Sri Lanka Still Burning

What the Commonwealth is missing

“They don’t understand the Tamil problem.”

I was told time and time again while travelling northern still war torn Sri Lanka in May of this year. I was back after a previous trip had connected me with journalists who had been threatened, activists with imminent death dates and the Tamil people struggling to find a voice, or someone to listen, I still was not quite sure.

The Tamils and the Singhalese have had an ethnic strife for what has seemed to be thousands of years. Unfortunately, this boiled to a 26 year long civil war which ending in 2009 with what some say to be one of the worst humanitarian failures the world has ever seen. Some 40,000 civilians died in six months by the Sri Lankan Army trying to snuff out the remaining Tamil fighters hiding among civilians.

This number remains contested however. The government still insist that only 10,000 were killed during their “Humanitarian Rescue Mission”. Initially theyreported that there were no civilian casualties, and maintained this statement for months until mounting cell phone footage showed otherwise. Some put the death count closer to 100,000, but no one can be sure.

What is certain, however, is the discontent of the Tamil people, and the apathetic nature of the internationally community to question these claims. Human Rights groups, media campaigns and United Nations Convoys “investigate” ongoing oppression in Sri Lanka, yet always return with hollow demands for reconciliation.

“The international community took our freedom away, now they must help get it back.” A fisherman in the town of Mannar complained.

Most won’t realize, that for many Tamils, rule under the internationally recognized terrorist organization, the Tamil Tigers of Tamil Ealam, life was much better than it is now. Tamils spoke longingly of times when the women could walk the street at night, jobs were plentiful and the military ran highly successful universities, banks, reforestation programs, judicial systems and the like.

“They were our sisters and brothers. The LTTE listened to us, now we have nothing” A women explained in Mullaitivu.

Despite the actions of the LTTE, many Tamils still revere them as martyrs and heroes. They fought to liberate their people, without regard for their own safety. Soldiers were known to drink cyanide before getting caught so not to reveal any harmful information while being tortured. Yes children were used as soldiers, and terrorist tactics were used against civilians. but to Tamils, these are almost forgivable offenses.

With reconstruction projects underway, many funded by major international organizations, progress seems to be underway. However many of the workers benefiting from these projects are Singhalese relocated from the south by the government. Singhalese fishermen flood the waters, and government controlled markets favor their catches. Police forces are mostly made up of Singhalese, who many times cannot even speak the very different Tamil language.

Yet, roads have been built. Market places have been built, and even some schools. To the international community things look OK, yet even their convoys are looked at with little hope.

In Mulakalum, an UN envoy visited the internally displaced people living just outside of their former village, now occupied by the navy. A representative conducted a community meeting, accompanied by multiple government representatives, body guards and reporters which lasted approximately 30 minutes.

For most of the conversation, questions were directed at one leader of the community who spoke English fairly well. The UN representative asked only one question directly to the 15 or so gathered fishermen who have been displaced for the past eight years, and living here for the past three.

“Are you willing to move if the government offers fair compensation?”

The resounding answer was “No”.

The representative answered with a long winded discussion about a governments right to acquire land to ensure security for the country, if fair compensation was given to those forced to leave.

Before anyone in the community meeting could speak up, the UN representative from Kenya began giving sweets to children. The photographers snapped photographs and they drove off.

“They do not understand. The government is here to destroy the Tamils. There is better land for them to take.” One man complained. “This is genocide” he aadded.

When asked if another conflict was to happen, most men kept silent. Later it was revealed that many feared that a government spy was among them.

What the commonwealth leaders are missing is that there is a population in Sri Lanka, growing with seemingly harsh oppression from the Singhalese government, with stories of a time when fighters rose for their people almost to succeed and no one to listen.

In a quiet, secluded place, a former LTTE tiger sat as the warm night descended upon his straw hut. He was thin, scrawny with a incomprehensible tattoo scribbled on his forearm.

When asked if another war is imminent, the former Tiger said,

“Yes. It will happen soon.”

When asked if he would fight once again.

“Yes. I will fight.”

When asked if the beloved former LTTE leader who’s death is considered a mystery to many, he smiled, looked down to his lap with eagerness and replied,

“He is coming back.”