Sri Lanka: Where Have All The Flowers Gone..?
By Chandi Sinnathurai
11 August, 2010
Countercurrents.org
Sri Lanka is struggling to come to terms with the post-war 'peace'. War crimes allegations against the Rajapaksha regime, the Tamil IDP [Internally Displaced People] situation, human rights abuses are all matters of serious concern. These matters however are not just exposing the Sri Lankan Government but it is also revealing the hypocrisy of the international community, including the United Nations of its sins of omission.
The Commission on reconciliation put together by the Sri Lankan state commences on August 11. The Defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksha is said to appear before this Commission. Many have questioned the credibility of this Commission. Whether this Commission has the independence to genuinely probe for the truth of what really happened is any one's guess. Amidst a lot of doubts about its purpose, the Commission nonetheless has declared that it is interested in restorative justice, and paying compensation to victims. One has to be patient, giving the benefit of doubt, in order to see how it journeys through this moral maze before calling it all a whitewash. If it is so, then the Government and its Commission will have to face the tune.
The attack on the trapped Tamil civilians - the maiming and killings of thousands of them brings to the surface many a ethical and moral questions. In a war, both parties usually will have have contributed to this end. The state of course have a moral responsibility to protect its own citizens. On the other hand, the Tigers (as "non-state actors") too have an awesome responsibility that its own people don't end up being hapless human shields. Killing trapped innocent humans is certainly a crime against humanity. How did the state differentiate between an innocent civilian and a tiger combatant? In the heat of conflict text book theories don't come in handy. In the context of this dirty war did the state act criminally in the process of pre-emptive attacks while neutralising the Tigers? Or was the state responding to the resistance attacks while pushing forward into the Tiger territory? Was the state responding according to the law of proportionality? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proportionality_(law) Were the civilians held captive by Tiger guns as a tactic in order for the Tiger leaders to negotiate with the international community a suitable exit strategy?
But in the end, all went miserably wrong. Tiger leadership was decimated by the government troops. Thousands of innocent Tamils died in the cross-fire, many more were maimed. Thousands upon thousands 'walking dead' reached the IDP camps scarred for life.
[See video clips: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/08/10/sri.lanka.un.
eu.us.economy.trade/?hpt=C1#fbid=jAIpESBTgEH&wom=true]
Now in the aftermath, politics of hate and scapegoatism does not help any one. Yet again, it pulls people into an unending vicious cycle of repetition of bloody history. Healing of memories is an essential part of reconciliation. None of this does not mean however, the Tamils will need to forego their birthright. But it does mean, both the Tamils and the Sinhalas will need to find a fresh narrative that would liberate them from racist violence and fear and suspicion of the Other. It is very easy to be trapped into the repetitive familiar narrative and fall into the abyss of darkness.
Some how communities need to find an escape route out of this misery. The responsibility of choice is in front of both communities. What does it mean to have the National interest at heart when making crucial decisions whilst there is an unsolved perennial Tamil National Question in the hearts and minds of Tamils?
Facing the truth is always the hardest. Being pragmatic and to be a geopolitical realist is useful. Only a true visionary will think of the generations of to-morrow and pave the way To-day in a responsible and unselfish manner.
Neither the national nor the diaspora Tamil 'leaders' have presented to the people a pragmatic vision - an alternative positive narrative for the current and future generations. Respecting the rights and freedoms of both communities. Sadly, all what is done is to abuse and fan the anger, frustrations and fears of the Tamils. It is from this psychological grip and mental slavery people need to be first liberated.
Its time that every individual Tamil woke up to their responsibility: Begin to take steps towards peaceable solutions. That is the wisest way to turning vicious circle into virtuous circle. (http://www.stwr.org/aid-debt-development/development-
and-peace-a-virtuous-circle-exploring-the-power-and-limits-of-the-relationship.html)
