A large section of the so called moderates in the Sinhala Nation/ the "Colombo based Sri Lankans", seriously believe that the Sinhala military "liberated" the Tamils in 2009. Their entire reconciliation narrative is built upon this delusion.
The moderates in Colombo who don't have the courage to denounce the Sinhala Nationalist symbols that masquerade as symbols of some citizenry/civic nationalism, want us to be careful with our choice of symbols while resisting.
They have no problem, saluting their lion flag, they have no problem glorifying their military, but they do have a problem with us Tamils remembering our past, the dead, or collectively honouring the legacy of Tamil resistance.
Even the most violent chapters of Tamil resistance that they choose to cherry pick were more a response to an even more violent form of State terrorism that preceded it.
The people of the North and East as a collective have always remembered Thileepan, and other identities of the Eelam struggle. The Maaveerar Naal events aren't events of an organisation, they are an event of a nation.
The Tigers are to the Tamil Nation, what the Sinhala military is to the Sinhala Nation. If you, the so called moderates in Colombo want the Tamils to address the Tiger in the room, you first address the lion in the room.
If you can overlook the crimes of the oppressive Sinhala State and its military, then the Tamils too can overlook the crimes of the Tamil resistance that fought that oppression. The resistance was violent, yes, but it was of no match to the violence of the Sinhala State.
So don't try to equate the oppressor's violence with the retaliation of the oppressed! Thileepan and Thanthai Selva stand as a great example of how meaningless non-violent retaliation is to the Sinhala Nation. But to us they are meaningful, because they showcase
the non-violent approach of the Tamil Nation, and its failure in the face of the violent State. It further validates the armed struggle response of the Tamil resistance.
So, Dear Colombo moderates, before you come to lecture us about how we should conduct our marches, Please grow a spine and march from Pettah to Panadura carrying the same demands(main purpose) of the Tamil Nation(which i assume you dont disagree with) on your shoulder.
When you all start marching for Tamil & Muslim rights in the streets of Colombo,
When you all discard the lion flag,
When you all denounce the military, and call for accountability for their crimes,
On that day, come and ask us to not honour the resistance.
When you all discard the lion flag,
When you all denounce the military, and call for accountability for their crimes,
On that day, come and ask us to not honour the resistance.
On that day we will try to see or consider your approach as centrist or a moderate. Until then rest your pretence and act. We all very well know that you bat for the Sinhala State.
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