( A Review of of Sinhala, Tamil, and English newspaper reports that focus on the discourses and opinions emerging on political stages in the north and south about the demands and rights of marginalised communities, including the people of the north, east, and the country’s plantation sector. This article is based on a sample of newspaper reports that were published between 1 and 7 October in the three languages.)
Political dynamics ahead of general election, and north- and south-based newspapers
This week, the heat of another election is felt in the political arena before the heat of the presidential election is over. After the newly elected President dissolved the Parliament, the general election was scheduled for 14 November. During the past week, the country saw related developments such as the submission of nominations, formation of new alliances, as well as various dialogues and debates about candidates fielded by political parties for various districts. As election heat gradually intensifies, Sinhala, Tamil, and English newspapers in the north and south had reported about various political trends emerging in the north and south.
This week, Tamil newspapers had paid special attention to two matters concerning the trends in the Tamil political space. They are, the tense situation regarding Tamil parties’ preparations for the general election, and the Indian government’s efforts to intervene in the demands of the Tamil people following the election of the new President.
North- and South-based newspapers’ take on Indian govt’s intervention
On 30 September, the Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, held a meeting with the leaders of Tamil political parties in Colombo. Almost every Tamil newspaper that was referred had reported the meeting on 1 October. As per the reports, the Indian Ambassador and the leaders of Tamil parties had discussed matters pertaining to improving the relationship between a government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and India, the new President’s willingness to work amicably with India, India’s continuous support for Sri Lanka’s development.
On the same day, two reports with somewhat different content had been published in the Kaleikathir and Thinakkural newspapers. Front-page reports published by both these newspapers said that, the leaders of Tamil parties had been informed that the Indian government had urged the Sri Lankan government led by President Dissanayake to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. At the same time, these media reports said that the meeting was attended by Tamil political leaders including Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi’s (ITAK) Mavai Senathirajah, Sivagnanam Shritharan, Dr. Sathyalingam Siddharthan, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) Leader and former Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan, and Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) Leader and former Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran.
On 1 October, a front-page article published by the Thamilan newspaper had raised another matter concerning the meeting between the Indian Ambassador and Tamil party leaders. The article pointed out that the Indian Ambassador had requested Tamil party leaders to work together in the upcoming general election.
On 4 October, Indian Foreign Minister Dr. Jayashankar arrived in Sri Lanka on an official visit, and it had been reported by almost every Tamil newspaper. In addition, the Kaleimurasu and Eelanaadu newspapers had published front-page articles on 5 October and the Thinakkural newspaper had published front-page articles on 6 October regarding the meeting. Based on a press release issued by the Indian External Affairs Ministry, these newspaper articles had reported that Dr. Jaishankar had emphasized to President Dissanayake that holding Provincial Council Elections promptly will help fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Although Tamil newspapers had paid more attention to Indian interference in Sri Lankan politics, south-based Sinhala and English had not paid much attention to the matter. Many newspapers had reported Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka as a mere ceremonial, friendly visit, and those reports had emphasized on several matters including improving ties between India and the Sri Lankan government as well as India’s support for Sri Lanka’s economic development. Meanwhile, The Island and The Sunday Times newspapers had reported Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka with a different focus.
On 3 October, the Divaina newspaper had published a front-page article with the headline ‘Tamil parties advised to collectively contest the general election’. Quoting a statement made by former ITAK Parliamentarian Adaikalanathan in Vavuniya, the article said that Indian High Commissioner Jha had advised Tamil political parties to contest together in the general election, adding that if they contest separately as political parties, it would not be possible to elect a strong group of Tamil Parliamentarians.
Meanwhile, The Island and The Sunday Times newspapers had published two rather long opinion pieces about the Indian Foreign Minister’s visit and India’s intervention in Sri Lanka’s political sphere.
The Sunday Times article on Indian Foreign Minister’s visit, which was published on 6 October, mentioned several matters pertaining to economic development and strengthening bilateral ties. Unlike other south-based newspapers, it did not forget to discuss India’s interventions concerning Tamil people’s demands. The article clearly said that during the meeting between Dr. Jaishankar and President Dissanayake, the former had emphasized that the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and the holding of Provincial Council elections within a short period of time will help strengthen inter-ethnic harmony in the country.
However, on 6 October, the Irida Divaina newspaper had published an article with the headline ‘The north’s crisis brought to Anura by the Indian Foreign Minister’, which expressed strong criticism of north-based Tamil political parties’ politics concerning the demands of the Tamil people. According to the article, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is a force that depends on Tamil people’s demands and slogans. This raises concerns as to whether the author did not know that no such alliance functions in Tamil politics at present, or whether the author misled the Sinhalese reader. According to the writer, that party acts according to foreign influences and the wishes of the Tamil diaspora. At the same time, the article says that in a context where the Indian government is interventions in favor of Tamil people’s demands, President Dissanayake should create a strong voice among the people of the north and east in order to face such foreign influences. We should think – what sort of a Sinhala newspaper suggests the President to create a ‘strong voice’ in the north and east that acts in accordance with the south’s needs, instead of Tamil politics that comes forward and fights for Tamil people’s demands.
