THE PROPAGANDA MACHINE
The Tamil Net carried the following news item on the 14th of February, 1999.
"The All Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union has raised a query on an item given in the book of Social Studies, printed by the Department of Education, for the Year Six syllabus. They have refused to use this book in all Tamil Schools in the North and East of Sri Lanka."
Prior to this incident Prabhakaran, Leader of the LTTE – an organisation internationally acknowledged to be terrorists – had got this book put to flame in all the LTTE dominated areas and introduced a ‘NEW’ Book of History.
A group of spokesmen, from The All Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union, requested for a meeting with the Additional Secretary to Department of Education, to sort out the above problem by introducing a ‘New’ and more suitable Book of History. Professor Lal Perera, Additional Secretary granted them an interview on the 15th of February, at 2. P.M.
At the appointed time in addition to the above members, Professor Perera found himself facing several Buddhist monks and civilians who had also gathered at the Ministry to protest against the point raised by the Tamil Teachers.
It has now been discovered that the ACTTU is affiliated to the LTTE.
What in this book was so offensive to the LTTE and its tributary?
Under the 8th sub heading which translates as " The Identity Of The People Of Sri Lanka", is a sub title – Heterogeneous Ethnic Groups. In this it states that the Tamils settled in Sri Lanka after the advent of Vijaya in 484 B. C.
It was this statement the above groups found so offensive!
Up to a few years ago the LTTE claimed that the tribe of Naga, a sea fearing merchant tribe in Lanka pre - Vijaya, were expelled by Dravidians from whom they descend. In the ‘NEW’ Book of History which they wish to use to teach their children, they have shifted their origins further back to state that The Tamil people are descendants of the Tribe of Naga. This idea has been adopted from Mudaliyar Rasanayagam’s fanciful Fairy Tale – Ancient Jaffna. Having effectively silenced respected Historians such as Karthigesu Indrapalan, Professor, University of Jaffna, the teachers are now feeding myths as facts to their own children.
The Tribe of Naga along with the Tribes of Yaksha, Raksha and Deva are amongst the earliest inhabitants of Lanka. The Naga mainly inhabited the coastal belt of Lanka, and are thought to be descendants of the ancient seafaring Assiriyans. (This belief stems from the ‘Naga’ cities in countries along the Asian sea rout Nagland in India, cities between the Assam Mountains in Burma to Nagasaki in Japan).
From Nagadeepa,a place of worship to all Buddhists, in the Northern most tip of Sri Lanka, to Naottunna in Mathara, ruins of Naga cities hold evidence of a highly civilised tribe of people scattered throughout Lanka. Inscriptions in the temple Lanka Viharaya in Matara shows its original name to be Nagawaddana Viharaya. This proves quite effectively that the Naga’s were Buddhists by religion, and used the Ancient Sinhala Alphabet. It is these people the LTTE is claiming to be their ancestors in their demand for a separate State!
The advent of Vijaya brought a new group of people to Lanka. These five groups formed the Sinhala of Lanka sharing a common religion and language.
It is understandable though not excusable, for a group of power hungry terrorists, to make up stories in order to dupe affluent foreign powers in to espousing their cause. What reasons can the above teachers give for deceiving the children in their care? These teachers, adopting the doctrine of terrorists are spreading a message of hatred amongst the children they guide and instruct . Are we then to sit back and watch one ethnic group destroy a another not unlike what Hitler’s Germany did to the Jewish People?
This deceitful propaganda is not confined solely to History. It goes on to encompass claims of ethnic violence and racial discrimination. It is not practised on children alone. It is in the Internet, it is in the form of pamphlets and periodicals. Ambassadors propagating these untruths have canvassed Foreign Powers and Religious Groups. Their call is for aid to support their cause.
Within the Sinhala of Lanka we find a civilisation that goes back to pre-history. We find a nation made up of different tribes accepting each others differences. We find a people who absorbed newcomers as early as 484 B. C., who lived by the Buddha’s doctrine which preaches tolerance. We find an agro based socio-economic structure that has lasted thousands of years. The Tank based irrigation system devised by the Sinhala and fostered by their Kings are not found anywhere else in the world. In our long history we find soldiers who took up arms only to defend their shores, never to conquer others. Are we then to sit back and let a handful of power hungry men fool the world in to destroying us or are we to take up arms as of before to defend ourselves?
It is time to realise the truth. Time to think what each one of us as can contribute to save a Nation, a Culture, a Civilisation from destruction. It is time to put a stop to Terrorism.