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What Is Happening To Civilians
In The Occupied Tamil Territories?

By Chandi Sinnathurai

08 January, 2009
Countercurrents.org

The plight of the civilians caught in the conflict is indeed very pathetic. The Sri Lankan government is announcing that the people are fleeing from the conflict zone in to the Government controlled areas. But certain charitable organisations on the ground, working among the Internally Displaced People (IDP) with their meagre resources are saying that this is simply not the ground reality. It is nothing but government propaganda. The Rajapaksha regime is desperate to show themselves as the true 'liberators' of the Tamils and hence the spin-doctoring of the humanitarian mask, while the civilian Tamil population is going through a humanitarian catastrophe.

It is known when the Government forces entered Kilinochi it was nothing but a ghost town. Now the question arises where did all the thousands of civilians disappear? They did not cross over to the government controlled areas. That much is sure.

The problem here however is two-fold. Tamil civilians are not in a position to trust their lives with the Sinhala army. Hence, crossing to the other side is a major psychological nightmare - it is seen by them as walking into an "enemy trap". The government side is not seen as an angel of mercy.

Secondly, the sense of loyalty. These people have lived under the Tiger rule for many years. This they did voluntarily. Now that the going is tough, just running to the other side does not solve anything - they are certainly not running over to greener pastures.

The point is, the government is trying to claim a high moral ground by creating this imaginative scenario in which they are seen as the saviours of the fleeing IDPs. What they are failing to acknowledge is that these IDPs are citizens and hence the State has every reason to protect them from Government aerial bombings and armed terror. As citizens of the land they can live where they will. It is the State-sponsored genocidal policy that must stop.

The Tamil civilians do not have to be pawns in this lethal game. Scoring points with innocent people's lives is utterly despicable.

The sad truth nonetheless is, the rhetoric of eradicating terrorism is just a misapprehension of the ground reality. The Government has managed to secure only a "Symbolic" victory after losing thousands of lives. The battle seem to have been in favour of the State forces. But sadly the war is far from over.

Walking into Kilinochi does not eradicate the perennial Tamil Question for self-determination. Unless and until every Tamil civilian feels safe and free in their homeland the Sri Lanka state is simply deceiving the Sinhala masses.

Sadly, the real cost is paid daily by the poor Tamil civilians. By doing so, the Government is not gaining the sympathy of the Tamils.

End of the day, for Colombo, its all part of a big deception. Tragically, for the IDPs its crucifixion.

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