The fear of Jaffna
Repost This ArticleBy Shanthi Sachithanandam
“Last night was full moon
Oh you Sinhala Buddhist
For whom breaking even an egg on a full moon day is Adharma
How come lives of Tamil people became
More trivial than mere eggs?Oh Venerable Monks
Walking with shaven heads
within yellow robes
discoloured,
splashed with blood and sprinkled with ash
Don’t open your scriptures but your hearts
Tell me, is this your Dharma?
Is it just,
To deem the lives of Tamil people
more trivial than mere eggs?”– V.I.S Jeyapalan
It was 1997 and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had captured most parts of Jaffna peninsula as a result of the ‘Riviresa’ operations. The aid organisation I was working for decided to start its work in Jaffna.
As were and are the regulations, we had to seek military permission to travel to, and work, in Jaffna. I was asked to contact the Secretary of the Defence Ministry. “What is the work that you do?” he asked. We focused on supporting and strengthening local organisations. He could not comprehend this, so I had to elaborate. “We build their capacities to identify problems and plan and implement development projects on their own… We strengthen their leadership abilities and….”
He quickly interjected, “Jaffna has too much of leadership and organising abilities. That’s the whole problem. We cannot allow you to do this. We can give you permission only if you are coming with money to reconstruct damaged and destroyed buildings.” Our project was effectively stonewalled.
It can be asserted that the fear of Jaffna has largely coloured the attitude of the south towards the issue of power sharing. There is almost a larger than life impression of the people of Jaffna being industrious and resourceful. Add to this the fact that all the important political and military leaders for the Eelam struggle have come from that small peninsula, and the picture is complete.
Give them even something small and they will overtake us in no time, is, if you might care to say, an example of some of the jealous musings heard over coffee and dinner. I would opine that this feeling is more intense amongst the government officers of the south. They have been the single most benefited group from this conflict, a result of the discriminatory practices against Tamils in public sector employment. This is from where policies are influenced and implemented, in relation to Jaffna. Their objective? Destroy Jaffna’s social capital.
Ever since the placing of this country on a war footing in early 2005, this policy is continuing to manifest itself in all its gory details. Jaffna’s villages are slowly being turned into killing fields. The fact that carrying out this politico-military strategy was made easy, by no one other than the ‘sole representatives’ of the Tamils, the LTTE, cannot be overlooked.
During the period of cessation of hostilities between 2002-2004, it systematically targeted anyone who was suspected to be working for the opposing militant groups. The method employed was simple. The victims were picked out anywhere convenient, be it the open streets or the confines of their homes. And no one needs to proffer explanations or show proof of justification to anybody. The LTTE laid the settings and gave the cue for the current drama of horror being enacted in Jaffna.
At the beginning it was the contact points of LTTE’s network that were targetted. Quickly, this progressed to all the supporters who raised flags and rolled in the tires on the streets for burning, for the LTTE organised demonstrations and civil disobedience actions.
The military intelligence, with the help of the opposition Tamil groups, honed in on to almost every participant in public demonstrations with the help of extensive video footages. Sometimes, these names were collected and stored to be used at appropriate times; whenever a claymore mine was set off, this incident was followed with an accelerated spate of killings during the next few days. Obviously some of the persons in the list were being bumped off.
This seemed like a coded communication from the army to the LTTE, intimating the possible repercussions of their actions. Many who feared for their lives surrendered to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and were given asylum in the prisons by the courts. But how long can you spend in the prisons? There are several incidents of victims being shot and killed after coming out of their prison sanctuary, and on their way to signing the police register.
All this while Jaffna had not become fear ridden as yet, although on an average, two to three people were being killed every day. It is that the family and neighbours always seemed to be able to surmise the reasons for the victim’s demise as some connection somewhere with the LTTE. There was some order; all those who had not taken part in any way did not need to panic.
Then there were occasional incidents of gangs roaming the streets in the nights, armed with axes, sickle and knives. They broke down the doors of houses, especially those in the vicinity of army camps, and stripped them of all valuables. Sometimes they also indulged in rape and murder. But Jaffna bore it all.
But then, during the middle of 2007, the situation deteriorated even further. The rate of killings increased to an average of six per day, and most of them without any comprehensible reason.
A 55-year-old man running a communication agency in Kaithady was shot and killed. It is speculated that some customers using his telephone services to make calls to Wanni numbers may have been the reason behind his death. Two staff members of the Danish de-mining group were shot and killed in broad daylight after a Hollywood-like motorbike chase down one of the busiest streets in Jaffna town. Still, nobody has come up with any explanations.
During the month of September we saw whole families, husbands, wives and children seeking asylum at the HRC. Most of the affected were from the villages of Varani, Kudathanai, Kaithady, and Kachchai in Thenmaratchy, a remote region of the Peninsula totally controlled by the army.
An LTTE cadre just dropping in at their premises was a good enough reason for them to seek protection. The HRC on its part is looking for larger premises for its operations, in order to be able to accommodate all these asylum seekers. They were right, September 23 hit an all time record of nine killings in a day, leading to more surrenders at their door!
