Read on Twitter
1/Comment shows that Tamils are viewed not as equals but as subordinates. Viewed as the ‘other’- ‘they’ as he says. Expected to be grateful for benevolence & should not demand rights. Should know one’s ‘place’. Made to feel unwanted in one’s own country. https://twitter.com/rkguruparan/status/1329785676410269696
2/In a country where the citizen is expected to be a subject. Where citizen is not expected to hold the state accountable. Where citizen should not challenge or critique state & could be labelled a terrorist or traitor for doing so, this is not surprising but still frightening.
3/We deny we have an unresolved ethnic conflict & say we had only a terrorist problem, which we militarily resolved. We speak of reconciliation but deny the right of families of disappeared to know the truth & right to memorialize. We deny their right to protest for these rights
4/No, a couple of Tamil ministers or a famous sportsman doesn’t mean these problems don’t exist. When we struggle to even issue statements in Tamil we cannot claim to respect diversity & pluralism. Our multi ethnic & multi religious nature is viewed as a threat & not as strength.
5/In such a context, will Tamils be able to hold state accountable? Accountability is not related only to HR violations. Every citizen should be able to hold elected reps & govt accountable– re everything from bad roads to rights violations-that is a core element of democracy.
