Humanitarian Tragedy In Sri Lanka
By Chandi Sinnathurai
24 December,
2008
Countercurrents.org
Sri Lankan President Rajapaksha has said that the Government has created a humanitarian corridor for some 280,000 Tamils sandwiched between the two conflicting sides. The un-told suffering of the Tamil civilians is sadly some thing that hardly ever grabs the headline of the world news. The question is how many more need to die? Every one wants to talk about terrorism of the one side but if the President is so interested in the welfare of the Tamil citizens he could halt the war today. Stop all the aerial bombing. Create conditions for all these Tamils to evacuate the so-called battle zone.
Having
said that, let us not forget, during this Christmas season, when we
talk about the Christ-child not offered a place in the inn. Later
his parents with this child having to flee to Egypt as a refugee escaping
"State terror" so to speak…One must not forget, Rajapaksha's
"battle zone" is the home-land of thousands of Internally
Displaced Tamils…What is the guarantee that these Tamils will
not be bombed or shot down as they flee through this so-called humanitarian
corridor? Is there an international body that is monitoring this movement?
Is there a safe haven, a city of refuge created for these Tamils?
To all these questions: Shamefully, No is the answer.
If any one one disagrees with the state they will be liquidated -
And this is an open secret.
So, these Tamil citizens, having their fundamental human rights denied, have no voice in this matter. How can any one in his/her right mind expect these vulnerable people to trust the President when all what they have seen him do is to be engaging in an indiscriminate bombing campaign of civilians, homes including hospitals.
For the Tamils fleeing through this so-called humanitarian corridor would be suicidal. Its like asking Moses and the Hebrew slaves to be trusting Pharaoh to cross the Red sea!
On the other hand, the neighbouring India and the Western Governments are silent when this terrible genocidal madness is taking place in this little island. The Tamils world over are wondering what in the world is happening.
As a humanitarian gesture, what on earth is stopping Rajapaksha to stop the war machinery in order for the Tamils - "citizens of this country", to walk safely through this so-called humanitarian corridor. The government has the moral responsibilty.
By doing
so, the President is honouring the fact that the Tamils are human
and they need a safe place from the bombs, guns and terror of the
state.
All else will be just empty rhetoric and President Rajapaksha might
come out of it all smelling like roses. Bloody joke!