSri Lankadon’t need an ‘approval stamp’ from the Eelam Tamils to put forward demands and actions. Tamils living all parts ofSri Lankaare now under constant threat and their actions are very much restricted by the worse kind of dictatorial regime the country had ever seen – which Kusal knows all too well. The demands that emerges in this circumstances will be limited and the Diaspora and Tamil nadu students don’t have to restrict themselves to it. Further more Approval is not needed to put forward fundamental rights of the people. I stand for democratic right of Siriyan people, despite the fact that section of them still support Azad’s regime. People ofNorth Koreamay be under the influence of dictator, think that they don’t want ‘bourgeois democracy’. But nothing will stop me from actively contributing to free them from suffering and fight for their democracy too.

Its surprising to see these sort of arguments coming from those who call themselves ‘left’ – who suppose to be fighting for revolutionary change world over. What right, and approval stamps needed for that? Yes demands such as right to self determination is not put forward by TNA, Dravidian parties or even some Diaspora groups. It doesn’t mean that this right should be denied to Eelam Tamils. Or this right should not be taken up by the Tamils outside Lanka. If overwhelming support among the Tamils In Sri Lanka is against this right, then of course the demand will die down in the Diaspora. But everything points in other direction. Majority of the TNA leaders were scared to openly admit that they given up on this demand and publicly campaign on it. They always pretend that they do ‘certain things’ and say ‘certain things’ having came under pressure from the government and to protect their security- of course which is also understandable.

Diaspora groups and students in Tamil nadu have every right to stand for the right to self determination ofKashmirpeople or Tamils in Eelam. They have every right to organise themselves to create a new alternative that will fight to achieve such demands. The question of whether its ‘practical’ is of no concern for the activists like us. Because we don’t believe demands such as these is achievable by individual decisions or by parliamentary manoeuvres. This demand can only gain ground on the basis of mass movement. With the strength of the mass movement this demand become ‘active’ and along with it comes many other demands including governmental demands! Achieving this ‘unachievable’ dream is behind the action of many students. We have a message for the ‘practical’ gurus, who preach us peace with oppressors: Dream a little.