By Easwaran Rutnam With just days to go before the 2019 presidential election, Tamils in the Northern Province are anxious over the eventual outcome and what the result will offer them. The North is slowly getting back on its feet after the brutal, near 30-year war. Yet, the attempt to rise from the ashes has been hit since the end of the conflict by a political tug-of-war. Tamils in the North have, over the years, often followed the advice of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) when deciding whom to support at presidential elections. However, this has its repercussions. Since the end of the war, most Tamils in the North have voted for the United National Party (UNP) as only the UNP has given them the comfort and assurance of not being discriminated against. The fear among the Tamils in the North of a government led by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is that such a government will give way for military rule in the North and also fail to rein in extremism. This fear is based on past experiences where during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s reign, following the end of the war, the military was not seen as people-friendly in the North and some Buddhist monks looked to change the Tamil-dominated demography in those areas. However, despite being the decisive vote to bring about change in 2015, the Tamils in the North feel little has been done to address their core issues. A cry to be heard “We will only vote for someone who will help us,” asserted M. Kulasingham (62), who is engaged in fishing in the village of Kallapadu in Mullaitivu. He explained that they needed someone who was willing to talk to them and listen to their views in order to provide solutions. He reiterated that they needed someone impartial – someone who would ensure that all communities co-exist in peace. Kulasingham explained his disappointment in the candidate he voted for at the last election as that candidate had not brought about sufficient solutions to solve any of their problems. He said that they had felt let down, as they had placed a lot of trust in that candidate. “We live as second-class citizens in this land. We must not cast our vote for the people who talk in the guise of Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela,” he said. He went on to explain that not only did the people of the North experience economic poverty over the past five years, they also faced political poverty. “We faced dire hardships, sometimes with no money at all. That is the condition we have been reduced to. So the person who heads this country next must, together with the government he is heading, be willing to find solutions to our problems.” In his view, the biggest problem the country faces is the ethnic issue, especially between the Tamils and Sinhalese. He feels that if this issue was sorted, the country would begin to reap results of a more prosperous economy. “We need a leader who is willing to see beyond our ethnic diversities and treat us as citizens of this land. In my opinion, we need a president who will govern all people with a strong sense of democracy, and not someone who will stir up dissension and then use it to his political advantage.” Jinoban (35), who sells fish in the Mullaitivu market, said that reading the newspapers and finding out about the presidential election sometimes feels like they are caught in the waves of a tsunami. In his estimation, the past candidate who they supported had not even solved 40% of their problems. “This time, we will not be fooled by those who make promises with talks of a unity government or good governance. That will only cause another mess. I have decided that my vote will be cast for the candidate whose thinking encompasses a sympathetic view to the plight of the minority. Whether it’s someone campaigning or someone asking for my views like you right now, this is my firm answer,” he said. Jebamaalai (77), more commonly known as Vellaiyamma, is a familiar face at many protest campaigns. She has dedicated much of her life to fight discrimination against women. We met her at the Mullaitivu market where she sells dry fish. She had a smile on her face as she noted that it is only in the run-up to elections that candidates come to them. “Once they have won the elections, they don’t come to us, until it’s time for the next round of elections. Come with me. Take a look at my street. We have collectively decided that we won’t cast our vote for anyone this time. They will not use our precious vote to live a life of luxury. If I cast my vote, there has to be something in it for me. Our vote is reserved for the individual who will at least see to our basic needs. Nothing significant happened in the past five years. No help was given to us. We run these businesses akin to begging daily, just to meet our day-to-day needs. We are not asking for any privileges – just our rights. We don’t want anything more,” she said firmly as she turned back to concentrate on her sales. Northern Muslims want real peace Engaged in agriculture, fishing, or business, the Muslims living in Mullaitivu have been a long-standing part of the social fabric of the area. However, following the tense situation they were faced with in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks, there were a few who expressed a general feeling of fear and uncertainty. We spoke to a 50-year-old Muslim businessman who agreed to speak to us on the condition of anonymity. “This is an election of hatred. This might well be the most racially biased election we have faced in our country,” he said. He further explained that there was no politician they could trust, saying: “One day, they say that all communities must live in peace. The next day they speak with clear preference for one race. In this context, how can we trust our futures to them? What happened in April was appalling, but it doesn’t justify looking at the entire Muslim community as if all were involved. They don’t have to do us any favours, but simply let us live in peace. We need to cast our vote for someone who values peace. On the contrary, anyone who stirs up racial tension to gain political mileage is a dangerous threat to the minorities.” “I think the