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Voices at the Trincomalee Tamil uprising event

Sakul Hameethu, a former principal and a Muslim representative:

“Tamil speaking people must come together. The mistakes of our political leaders have split us. We can achieve the rights of the Tamil speaking people only when our two ethnic groups join together. This country is facing an ethnic problem. However, successive government have been interested in only fulfilling their desires. Their actions were not aimed at giving the rights to the people whose rights have been denied.”

Rev Fr Annathas, parish priest, Uvarmalai church, and head of Trincomalee district diocese:

“Mother Tamil is shedding tears. They are not drying. They must dry. For that the guns must be silenced. Shadow wars must come to a stop.

Man can live without million but he cannot live without goal. Man without goal is same as a corpse. We have the historic duty to add our voice to achieve the rights of our people. We are here today to full fill that duty.

I am here in front of you on behalf of the Catholic people, representing Bishop of Trincomalee-Batticaloa, Kingsley Swamipillai, and also as a Tamil.

I like to particularly mention the condemnation put forward here, of the hurried one-sided ban by the EU on the LTTE and on their travel.”

Buddhist monk, Tharmaratna Thero is the first ever Buddhist monk to take part in a Tamil uprising event. Speaking first in Sinhala and then in Tamil he said,

“I am standing here as son of Lord Buddha. In my heart I carry the five great principles taught by him. I do not carry anger, jealousy, hatred, stubbornness or desire for war. All Tamils living in Trincomalee are my relatives. For all those who live according to Lord Buddha’s teachings everyone in the world is a relative. Tragically today some Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka are not living according to Lord Buddha’s teachings.

They have lost the good practices of not lying, not stealing, not drinking alcohol, and not getting involved in quarrels. Some of those who call themselves Buddhist are not prepared to give up many of the things Lord Buddha asked us to give up.

I do not consider this uprising event to be against Buddhist religion or the Sinhala race. That is why I have agreed to take part in it.

The past and present government of this country did not rule it according to Buddhist dharma. Instead they are acting like senseless mad people. The country is suffering for their misdeeds. The basic cause of the ethnic problem is the failure to act according to Buddhist dharma.

The blood of us all is red. There is no difference in that for Tamils and Sinhalese.”

Retired educationalist K Thangarasa who presided the event:

“Why are the Tamil uprising events taking place in Vavuniya, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa, and today in Trincomalee.

We are here demanding the right to self determination on the land of our forefathers. We have lost thousands of lives to achieve this. We are not prepared to loose this right. It is to announce this to Sri Lanka and the international community including the EU that we are gathered here today.

We have not gathered against the Sri Lanka state or the Sri Lankan military. We are here to announce loudly our rights. We will keep announcing this until our rights are ours.

We are strong and fast. We must also be wise. If the Tamil speaking people, Tamils and Muslims, will come together under one leader and one flag our struggle will become easier. If that happens victory will definitely be ours”

24 October 2005

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