One Country Two Nations: Is It an Empty Slogan or a Meaningful Doctrine?
Sathur Vethi
The ideology of “One Country – Two Nations” is being widely discussed in the political space of the Tamil people. Tamil National people’s Front has been putting forward a “One Country – Two Nations” doctrine as against the stand point of the Tamil National Alliance “A meaning full political Devolution”. Until recently, this political stand point had not gained much political importance. Main reasons for people not giving importance to this ideology are the internal and external conjunctures and the tight political situation that prevailed during the previous regime. The favorable political climate and comparatively better freedom of expression have given rise to situations where these type of discussions and concept generation with regard to the political aspirations by Tamil people.
In this context the chief Minister of Northern provincial council C.V. Vickneswaran had stated that our problem should be approached or a “One Country – Two Nations” basis. The opinion of the CM had attracted widespread attention on this concept and started to gain importance to a level where it had evolved into a theme of much debate. However, a trend of not liking such a concept re-emerging among Tamil people and an attitude of interpreting it as a factor, inimical to their political stand point of meaningful devolution of power, is evident among the upper hierarchy of the Federal Party. As a part of this, Federal party men, who took part in a meeting with the people in Trincomalee had condemned the “One Country – Two Nations concept as an empty slogan and had criticized it as not practically possible.
“One Country – Two Nations” is not a concept born recently. It is this concept that paved the way for the birth of Federal party. S.J.V. Chelvanayagam who presided over the 1st meeting of the Federal party at Maradana on 18th December 1948, addressed the meeting presenting the concept of “One Country – Two Nations” . He discoursed with reasons, why Sri Lanka should be considered a union of Two countries and why Tamils should be recognized as a Nation. Amirthalingam who directed the Federal Party after loss of “Thanthai Selva” delivered a famous speech in the parliament in 1978, when the then government tried to table a constitution. He had given a long explanation in that speech as to why the Tamil people should be recognized as a Nation. Even during Liberation Tigers, who followed them, presented ideology of “One Country – Two Nations” and Internal Self Determination. Now the Tamil National people’s Front which splintered from TNA, is placing “One Country – Two Nations” as their political stand point. Recognizing Tamil people as a Nation is not a concept which came into existence recently. It is a concept which had been continuously promoted in the Tamil political space, after the independence of Sri Lanka.
Hence it cannot be side lined as an empty slogan. Particularly as far as the Federal party is concerned they are first people to generate this concept. Hence they cannot easily reject it as an empty slogan. If they do it, then, all what had been done in those days by “Thanthai” Selva, Amirthalingam and other senior leaders will deemed to be empty slogans. Naturally, a question might rise in your mind at this stage. In a context where the terms, Country and Nation are being used on a daily basis to mean the same thing, what is the difference between the meanings of these two terms? is that question. Although the terms Country and Nation used alternatively there is a clear ideological difference between those two.
A Country could be defined as a legal geographical area bounded by international boundaries. These will have international relationships and international commerce including imports and exports. It is a legally ratified entity. Around 190 countries are found in the world.
Although there are more than one definition for a Nation, by the generally accepted definition a race which has its own language, culture, civilization, and distinguishable history and one which is living in a land area in majority shall be approved as a Nation. The obscure situation here is that several people mis- interpret Nation as a Separate Country. What is called Nation is only a political recognition of a national race with the above characteristics.
What is the importance of the political recognition, that is Nation. What is the necessity of this political recognition? A race which is recognized as a Nation could put forward a demand for self determination. Hence if Tamils wish to win over their political rights on the basis of self determination, Tamil should be recognized as a nation. Such a recognition will form the basis winning political rights of the Tamil people. On the other hand, Tamil do not need a recognition as a nation, if they are willing to accept that they are only a minority within the country of Sri Lanka and receive a devolution of power such as the 13th amendment. “Meaningful Devolution of Power” would be a sufficient stand point.
Hence, we should consider where are we going or what type of solution is needed for the Tamil people and analyze whether “One Country – Two Nations” concept is an empty slogan or a meaning full doctrine.
