Comments on: Female ex-combatants of LTTE in post-war Sri Lanka

By: Jayathilaka

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:39:14 +0000

i wondered why this has not attracted so many comments like other articles of this topic normaly do. then i read and watched the video and realised there is nothing much to criticise gov or sinhala buddhists here. 🙂

anyway i feel for these women. they have been fighting for thier community willingly or unwillingly and when they return to the families and friends, they reject them. they cant even have a proper marriage now. they have lost respect. The false rumours spread by the pro tiger elemants that they are sexually harassed is having a bad impact on these women. that is one thing why they are being rejected. Even harsh conditions, living in the midst of war have not changed some of these cultural norms. sad!

We have many women’s org. i wonder what they are doing? Help them to educate and to get ajob.

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By: Indira

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:35:08 +0000

Female ex-combatants have limited mobility and freedom, diminished status in the villiage, higher risk of rape and violence and almost no recourse to justice nor institutional, Societal or familial support strutures.
These women must register with the local military camp and police station, and physically present themselves to the camp once a month. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) follow up with visits to their houses. Female ex-combatants are not allowed move outside their district even for work.

We have come accross cases of female ex-combatants being sexually abused and or raped when reporting to the Army Camp monthly. In one case a young woman was called to the Police Station where she was raped by the policeman in his office. As this sexual violence is being acted out by people in positions of authority and power, the victims are too afraid to report this, for fear of retribution.

The CID and military routinely visit the houses of these young women to check up on them. Due to this, villagers are afraid to interact with these young women for fear of attracting military/police attention, isolating these women from the village. As the villagers already treat these women with the shame accorded to victims of rape simply because they were in internment camps, the follow up house visits of the military and police only fuel further rumour and stigma.

These women find it hard to get jobs within their community due to the ostracisation. Due to limitations on their movement placed on them by the state, they cannot find jobs elsewhere, leading to forced dependence.

The military has advised women ex-combatants to get married if they wish to be harassed less, which due to their compromised social status and inability to support themselves has made them the target of exploitative men who are already married, taking them as second wife at best, or just using them in exchange for economic support or security. Which does little to improve the status of these women in their community.

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By: gunadasagamage

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:00:35 +0000

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD IF NECESSARY RE TRAIN THEM IN SKILLS AND EMPLOY THEM.EVERYBODY INCLUDING CIVIL SOSIETY, RELIGIOUS GROUPS MUST WORK TO RESTORE THEM IN THEIR SPIRITUAL LIFE THEY SHOULD NOT BE SOCIAL OUTCASTS BECAUSE OF THEIR ONE TIME INVOVEMENT WITH THE LTTE NO BODY CAN BLAME THEM THEY MUST BE PROVIDED WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR DEGRADATION OR DISRESPECT.THEY ARE SRI LANKAN DAUGHTERS.

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