Social Studies Notes (Conflict and Harmony)

The LTTE was more of a hindrance than a help to the Tamil cause. How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Factors: (1) Pressure (Help) (2) Fuelled Prejudice (Hindrance) Pressure (Help) : LTTE was a help to the Tamil cause as the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict attracted regional and international attention and put pressure on the Sinhalese government to make improvements towards the plight of the Tamils. The violent actions of the LTTE, reported in the media, were responsible for alerting the world particularly India to the plight of the Tamils. The Tamils tried to use peaceful means to obtain equal rights, however the Sinhalese government continued to refuse to acknowledge the Tamil cause. Due to this failure to resolve the issue via peaceful means, a group of Tamil youths came together to form the militant group, Tamil Tigers (LTTE), where they resorted to violence to demand and obtain rights. The result was the lost of many innocent lives; however, this pressured the government to finally respond to the Tamil cause as the government would want to stop the wide-spread armed conflict. The armed conflict in Sri Lanka also attracted foreign pressure, especially from India, in the form of foreign intervention.

 India sent its foreign minister to Sri Lanka to mediate in a dialogue between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. However the dialogue failed as both parties involved could not come to an agreement. Under pressure from India, Sri Lanka agreed to sign a peace accord with India. Some of the terms of the peace accord agreed upon by the Sri Lankan government and the Tamils included a ceasefire between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan forces and the surrendering of arms by the LTTE to the Indian peacekeeping force. Although the hostilities between the Sinhalese and Tamils exist to the present day, it was the LTTEs actions that attracted international attention and made it impossible for the Sinhalese government to ignore the plight of the Tamils. Hence, the LTTE helped the Tamil cause by airing many of their discontentments which led to pressure on the government to resolve the conflict and foreign intervention which helped to ease some of their woes such as with regards to the citizenship rights. Fuelled Prejudice (Hindrance) : The LTTE was more of a hindrance to the Tamil cause as they resorted to violence to achieve their aims. They attacked the Sinhalese, Tamil members of the police force, Tamil members and supporters of the ruling party and Tamil politicians who did not support the separate state. The use of excessive violence resulted in the LTTE being seen as a terrorist group that had to be put down. Thus, instead of helping to further the cause of the Tamils, the LTTE worsened the relationship between the Tamils and Sinhalese, causing undue suffering to the Tamils.

 Their violent actions caused the Sinhalese to retaliate against the LTTE by staging anti-Tamil riots. For example, when the LTTEs use of violence which led to the deaths of 13 Sinhalese soldiers resulted in the Black July 1983 riots whereby Sinhalese mobs petrol bombed the Tamils, damaged and looted their properties and subjected the Tamils to inhumane treatment such as rape. The LTTE perpetuated the never-ending cycle of violence in Sri Lanka. The LTTEs terrorist activities led the Sinhalese government to adopt harsher actions against the Tamils. It led to a war between them and the Sri Lankan government which lasted for more than 20 years and cost more than 60,000 lives. The Tamils had to suffer a long armed conflict between the government and the Tamil Tigers which also impacted negatively on the living standards as insecurity and violence in Sri Lanka turned potential investors and tourists away. This meant that the Tamils along with the Sinhalese faced a loss of jobs. This caused a severe social consequence. The LTTE had fuelled segregation amongst the Sinhalese and the Tamils. The conflict had further damaged the already abysmal relationship between the two races where they remained to be disunited and intolerant of each other, living the country divided. This is very serious as increased social tensions would result with future generations growing up with hatred, prejudice and hostility against each other. In turn, it is detrimental to the Tamil cause as it prevents understanding between the two races. With only hatred and prejudice for each other and the LTTE portraying the Tamils negatively, it prevents the Tamils from obtaining their rights. Making the LTTE a major hindrance to the Tamil cause.