India’s intervention in Sri Lanka’s politics is important to the south only when it comes to matters such as support received for economic development and the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries. However, when it comes to north- and east-based Tamil politics, India’s intervention is important because it is directly related to the long struggle aimed at upholding their freedom. The Head of the State comes from a party that took arms against the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in accordance with the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord. In such a context, it is interesting that India has come forward to join these discussions. That is why Tamil newspapers show significant interest in India’s intervention, and south-based newspapers do not show much interest.
North- and south-based newspaper reports on Tamil parties’ preparation for general election
When we look at Tamil newspaper reports published during the past week, the indecisive and complex situation concerning Tamil political parties’ preparation for the general election can be understood. Some political parties are trying to unite Tamil parties following India’s intervention, while some Tamil parties are expressing conflicting views.
On 1 October, a front-page article published by the Thinakaran newspaper reported a statement made by former Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, PC. “We have again invited Tamil parties to come forward to contest together. If they do not agree, the ITAK will contest alone.” This statement clearly shows the need for Tamil parties to unite and the possibility of Tamil parties not agreeing to do so.
On 2 October, the Kaleikathir newspaper on its front page and the Thamilan newspapers on its second page published articles about the statements made by TELO Leader Adaikalanathan with regard to Tamil parties contesting together in the election. According to those articles, he had stated that if Tamil parties contest separately, they may lose the seats that they are contesting for. These articles quoted him as saying that Tamil people’s issues can be resolved and a compromise can be reached with the new rulers only by winning more seats for the Tamil people.
On 3 October, the Kaleikathir, Eelanaadu, and Pudiyasuhanthiran newspapers had published related articles on the 10th, 12th, and 13th pages, respectively. These articles were based on a press release issued by the Jaffna Catholic Bishops’ Council regarding the upcoming general election. These articles had pointed out that there is confusion among the Tamil people due to a number of factors such as party divisions, internal party conflicts, and political ambiguity, and that if this situation continues in the upcoming general election, a significant number of Tamil parliamentarians will lose.
While one group points out the idea that Tamil parties should unite, certain other parties had expressed opposing views.
An article published on the ninth page of the Thinakkural newspaper on 1 October had expressed opinions that go against the idea of Tamil parties working together. Quoting Tamil political party leader N. Srikantha, it said that it is not possible to establish harmony with the group led by Sumanthiran. He said this during a meeting held in Jaffna on 29 October.
“A group that is unable to establish unity within the ITAK inviting other parties to unite is a trick to deceive the entire Tamil community.”
On 2 October, an article published on the front page of the Eelanaadu newspaper, reported a statement made by Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam that they have not received any invitation to rejoin the TNA. It added that in that context, the TNPF will contest the general election alone.
On 1 October, the Thamilan newspaper had, on its sixth page, published an article that contained an allegation levelled by former Eastern Provincial Council Member Bhupalapillai Prashanthan against the TNA. It said that the TNA confuses the Tamil people by bringing up some topic during every election. The newspaper report quoted him as saying that for 62 years, they have been doing that in order to deceive the people and to garner votes.
The complex and confusing situation observed in the Tamil political sphere, which was pointed out by north-based Tamil newspapers last week, was seen in south-based Sinhala and English newspaper reports as well.
On 2 October, the Ceylon Today newspaper’s lead story was about a businessman named Alliraja Subhashkaran, who has connections with the north, attempting to unite north- and east-based Tamil political parties to contest the general election with the hope of entering politics. In that extensive report, there was a description of the latest situation and challenges emerged in the Tamil political sphere. In addition, on 3 October, the Mawbima newspaper’s lead story had reported the political entry of Tamil businessman Alliraja. It said that he met several Tamil parties as well as President Dissanayake.
An article published on the fourth page of The Sunday Times newspaper on 6 October said that a wealthy and powerful Tamil figure is making efforts to unite Tamil political parties and that he has political motives.
In the first week of October, south-based newspapers had reported about this wealthy Tamil figure’s entry into politics. However, it was surprising that none of the Tamil newspapers that were reviewed during the same period had reported about the arrival of a Tamil businessman named Alliraja Subhashkaran or his efforts to unite Tamil parties.
A report published on the front and second pages of the Ceylon Today newspaper on 3 October said that the ITAK and the Democratic Tamil National Alliance are holding discussions on contesting the general election together.
Meanwhile, on 7 October, the Aruna newspaper had published an article which quoted former ITAK Parliamentarian Sumanthiran as saying that the ITAK is holding further talks on contesting alone for six districts in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and the strategy for contesting in the Trincomalee district.
Although south-based Sinhala and English newspapers had published reports on the confusing and complex situation prevailing in the Tamil political arena as Tamil newspapers did, all Sinhala and English newspapers that were reviewed in the past week had published a relatively lesser number of articles about the Tamil political sphere. We can view that situation as an indicator of the importance and attention given by southern politics to northern political dynamics in the present context.
Subhashini Chathurika