incidents of the past have shown us clearly that – elections or no elections – no president is interested in helping us with our problems,” said S. Mariyaseeli (40), who has been desperately looking for her husband who went missing during the final stages of the civil war. “I don’t have any hopes with the upcoming election. That’s how much we have been deceived in the past. Just look at the previous regime. There was only talk of good governance. We have been reduced to battling for our rights. Is that what they call good governance? If that’s the case, how can they allow us, who are battling to find our loved ones, to be subjected to constant threats? Colombo came under attack in April. Who were the targets? Who died in the explosions? How could the city be made safe soon? What investigations should be carried out? “In this way, everyone worked to bring normalcy to the city at the earliest. But to this date, the investigations into the missing people are apparently still ongoing. Only the names and titles of rulers have been juggled around – no other change has occurred. We voted at the last election in the hope that there would be solutions for our problems. The next five years are going to be even worse for us. It looks like the majority wants to vote for the very person who wronged us. “Even the international community continues to silently watch these events unfolding. If he can give us the assurance even now that he would release our relatives in custody, we can come to a consensus on whether to support him or not,” she said. The heavy rainfall of the recent past has enabled the farmers of Kilinochchi to ready the fields for planting. Farmers in Murasumottai are hopeful of a better harvest this time, thanks to the rains. 72-year-old Selvarasa is one of the workers involved in cleaning the water channel for the fields in Murasumottai. “I think I’ll choose a candidate who will do some good to our farming community. The price of fertiliser is high, even the subsidy provided to us has been reduced, and there are many issues in even receiving this subsidy. I am forced to look for daily labour even at this age so that I can provide for my family. As we are only two in our family, we are not even entitled to Samurdhi benefits. “We have not been given housing. We cast our vote the last time because we were promised solutions to all these problems. However, our plight is worse off than before. Even at this age, I can make a living only with hard labour like this. I’m not saying I won’t be voting at the upcoming election. It is my right to vote and I will definitely use that right and vote,” he expressed. When asked which candidate he thinks is most likely to ensure the democratic rights of the Tamils, he laughed as he responded. “No president can give us that. They won’t be allowed to give us that. That’s why my expectation is for a candidate who can at least provide a solution for our day-to-day subsistence. And this is not just my expectation, it’s the expectation of all the workers in this field,” he said, returning to his work in the canal. Seeking answers Kumarasamy Prabakaran (39) is a former fighter living in the Vattakatchi area. He is paralysed waist down, following injuries to the spine during the final stages of the war. He is involved in a small-scale business. “This presidential election is a real challenge for us,” he confessed. “At the last elections, we were duped into voting for the candidate that the TNA supported. They should have learnt from that by now. At the very least, they could have fielded a common candidate on behalf of the Tamils. Sivajilingam stands alone. Even in this case, we have failed to show our unity,” he said. Prabakaran said: “No matter who becomes the president in the South, the people in the North will not stand to benefit.” he said he fears the next election will see new restrictions being imposed in the North. “Both candidates who are most likely to be elected are in some way responsible for the sanctions on Tamils. What’s the point of voting for either of them? At least, if there was someone who would implement the 13th Amendment, we could support him. When candidates have rejected the 13-point demands put forward by university students, how can they be expected to give solutions according to the 13th Amendment? Why should we cast our vote for those who, even in their campaigning, choose to remain deceptively silent on the issue of finding solutions for the ethnic problems?” he questioned. 65-year-old Ramani* lives in the Ananthapuram area of Kilinochchi. Her son was taken into custody in Colombo back in 2002. He is now a political prisoner. His wife has remarried, leaving their two children in the care of Ramani, who struggles financially to bring them up. She fears that publishing her name or photograph in any media platform would sabotage the chances of her son being released. However, she was willing to express her views. “When campaigning, President Maithripala Sirisena gave us the assurance that political prisoners would be released soon. I had immense faith in his genteel ways. I believed that he would be sympathetic to the tears of mothers like me. I had confidence that he would give priority in releasing my son who is anguishing behind bars with various complications such as ulcers, high blood pressure, and diabetes. That is why I cast my vote for him. However, five years have gone by. My son has not returned home. And there seems to be no provisions for his release either. No one seems to hear our cry. I have been deceived,” she lamented. Kadiravel Thevalingam is a cobbler. He claims that his vote is for someone who can bring a financial change to the country. “I repair shoes. I want someone who can change the future of people like us. There was no benefit to us from the previous Government. I am a Tamil and my wife is Sinhalese. We have no house. When we were resettled, we were given a sum of Rs. 150,000, which we used to put up a temporary shelter. That is where my wife and I now reside. There was no other aid we received in the five years that went by. My wife and I will vote for someone who can ease our burden and help people like us,” he shared. With improved resources such as