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Belgium 1. Belgium is a small country in Europe 2. It has a
population of a little of one crore, about half the population of
Haryana. 3. Of Belgium s total population 59% are Dutch speaking
people who live in the Flemish region, 40% are French speaking who
live in the Wallonia region. Remaining 1% speak German. In the
capital city Brussels, 80 per cent people speak French while 20 per
cent are Dutch-speaking
Whereas, Srilanka is an island nation, just a few kilometers
off the southern coast of Tamil nadu. Sri lanka has a diverse
population with about 2 crore people, about the same as Haryana.
Total Srilanka population has 74% Sinhala- speakers, 18% Tamil
speakers and the rest 13% are called Srilanka Tamils .
The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and
powerful. This was resented by the Dutch- speaking community who
got the benefit of economic development and education much later.
This led to tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French-
speaking communities during the 1950s and 1960s. The tension
between the two communities was more acute in Brussels. Brussels
presented a special problem: the Dutch-speaking people constituted
a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital.
Problem in Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Tamils are concentrated in the
north and east of the country. Most of the Sinhala-speaking people
are Buddhist, while most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. There
are about 7per cent Christians, who are both Tamil and
Sinhalas.
Independence in 1948. Leaders of Sinhala community tried to
dominate and took some majoritarian measures 1956-Act was passed-it
declared Sinhala as the official language. Preferential
policy-favoring Sinhalas for university education and government
jobs. State shall protect and foster Buddhism. These measures
created feeling of alienation among Srilankan Tamils. They felt
that these policies denied them equal political rights and
opportunities.
Srilankan Tamils launched parties and struggles and
demandedRecognition of Tamil as an official languageRegional
autonomyEquality of opportunity in education and jobs. Though all
these demands were denied. In 1980s several politicalorganizations
started demanding separate stateTAMIL EELAMDistrust developed and
CIVILWAR started.Its results:1.Thousands of people got killed2.Many
families were forced to leave the country as refugees.3.Many more
lost their livelihood.4.Excellent record of Srilankas economic
development, education and health received a terrible setback.
Belgian leaders took a different path : recognized the
existence of regional differences and cultural diversities. The
CONSTITUTION say that: Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be
equal in central government. Many powers of the central govt. have
been given to the state govt. of two regions and state govt.s are
not subordinate to the central govt. In Brussels both communities
have equal representation Community government: elected by the
people belonging to one language community, no matter where they
live. This govt. has a power regarding cultural, educational &
language issues.
These arrangements have worked very well for Belgium so far, as
it has helped in:- Avoid civic tensions between the communities.
Avoided possible division of the country on linguistic lines. When
EUROPEAN UNION was formed Brussels was chosen as its
headquarters.