As if the killings were not enough, extortions also have become rampant. Anonymous callers demand ransom money over the phone, threatening death if the requests are ignored. Three days after the army visiting the home of a retired bank officer’s family, they received calls asking them to deposit Rs. 100,000 in to a particular account of the Bank of Ceylon.
This was dutifully carried out by the family. They do not even want to discuss it with other extortion victims. Many professionals including lawyers are leaving the place to escape the incessant demands for money. You cannot leave in a hurry either; a minimum of 15 days is required to process a permit to leave Jaffna either by air or sea because the application has to be whetted by several relevant area military camps.
There are many cases of those who were killed after applying to leave Jaffna. So, families who have no means to live outside or even make their way out, simply pay up.
Today, Jaffna is gripped with total fear. For, state terrorism has reared its sinister and all pervading head over it. The irony is that the people, in order to escape from one arm of the state, are seen to be seeking refuge in another arm. But that is how it will be, will it not?
The state is the repository of ultimate power and if it does not ameliorate its own actions, the only choice left for the people is to submit to total annihilation. This is very frightening indeed.
Jaffna’s experience shows that the current discourses on human security and peace have to necessarily reflect on the nature of the modern state and its reformation. The executive, legislative and judiciary, institutions that were traditionally considered as providing the required checks and balances, do not seem to be functioning in the manner they were originally envisaged.
The world needs a creative solution in the organisation of its societies, a solution that negates absolute power at all levels. Until such a solution is achieved in our midst, Jaffna will have to continue to fear, the fear of Jaffna.
This article written for October 2007 issue of Montage, published by Counterpoint. To get in touch with or to subscribe to Montage, please email montagesrilanka [at] gmail.com or visit their blog
Shanthi, a well presented view of majority of the Tamils around the globe mainly the Diaspora. The Tamil websites and a [edited out] from the West and Japan who are comfortably entrenched in their domiciles support the Tamil Tigers. Prabakaran’s network had become a liability to the Tamil community and doing more damage to the Tamil grievances than the current oppressors, Rajapakse Criminal Inc. In the name of Tamil Liberation these Shylocks (Tamil Tigers) had become multi- millionaires and successful impersonators with extortion and deceit. It is pertinent that the Tamil community identify this menace and eliminate and get rid of Prabakarans, Karunas, Devanandas and Pillayans from the community. How? Not with guns and bullets but with careful and diligent planning and information. Not citing CNN, Fox, Reuters and BBC. These are western mouthpieces. But setting up a credible and dependable Information Network. Otherwise in another 20 years we (SL Tamils) will be like the Tamils in Guyana. A forgotten minority!! Your article is a wake up call to the Tamils to identify the core issues and avoid unnecessary emotionalism.
i agree with shanthi, its the tamil leaders of 1970-1985 thats to balme for this.
when the JVP did armed uprising in the south, calling forchange the sinhala leaders didnt let it go. even though many leaders were killed , we managed to bring down the armed struggle,
what ever said and done. no way will and sinhalese agree to giving up 1/3 of the land for a less than 8% of the country. a minority become a minority becaue they are the lesser force. obviously they cant dictate terms to the majority. can you name any country where this is possible. All examples of power seperation say, United sates of american , india, northen ireland is based on a geographical power devolution rather than a ethnic or religous power devolution.
can i ask some help on identuifying a county with a ethinic power devolution. also is say texsas or andraprades wants to create their own county , would US or India let that happen?
center for policy alternatives can take a look at the above points
Sham, the minority Sunni muslims of who Saddam Hussein was one, ruled the majority Shia muslims in Iraq for many years until the Americans did away with the Saddam regime.
Anyway when we come to Sri Lanka, the only solution is devolution of power to the minorities. As most sinhalese are against devolution of power, the only other option is to keep fighting!
Some people would rather die on their feet, than live on their knees!
suntzu
what do u want as a devolution of power, assume your the LTTE Leader or devolution of power advocate, while i am a exream sinhalist , tell me what you want as devolution of power as with examples from foreign countries..
Say whats you want – imagine this is a peace negociation
seperate country???
seperate flag and national anthem???
seperate army police navy?
seperate priminister?
land right? can sinhalese own land in ur devloved area/? and vice verca
seperate currency?
awaiting ur reply eagerly.
“A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.”
- Thomas Jefferson -
Sham…ever since independence 69 percent (Sinhala Buddhists) have told 31 percent (Sinhala Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Burgher) what language to speak, what cultural aspects to follow, (ban on the sale of meat, alcohol…closure of film halls ect on full moon days) Giving Buddhism the foremost place where as under the Solbury Constitution all religeons were given equal place. Bringing in standardization of the University entrance in the 1970s and much, much more.
ps: Can you call our flag a national flag? It has a massive lion in the middle with 2 tiny strips for the muslims and the hindus with nothing for the christians! Take a look at the Indian flag…even though there are over 80 percent hindus in India…their flag has 3 equal strips of orange, white and green!
