The JVP campaign among the Tamils: 1977-1982

Sinhalese; 73.80%

Sri Lankan Moors; 7.20%

Indian Tamil; 4.60%

Sri Lankan Tamil; 3.90%

Other; 0.50%Unspecified; 10.00%

Buddhists; 69.10%

Muslim; 7.60%

Hindu; 7.10%

Christian; 6.20%

Unspecified; 10.00%

Sinhala; 74%

Tamil; 18%

Other; 8%

Sri Lankan - Provinces

Population by religion

Population by language

Sources: CIA 2008, The World Fact Book – Sri Lanka and 2001 Census provisional data

Population by ethnicity

Percentage distribution of Tamils by district

Territorial claim of Tamil Eelam

Northern provinceCentral provinceEastern province

Percentage Distribution of Moors by district

Based on 2001 or 1981 census

Population Distribution

Debate on the Origins

Sinhalese Wanniayala-Etto (Veddahs)Language found to correlate with the Sindh and Gujarat languagesBelief that the Sinhala community emerged due to assimilation of various ethnic groupscombine Sinhalaness with Buddhism and see themselves as custodians of the land

Sri Lankan TamilsStrong Tamil presence from about the 10th century Sri Lanka has been a homeland of the Tamils, from the beginning of recorded history (Velupillai A 1996, Religious Traditions of Tamils)Tamil language belongs to the Dravidian/South Indian family of languagesMalaiyaha Tamils brought in to work in the plantations (towards the end of 19th Century)

Debate on the Origins

Sri Lankan Muslims (Moors)Trace their ancestry to Arab tradersPrimary language is Tamil, with borrowed Arabic wordsIn the south they also widely use SinhalaSettled in Sri Lanka some time between the eighth and fifteenth centuriesWhen persecuted, fled to the Central HighlandsCultural identity based on their religion, Islam

Debate on the Origins

Youth insurrections

First JVP Insurrection - 1971 by the Sinhala Youth

Continuing insurrection by the Tamil militant groups commencing late 1970s

Second JVP Insurrection - 1987-89 by the Sinhala Youth

Youth RadicalisationDue to:

Lack of appropriate political and economic developmentInequitable distribution of economic and social benefitsThe universal franchise and Lowering of the voting ageIntroduction of free education in 1945Increasing unemployment Change of the medium of instruction to local languages, expanding higher educational opportunitiesGeneral lack of university placements and employment opportunitiesDiscriminative practices of the elite

Mobilisations

The new social forces had a dual character and outlook

In the south based on class aspirationsIn the north and the east based on nationalist aspirationsThe JVP predominantly the rural young lower-middle class Sinhala BuddhistsThe Tamil militant youth the rural young lower-middle class Tamil Hindus and Christians

ReactionsThe state repressed both using brutal forceResponses of the state and the militants extended this radicalisation and alienationPolitical leaderships have opportunistically used ethnicity to:

establish, preserve and enhance their political, economic and social powerdistract people from the domestic policy and program failures

The Result: Building barriers to social and political interaction, and planting mistrust

between diverse communities

JVP Position: Pre-1971

Minimal understanding about the issues of the Tamils

Social linkages with Tamils also minimal

The social aspirations and the needs of many Tamil students were different

Room to carry out political activities among Tamils extremely limited due to:

Rumours that Rohana left the CPC-P because of its Tamil leadership

The JVP disagreements on the vanguard of the socialist revolution

International experience on the leading role of a minority community

Urban working class allied with rural peasantry will be the vanguard

“Indian Expansionism” touched upon anti-Malaiyaha sentiments

Malaiyaha workers were considered more allied to India

JVP Position: Between 1971 and 1973

Reflections on Maoist political rootsStudy the national questionExperiences of Tamil youth and the new Constitution of 1972 Low level exchange of political ideasNationalism had started crystallizing in a major way among:

the Sinhalese in the early fifties andthe Tamils in the early seventies

JVP Position: Between 1973 and 1982

The Policy Declaration and the Political ProgramRecognition of the right to self determination, andRecognition of Sinhala, Tamil and English as national languages

New Tamil contacts in the north, the east, and the plantationsFirst political cells establishedAlliances made with organisations of the plantation workersSimilar socio-economic and cultural problems Specific problems due to linguistic and cultural background and circumstancesMany young Tamil activists already committed to the nationalist causeChanging political mood among the youthThreats and attacks against the JVP activities

The First JVP Public Rally held in Jaffna

Rohana Wijeweera and Upatissa Gamanayake

Attacked

JVP Position: Post 1982

Two demands for:A specific campaign for the rights of Tamil people

Dropping public discussions on issues affecting the Tamil people

Presidential election results in 1982Over-assessmentInterpretation of election results

Black July Riots 1983

JVP Position: Post 1983

Changes to policy on the national question

1983 Black July and the aftermath

Sinhala nationalist tendency prevails

1987-89 insurrection and anti-Indian rhetoric

Safeguarding a colonial constitutional construct

Conclusions

Adherence to a mixed ideology of socialism and nationalismThe state - the common enemySuccumbed to nationalistic politicsEach see the other also as the enemyPolitical dialogue is feasibleNeed for a paradigm shift in attitudes and thinkingDiaspora - from advocates of political violence to constructive interaction