Sri Lanka – Images of a divided nation
An article, in Sinhala, based on the findings of Social Indicator’s Peace Confidence Index, first published in Mawbima on 7th January 2007. Read the full article here.
Continue reading »Archive for the ‘IDPs and Refugees’
Daily Security Report from UN – The plight of the North & East
Got this in my email today – paints a bleak picture of the North and East of Sri Lanka. Don’t know to whom this situation update goes to, but I’m sure there must be many like it that collaborate the findings noted in this report. Security situation is tense and the level of threat is high in the areas where fighting occurs in the North and East, including in the districts of Killinochchi and Mulathivu due to possible air strikes. Exchange of shelling between the LTTE and the SLA continues. Security is tightened in towns with large presence of military and Police. Restriction of movements into the affected areas is still in force in Jaffna and essential movements are only allowed into the LTTE controlled areas in the East with the approval of ASC. Protest demonstrations have been organised by the Muslim community after the prayers in the Muslim areas in the Eastern Coastal (sic). Most of the shops are…
Continue reading »Review of “Ethnic Warfare in Sri Lanka and the UN Crisis†by William Clarance
Speaking in early December 2006 to an assorted group of representatives from local and international humanitarian agencies in Colombo, I began my speech with the most virulent expletives imaginable. I then enquired as to why cuss-words are considered impolite, when we blithely utter words that describe a reality far more abhorrent – such as IDPs, refugees, conflict. The situation in Sri Lanka today is unfortunately one in which the full gamut of excuses and alibis, from national security to political correctness and caution, are run to evade the responsibility of basic human decency and rights protection. The employment of language that shocked, to illustrate the real obscenity that constitutes egregious human rights violations and violations of humanitarian standards in Sri Lanka and drew attention to the imperative of action in respect of preventing such abuses, was fortunately understood by those present. Accordingly, it is with great interest that I picked up a copy of “Ethnic Warfare in Sri Lanka and…
Continue reading »Remembering the tsunami – along the south coast…
A couple of days ago (26th), I travelled along the South Coast, leaving Colombo early in the morning. I was with a friend who had come here to film some stuff relating to the second year since the tsunami. A translator also accompanied us. Our first stop was Peraliya – that place where the wave got the train killing some 1,200 people. To mark the second anniversary, a giant Buddha statue (based on the one that was blown up by the Taliban) was going to be ‘opened’ by the President and other digniteries. We didn’t want to hang around, and kept heading down the coast. Around 9am, we came across a small church. They were going to hold a service that included both Buddhist monks and Christian priests – a dual-denomination event. It was small and there was a sense of intimacy. We hung around and filmed parts of the service. There’s a long way to go – according to…
Continue reading »Human Shields In The Battle Of Sri Lanka
The SLMM in a statement on Dec 12 said they are concerned over the alarming situation in Vakarai. They pointed to the LTTE failing to protect civilians by restricting their movement, and the SLMM being refused access by the army due to security reasons. People are questioning whether there is human security in Sri Lanka, especially in North-East war affected areas, where civilians live as human shields, whether they are willing to or not. Behind this there are many political issues for both the government and LTTE. In the past, the UN, SLMM, and human rights organizations have failed to take effective steps to stop this. They only issue statements condemning both parties some times. Closure of A9 highway to Jaffna and A15 to Vaharai has created many problems such as food shortages, other basic needs and lack of security for civilians. While the human shield issue is the face of the problem, there are other issues behind it. This…
Continue reading »Conflict Situation in Trinco
From my visit to Kantale I can say that Sinhalese people from Seru Nuwara Division are facing human security problems due to artillery and motor strikes from LTTE-controlled Vaharai area. Also over 30,000 people in ‘Vaharai’ are under house arrest, because the LTTE is not allowing them to go to a safe place. The people are facing lots of problems. They don’t have enough food, medicine, education, government services and basic needs. Most of them are living in refugee camps. Already, retaliation of government force to LTTE motor, artillery attack is affecting civilians. The situation is affecting both communities of Sinhalese and Tamils. On Dec 8 the LTTE started retaliating against government strike. On the first day a Sinhala school was targeted by artillery strikes where a teacher and a student were killed and over ten students injured. Regarding this issue, the students union is going to call a hartal in Kantale on Dec 11. Also O/L examination period is…
Continue reading »Situation in Vakarai
About 25,000 refugees in the Vakarai region of Batticaloa need assistance urgently in terms of food, medicines, shelter, water and sanitation. They have been facing shortages for over a month, and I received my information from refugees who had left from Vakarai about 4 days ago. The government sector is also not functioning so there are no schools and medical facilities. A convoy with essential items was turned back yesterday by the army from Mankerni base. The army gave the reason that LTTE artillery attacks on Kajuwatte camp made it unsafe. The LTTE spokesman Illanthirayan denies this and says there was no firing by the LTTE on Tuesday. On Wedneday, another convoy of essential goods is preparing to go to Vakarai. About 3,500 LTTE cadres are in Vakarai, according to the IDPs. The LTTE says they are providing humanitarian help for the camps, because the people are from LTTE controlled areas. The people there are feeling isolated because they can’t…
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