For those who love Asia, Sri Lanka is one of the nicest places on earth. Its population of 18 million includes Tamils, Muslims and a majority of Singhalese. The island has been compared to the Garden of Eden since ancient times. Earlier known as Ceylan, it has always held conquerors, explorers and travellers under its spell. The world loved to come to Sri Lanka.
This is why it didnt look away as the huge waves hit. It was in December 2004. A tsunami devastated large areas of the Sri Lankan coast. Disputes over aid money have since left the island deeply divided.
Today, the world has turned away from Sri lanka. Tourists arent coming back and civil war has returned, tearing the country apart.
Weve been enemies for the past thirty years. Singhalese have fought against Tamils and Ive seen how civilians have suffered from the conflict since 1983. I dont think any side has emerged as the winner. The past weeks have seen conflict flaring up once again, starting from where it always starts: on the northern Jaffna peninsula. Its a Tamil territory ruled by liberation tigers. They wage a bitter war against Sri Lankan troops. The rebels want to regain this area for good. Fights have also taken a tragic turn with both sides ignoring damage done to the civilian populations and using innocent victims for propaganda purposes. Tamil Tigers have been fighting for independence in the North and East of the country since the seventies. Their struggle developed into full-fledged civil war in 1983. Over two decades, until a cease fire was agreed upon four years ago, this war killed more than 65.000 people.
Many humanitarian organisations, which helped with the reconstruction efforts after the tsunami, are now busy protecting domestic refugees. Food and water supplies in Jaffna have dwindled because the roads, now closed, cross rebel territory. We are lacking basic food. We only get tiny portions of sugar and cereal. Prices are tree times what they used to be and theres practically no petrol left. Parents cant feed their children anymore. The situation is dramatic. Even though reality looks different, both Tamils and Singhalese politicians are serious about achieving a peace agreement. G.G.Ponnambalam, Member of Parliament, Tamil Congress ( English)
I think the international community has to understand that violence can only end through putting necessary pressure on the government in Colombo. A military resolution of the conflict is out of the question. War is unacceptable. I can only see progress through negociation. We believe that the international community must try everything to make this clear to the government.
Tamils have found a tough political adversary in Signhalese president Rajapakse. He wants to preserve the unity of the state and rejects the Tamil demands for decentralisation. This position secures him the votes of the singhalese nationalist faction. By cutting off drinking water supplies in the North, Tamil rebels have triggered a new round of violence. Tens of thousands, mostly Singhalese, had no access to drinking water for days. The army retaliated with bombs, before marching in with 3000 men. The military escalation reached a sad culminating point with the deaths of 61Tamil pupils in the bombings. Only days later, 17 locals working for a French aids organisation were executed, shot through the head. Except for one, they were all Tamils. Until now, no one has dared to admit this taboo breach. Politicians fear that reluctance to start a new civil war seems to have vanished on both sides.
OT Ferial Ashraff, minister for the industry (English)
Distrust has grown dramatically in the past years. I think weve reached a point at which we cant possibly trust each other anymore. No matter what arguments are used, theyre all rejected. I think this situation has led to the imminent start of a new war. Weapons and not diplomacy have long had the last word here. Except for a few, foreign mediators should all leave the country. Austria as well as Norway had contributed with some success to keeping peace in Sri Lanka. Now this will be a lot harder. Especially now, the world shouldnt look the other way. The fate of thousands in North-Eastern Sri Lanka is at stake.
Weve been enemies for the past thirty years. Singhalese have fought against Tamils and Ive seen how civilians have suffered from the conflict since 1983. I dont think any side has emerged as the winner. The past weeks have seen conflict flaring up once again, starting from where it always starts: on the northern Jaffna peninsula. Its a Tamil territory ruled by liberation tigers. They wage a bitter war against Sri Lankan troops. The rebels want to regain this area for good. Fights have also taken a tragic turn with both sides ignoring damage done to the civilian populations and using innocent victims for propaganda purposes. Tamil Tigers have been fighting for independence in the North and East of the country since the seventies. Their struggle developed into full-fledged civil war in 1983. Over two decades, until a cease fire was agreed upon four years ago, this war killed more than 65.000 people.
Many humanitarian organisations, which helped with the reconstruction efforts after the tsunami, are now busy protecting domestic refugees. Food and water supplies in Jaffna have dwindled because the roads, now closed, cross rebel territory. We are lacking basic food. We only get tiny portions of sugar and cereal. Prices are tree times what they used to be and theres practically no petrol left. Parents cant feed their children anymore. The situation is dramatic. Even though reality looks different, both Tamils and Singhalese politicians are serious about achieving a peace agreement. G.G.Ponnambalam, Member of Parliament, Tamil Congress ( English)
I think the international community has to understand that violence can only end through putting necessary pressure on the government in Colombo. A military resolution of the conflict is out of the question. War is unacceptable. I can only see progress through negociation. We believe that the international community must try everything to make this clear to the government.
Tamils have found a tough political adversary in Signhalese president Rajapakse. He wants to preserve the unity of the state and rejects the Tamil demands for decentralisation. This position secures him the votes of the singhalese nationalist faction. By cutting off drinking water supplies in the North, Tamil rebels have triggered a new round of violence. Tens of thousands, mostly Singhalese, had no access to drinking water for days. The army retaliated with bombs, before marching in with 3000 men. The military escalation reached a sad culminating point with the deaths of 61Tamil pupils in the bombings. Only days later, 17 locals working for a French aids organisation were executed, shot through the head. Except for one, they were all Tamils. Until now, no one has dared to admit this taboo breach. Politicians fear that reluctance to start a new civil war seems to have vanished on both sides.
OT Ferial Ashraff, minister for the industry (English)
Distrust has grown dramatically in the past years. I think weve reached a point at which we cant possibly trust each other anymore. No matter what arguments are used, theyre all rejected. I think this situation has led to the imminent start of a new war. Weapons and not diplomacy have long had the last word here. Except for a few, foreign mediators should all leave the country. Austria as well as Norway had contributed with some success to keeping peace in Sri Lanka. Now this will be a lot harder. Especially now, the world shouldnt look the other way. The fate of thousands in North-Eastern Sri Lanka is at stake.