If any members of the Tamil diaspora harbour dreams of another war in Sri Lanka, I invite them to consider the following: Rather than advocating for violence from a distance, why not encourage their own children, who have safely settled abroad, to return to Sri Lanka and take up arms in an armed struggle once again? If their passion for armed resistance is genuine, they should have joined the Tigers and taken up arms when they were younger. Instead, they chose to flee Sri Lanka and seek safety for themselves, their families, and their children in foreign lands. It is worth noting that the testimonies provided by many of them to support their asylum application regarding the forced conscriptions and human rights abuses by the Tigers were used as primary evidence by their respective governments to designate the Tigers as a terrorist organization. Their hypocrisy sucks.
The 26 years of armed struggle against oppression in Sri Lanka yielded nothing but the tragic deaths of over a hundred thousand innocent Tamil people. Three generations of young men and women lost their futures in the process. When one responds to violence with further violence, it only perpetuates a cycle of brutality. The opponents, in turn, justify their disproportionate violence based on the initial acts of violence committed. For instance, if one were to inquire why approximately 3,000 innocent Tamils were killed during the anti-Tamil riots in 1983, a moderate Sinhala individual might simply attribute it to the trigger of the deaths of 13 Sri Lanka Army soldiers at the hands of the Tigers. Similarly, if asked about the anti-Tamil riots in the country in 1956, 1958, and 1977, they may not have a satisfactory answer.
When people who lack power confront a formidable adversary, attempting to overcome them through violence results in huge losses. This is precisely why Gandhi chose the path of non-violence. Through practising non-violent resistance in the face of violence, Gandhi appealed to the conscience of his opponents and dismantled their moral superiority. One of his most powerful strategies was resisting an opponent without harbouring hatred towards them. This approach attracted support from a multitude of white individuals, illustrating its effectiveness. It is important to address the misconception that many Tamils believe in, which is that Gandhism failed in Sri Lanka. This assertion is not accurate.
There was a time when the Tamils in Sri Lanka had a leader like S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, who successfully organized a civil disobedience movement inspired by Gandhi's principles. In the 1970s, armed revolutions were spreading globally, and leftist groups actively promoted them. Consequently, some Tamil youths, feeling devoid of other options, resorted to violence after the introduction of racially motivated university standardization prevented their access to higher education. Chelvanayakam, who commanded respect among Tamil youth, urged them to abandon violence and prioritize education. However, following his death in 1977 and India's involvement, the Tamils fell into a geopolitical trap, and non-violent protests gave way to violent militancy.
Gandhism may be slow and require patience, but it offers a certain path to a solution with minimal casualties. Compared to the loss of Tamil lives during the civil war, the number of deaths resulting from anti-Tamil pogroms since independence is relatively small. I hope the Tamils possess the wisdom to avoid falling into geopolitical traps once again and refrain from resorting to violence in their fight against discrimination. While I support resistance to secure our rights, I cannot endorse violence, not out of cowardice, but because I understand that there is no hope for a solution through violent means.
Imagine a hypothetical situation in which Sri Lanka undergoes a division, resulting in two separate countries. Such a separation would unquestionably bring harm to both the Tamils and Sinhalese communities. It would lead to bitterness and the emergence of two hostile states with ongoing border disputes. Instead of moving forward and experiencing growth, both countries would be burdened with the perpetual drain of economic resources needed to sustain large standing armies solely focused on deterring potential conflicts. Therefore, it becomes essential to explore alternative avenues that lead to peaceful resolutions, fostering unity, understanding, and progress for all the communities involved.
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