Can a non buddhist become President of Sri Lanka? Probably when hell freezes over…or the day that pigs fly…
And yes…the kind of devolution I think that would suit Sri Lanka is the Indian model!
Sorry suntzu, but the Sinhalese Buddhists are part and parcel of this country. They are what give Sri Lanka its unique nature. Buddhism has historically been the official religion of the country for over 2500 years and has played a role in the country’s affairs which cannot be compared by Hinduism, Christianity or Islam. Just like the ethos of India is Hindu, the ethos of Sri Lanka is Buddhist.
The position of Buddhism in the constituion today is actually a demotion of what it was. For close to 500 years Christians oppressed the Buddhists (and the Hindus), yet I do not see you complaining about that. Whether you like it or not, Buddhism will be mentioned in the constitution and have a central role in the country. There is no way Sinhala Buddhists are going to back down on that.
If you do not want to accept Buddhist holy days, might I suggest as a minority you give up Christmas Day, Easter, Deepavali, Thai Pongal, Navaratri? Why should more than 90% of the country respect something that only about 7% of the country follow (Christmas, Easter) and why should over 80% of the country respect something that only around 15% follow (Deepavali/Thai Pongal)? Why not give up your minority holy days first, then complain about the Sinhalese Buddhist ones?
The Lion Flag is one of the oldest and most beautiful flags in the world. There is no other flag in the world that offers a place to the Tamils. The only flag in the world that has Tamil representation is the Sri Lankan flag. The crimson background in the flag represents all the minority religions. That is an area of the flag much larger than the four bo leaves. Maybe the Buddhists should be complaining that they have been reduced to a minority in the national flag.
And yes, a non-Buddhist can become president of Sri Lanka as much as an African American can become the president of the United States of America.
Sunil…two wrongs don’t make a right! Just because the British oppressed the the Buddhists, doesn’t mean that now the majority Buddhists have a right to oppress the minorities in Sri Lanka!
We are totally happy to have a holiday every poya day…but don’t restrict our freedoms on these days!
You say that the Lion Flag is one of the most beautiful flags in the world…well Sunil, that is a matter of opinion!
If a non-Buddhist can become the leader of this country…why did S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake change his religeon from Christian to Buddhist?
ps: what have you got to say about the new rule on television where any scenes showing smoking or drinking is blacked out? What is the Government hoping to achieve by this? Sri Lanka has become a joke! Long Live the Chinthanaya!
Sinhala Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Burgher) what language to speak, what cultural aspects to follow, (ban on the sale of meat, alcohol…closure of film halls ect on full moon days) Giving Buddhism the foremost place where as under the Solbury Constitution all religeons were given equal place. Bringing in standardization of the University entrance in the 1970s and much, much more.
suntzu, you see where you have gone wrong. you are mixing up religon and race. see according to you hindus muslims buddhist are religions. yet sri lankans are a race, or nationality.. when you can understand that you can understand more. if you can swing a majority motion to chnage the flag, colour of even creater a nation with majority vote your more than welcome to do it. untill that time the majority will do as they pls, while you will be minority.
by the way, can u eat pork in the middle east? so why closing meat shops in Sri Lanka bothering you. just get the meat a day before and eat it mate.
the comments above seem to have forgotten what this article is about. pain and suffering, fear and intolerance.
if in 2007 after decades and decades of war, we are still discussing percentages, property, what our nation should be because of who’s a majority and who’s not..that means we are not ready for peace. we would rather see blood and slaughter than peace. peace is about compromise, it’s about understanding, it’s about a greater good, for everyone.
i guess it will take a few more generations to arrive there.
Suntzu, interesting point about the equal stripes on the Indian flag, care to elaborate what communities they stand for and represent so equitably?
After reading the comments above and recognizing the same ol same ol arguments that have been going round and round for as long as we have had independence I feel all this is pointless. We are politically immature, as a country we have had no real leadership our entire independent years. Even though I am not a great fan of Mahathir Mohamed I am impressed by the way he got all Malaysians – Malays, Chinese, Indians – to feel and be Malaysian. I have no problem with Sinhalese being the national language but it should have been introduced as a unifying factor like Bahasa Malay, instead of a dividing tool. I have no problem with Buddhism being the protected religion of the state, if it didnt mean that you denigrate other religions (we all know what Soma Thera used to say about the Muslims). The sad thing is that the Sinhala Buddhists are so insecure they feel that as the majority it is their right to oppress and insult the minorities. I predict this ethnic problem will continue for a couple of 100 years. We brought it upon ourselves. Even the Sinhalese are not united – caste, location and religion divide them. So perhaps the concept of a nation state is ridiculous. Another western imposition. Before colonialism we were not one country. If we are trotting ancient history as legitimation for how we govern today, lets go back to how we were governed before, and the first thing we should do is divide the country!
To ethnichy,
well mate the beauty of majority (democrasy) is that , you will have to wait until the sinhalees decide to split it or give up the north and part after they get tired of it. ultimately , majority rules…………..
you want to look at models of governments to aspire to? look at canada.