Trinco Bishop reminds India, UK on moral obligations, denounces domestic processes
[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 2015, 23:24 GMT]
“If we are to view the recent history, the judicial system [of Sri Lanka] has been deployed against the interests of Tamils. Be it the State or it's military, the system has been deploying these laws against Tamils, further complicating the difficulties faced by them”, said Rt. Rev. Dr. Kinglsey Swampillai, the Bishop of Trincomalee, in an exclusive interview to TamilNet this week. “Although the Tamils have been waiting for a solution to relieve their plight for a long time, there is still no ray of light in this regard,” he said. Noting that India and the UK have contributed to the complexity of the dynamics enabling the successive SL governments to sustain the oppression on Tamils, the Bishop urged Tamils of reminding these Powers on their moral obligation to mediate between the Tamils and the Sri Lankan government to arrive at a political solution resolving the underlying conflict.
“No one can blame the Tamil people for externalizing their demands and grievances to the United Nations,” the Bishop categorically stated.
The Sri Lankan government is responsible for the situation of making Tamils to externalise their demands, the Bishop said.
“Although a new government has come to power, it seems to afraid or not willing to risk alienating the majority community by initiating anything positive towards the people of the minority Tamil community,” the Bishop said on the new government in Colombo and added: “...this proves that there is no utility in pursuing negotiations in a domestic or internal process to secure any of the minimal demands of the Tamil people towards finding a political solution.”
There is no will among the actors in the government to practice what they preach, the Bishop further said.
“The faith in finding a solution has been eroding among the Tamils. Thus, they are led to seek international intervention in compelling the government to act in accordance with what it claims about practicing equity and equality.”
The Bishop was wondering why the TNA leadership was reluctant in openly urging India to deliver a stronger model beyond the 13th Amendment. However, he was not criticising the TNA hierarchy, as he believed the TNA leaders were also acting with ‘good intentions’.
However, the Bishop was urging the Tamil leaders and the people to carefully peruse the conditions faced by them and to externalize their demands and grievances to the outside world.
Tamils being neglected at venues at home are compelled to address their demands at the level of the United Nations.
“No one can blame the Tamil people for externalizing their demands and grievances to the United Nations,” the Bishop categorically stated.
During the multi-religious commemoration events held in Mu’l’livaaykkal, the people fulfilled a duty of commemorating their dead, the Bishop said. Through this remembrance, the people were also displaying their resolve to secure the life and security of the affected survivors, he said.
“When the [Sri Lankan] government sought the help of international actors, be it the USA or India, these Powers aided them by military and economic means — by providing weapons and finance in securing their victory in the war,” the Bishop noted adding that these Establishments were preoccupied with their strategic interests and their State to State relationship with the Sri Lankan State. Bishop Swampillai was of the opinion that these external actors have now realised their responsibility to some extent.
“Since Tamil Nadu and India are intertwined within the same [regional] political entity, we expect them to present us a strengthened model beyond the 13th Amendment as a significant solution. Yet, we have not exerted enough pressure towards such end,” the Bishop said.
Bishop Swampillai, appreciating the earlier statements by the British Prime Minister on the need for an international investigation, was reminding the UK of its moral obligation in contributing to resolve the conflict in the island.
“If we are to view the recent history, the judicial system [of Sri Lanka] has been deployed against the interests of Tamils. Be it the State or it's military, the system has been deploying these laws against Tamils, further complicating the difficulties faced by them”, said Rt. Rev. Dr. Kinglsey Swampillai, the Bishop of Trincomalee, in an exclusive interview to TamilNet this week. “Although the Tamils have been waiting for a solution to relieve their plight for a long time, there is still no ray of light in this regard,” he said. Noting that India and the UK have contributed to the complexity of the dynamics enabling the successive SL governments to sustain the oppression on Tamils, the Bishop urged Tamils of reminding these Powers on their moral obligation to mediate between the Tamils and the Sri Lankan government to arrive at a political solution resolving the underlying conflict.
“No one can blame the Tamil people for externalizing their demands and grievances to the United Nations,” the Bishop categorically stated.
The Sri Lankan government is responsible for the situation of making Tamils to externalise their demands, the Bishop said.
“Although a new government has come to power, it seems to afraid or not willing to risk alienating the majority community by initiating anything positive towards the people of the minority Tamil community,” the Bishop said on the new government in Colombo and added: “...this proves that there is no utility in pursuing negotiations in a domestic or internal process to secure any of the minimal demands of the Tamil people towards finding a political solution.”
There is no will among the actors in the government to practice what they preach, the Bishop further said.
“The faith in finding a solution has been eroding among the Tamils. Thus, they are led to seek international intervention in compelling the government to act in accordance with what it claims about practicing equity and equality.”
The Bishop was wondering why the TNA leadership was reluctant in openly urging India to deliver a stronger model beyond the 13th Amendment. However, he was not criticising the TNA hierarchy, as he believed the TNA leaders were also acting with ‘good intentions’.
However, the Bishop was urging the Tamil leaders and the people to carefully peruse the conditions faced by them and to externalize their demands and grievances to the outside world.
Tamils being neglected at venues at home are compelled to address their demands at the level of the United Nations.
“No one can blame the Tamil people for externalizing their demands and grievances to the United Nations,” the Bishop categorically stated.
During the multi-religious commemoration events held in Mu’l’livaaykkal, the people fulfilled a duty of commemorating their dead, the Bishop said. Through this remembrance, the people were also displaying their resolve to secure the life and security of the affected survivors, he said.
“When the [Sri Lankan] government sought the help of international actors, be it the USA or India, these Powers aided them by military and economic means — by providing weapons and finance in securing their victory in the war,” the Bishop noted adding that these Establishments were preoccupied with their strategic interests and their State to State relationship with the Sri Lankan State. Bishop Swampillai was of the opinion that these external actors have now realised their responsibility to some extent.
“Since Tamil Nadu and India are intertwined within the same [regional] political entity, we expect them to present us a strengthened model beyond the 13th Amendment as a significant solution. Yet, we have not exerted enough pressure towards such end,” the Bishop said.
Bishop Swampillai, appreciating the earlier statements by the British Prime Minister on the need for an international investigation, was reminding the UK of its moral obligation in contributing to resolve the conflict in the island.
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