business, educational, and medical facilities, Jaffna is probably the most advanced district in the North. It is also the most highly populated district in the North and the district in which the highest number of Tamils reside. Therefore, Jaffna holds the lion’s share of the votes of the Tamils. Latha Kandiah (38), who lives in Jaffna, works as a freelance journalist and writer. “In my opinion, no election in Sri Lanka can be beneficial to Tamils. However, I strongly condemn electing a candidate who the world alleges is a war criminal. Opportunistic Tamils can take advantage of the situation. However, many atrocities are taking place. They build Buddhist temples on our soil without our consent and forcefully occupy our land and make settlements. These are cunning deeds. If someone will put a stop to these activities and take the trouble to understand our likes and dislikes, we can vote them into power. But there is no respect for us; they assume the power to dominate us. “Even the laws of the land have been adjusted to their benefit. There has to be constitutional change that gives minorities the power to be rulers too. The present situation is that we have a ruler for the majority only. It’s not fitting that in this country, in which multi-ethnic groups live, the ruler should only be preferred by one ethnic group. It is not democratic to have your own people murdered and show it as a heroic act in order to grab power. How can someone like that even be considered as a ruler of all people of this land? There has to be constitutional provision for minorities to be included and participate. If that were to happen, then there is sense in us voting. Right now, I have no faith in the system.” “This election too is a regular election and Tamils voting at this election know that nothing is going to change for them,” said NGO worker Yogaratnam Naveendran (35). “Unlike the Sinhalese, Tamils don’t vote for development. Tamils yearn for someone who will find solutions to the ethnic issues that have eroded this land. This is not a matter of concern among the Sinhalese. They are secure in the arrogance that they have triumphed over the Tamils. However, if Gotabaya Rajapaksa is voted in, there is a good chance that even the Sinhalese will come to the realisation with time that it is to the country’s defeat.” Naveendran claimed that most Tamils have decided to support new Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa at this election and that the decision was taken independent of the influence of Tamil political parties. “Tamils are not ready to accept someone who launched a mission of genocide on their people. There was no advantage to the Tamils from the last Government. Today, we Tamils stand abandoned even by the international community. At present, several of the missing people are dead. The pathos of this situation is that the military failed to protect those who were handed over to their care. The Tamil people were sorely let down by the very person that came into power using the vote of the Tamils. That is the very Government that is engaged in much pious Buddhist activity in an area that doesn’t even have a Buddhist population. We are fortunate to have this land, but they behave as if they own it. “A false Mahavamsa mentality is blinding them. The root cause of racial tensions is that Buddhists and Buddhism alone are given an unprecedented position in this country. That’s the truth. The progressive Sinhalese of this land need to consider this. Without trying to oppress the Tamils of the land, the Sinhalese people of this land need to take the lead in setting standards for the rulers. That’s the change the Sinhalese need to make. Until that is done, there can be no hope in the foreseeable future of this country,” he added. Youth vote to be significant N. Sanjayan (28) works as a technical support executive at a private company in Chavakachcheri. He said that in his estimate, people are not particularly keen on the election this time around. “I think the vote of the youth will make a difference this time. I think the candidates have taken note of this too. But what measures have been taken to include the youth? Not enough awareness has been created regarding the details of voting either. So there is a good chance that many of the votes that are cast will be rendered invalid,” he said. Sanjayan noted that the country needs to grow on par with the developments in the international arena. He said that Sri Lankans can’t always be in debt to foreign nations. “We are a country with rich resources and yet, we have been reduced to pawning our country because of racial politics. It would be beneficial to us if we cast our vote to a candidate who is capable of refraining from racial discrimination; someone who can unite us through reconciliation and forge the development of this country,” he said. Thangarajah Thavaruban, who owns a technology firm in Jaffna, is an active participant at many political discussion forums. “It’s true that the presidential election takes place every five years. But this year’s election has gained a certain momentum. Our people have suffered emotionally since the year 2009. And now, knowing that one of the people who were responsible to making us feel that way is a candidate is a cause of concern to us Tamils. The people of the North haven’t forgotten 2009.” Thavaruban said the Tamils have little faith in a new government bringing them solutions. He said that the Tamils need to think as to how the future government will develop the economy and ensure democratic governance. “The votes of the Tamils will play an important role. Tamil parties need to come forward to prevent our valuable votes going to waste. We can’t say that there has been no change in the past five years. Certain lands in Valikamam North and Keppapalu have been released. At least the Tamils have been granted our civil rights to protest openly. We were not in a position to even do that before 2018. So the person we choose must not be someone who takes us back into the dark days. We need to use our votes wisely to bring about more democratic transparency in our country.” .........................................................................................