Garland Seller
Then we went round the corner to Kotahena and caught some bit tipsy guys getting out of a bar and having a chat on the street. They were quite excited and, in my opinion, lovely. They were Sinhala, one mentioned from Matara, and spoke of how all races should be as one and how expats should come back here and build. Matara fellow was very clear to say we love them, as in Tamil people and that we are together. I mentioned that Tamil people dont have full rights and are in camps. They said we need to give it time. They also said they understood how they must feel right now. They were quite sweet. And a bit drunk.
Another guy in that hood also spoke, as YouTubed below
Lassi Lady
Popped round the corner to get some samosas and sweet lassi. A flag convoy passed with a faux coffin for Prabhakaran.
She said, You dont celebrate when someone dies. I asked her what race she was and said mixed. I asked if I could film an interview and she said no.
Hood Friend
Off the record, the Tamil friend I was with says many Tamils are not happy, they are just keeping quiet. Prabhakaran was a leader, whatevers said, and many seemed to feel that he protected Tamils up there. Now theyre not sure. Certainly all or even most Tamils dont support most of the LTTE, but Im just repeating.
Mostly, he said that people are really concerned about their families in the north who are suffering. He told me a friends relative was raped and basically disappeared. This is a tertiary source and I cant confirm, but Im sure theres at least one story of this. I should add the Army is extremely professional on the whole, in my experience.
There are also stories that Prabha has escaped with a cadre of 3000 hard core fighters or something. There are also rumours that the flag convoys have smashed up Tamil house and people. This is serious and I checked as much as I could and found nothing of the sort. Let me know.
Wellawatte Friend
Also called a friend in Wellawatte and actually took notes. These are the notes:
Wellawatte is tense. Mahindas speech: Didnt like speech, pouring oil and flame. This is time to celebrate, not about peace. What I feel, educated ppl, who regard humanity, they never go for these cheap celebrations, they stay home, worry about lives lost, pray. Thats not patriotic. Sri Lankans should be Sri Lankan. If you have the freedom to celebrate, Tamils have the freedom to mourn. They should have respect for everyone. Still ashes over flame. The flame is covered with ash. Whoever can come and fan it, it will burn out. You remember 1983. If something happens somewhere, it will become a big flame. Thats what people are expecting. However, during 83 who saved us, the sinhalese people. My fathers friends. They had conflict with the neighbors, they fought them, they sent us to batti with security. I do not see sinhalese or tamils, only those who have humanitarian instincts and who dont have. Whoever have good mind and heart care for people in the hospitals and IDPs.
All in all, I think there is danger here and that this Tamil uneasiness must be addressed for the country to develop as it needs to. As one. There is something to celebrate, but there is so much to mourn that I personally dont feel it. There is a real danger in these flag convoys in that one terrorist attack could set them off into something worse. But I dont believe that and I believe that we have come a long way since 1983. I also know that our armed forces are professional and can secure the city.
However, Tamils are A) scared to speak and B) frightening themselves with rumor because they dont trust the information getting out. These are all functions of the crackdown on freedom of speech and media, basically fear. Beyond that, they are hurting because their relatives are hurting. However, they seem to hold hope of equal rights and freedom. I have the same hope, in time, but we have a lot of work to do before we can all celebrate in earnest.
Uploading the actual video interviews now. Will post.
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Wellawatte Boom Town No More?by tyrondevotta60917 views
@NamoSriLankaMatha why are you asking questions now?smiling always doesnt mean happy,some ppl smile to cover themself!
va12io 1 year ago
tamils can only give a vague answers in Sri lanka.if you speak the truth ,you will be jailed,or accused as terrorist.This is why tamils outside SL is speaking more clearly than inside!
va12io 1 year ago
this movie has a really interesting story line its amazing, i just watching it @ i watch movies 43 . c o m
kimamaalexandre 2 years ago
judging by this attempt, i can see they are not so bright!
i hope the god that they are running, before the time runs out for them!
mlomailom 2 years ago
it's not fare to hit the govt with this kind of innuendos when the war has just come to an end.of course there's much work to be done on the tamil situation.
and, it 'cos of the tamil ppl' support that the ltte grew and fattened. SO THAT'S the reason for checking the IDs.
anyway, good luck for the two who are doing this interview. i hope they are running like hell by now! hheeeheee
mlomailom 2 years ago
Unhappy? Then why the smile on his face?
NamoSriLankaMatha 2 years ago
Never mind about the interpreters. The mans body language is enough for us to understand that he is happy. he is hopeful that MR would ensure that everyone will be treated equally.A man who is anxious or sad about the situation cannot have a smile on his face.
hanikayaman 2 years ago
The Tamil translator is misleading you. The tamil man says to the questions "What do you think of Prabhakaran's death?"
The man responds "what has happened is the best for the nation."
bailaman 2 years ago
you realy had a good idea and good attempt at it but your interpreter aint that good..i know tamil and i understood the man but what you're interpreter was telling you was somewhat different to what the man said.
loosepants 2 years ago