On
August 14th, 2006, Sri Lankan forces engaged in an
air raid which killed 63 teenage schoolgirls, leaving 129
wounded in the northern Sri Lanka region of Mullathivu. The Sri
Lankan region as a whole has harbored a 20 year conflict between
the Sinhalese majority government and the Liberation Tamil
Tigers of Eelam, in which cases of genocide, civilian massacres,
rape, torture and human rights violations are rampant, claiming
tens of thousands of lives. Between 1983 and 2002, an estimated
60,000 deaths have resulted from the armed conflict between the
Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE
or Tamil Tigers). In 2002, a peace process sponsored by Norway
and other countries in the international community including
Canada brought a temporary end to the ongoing conflict. However,
this ceasefire, which has lasted a total of 54 months, is now on
the verge of collapsing, as the government sponsored military
and paramilitary assault against the Tamil population has led to
countless casualties and has sparked a great deal of
condemnation amongst the international community. The situation
has deteriorated to a point in which foreign assistance and
peacekeeping are vital in order to preserve human rights and
ensure that this conflict is brought to an end.
There are
frequent reports of torture by the Sri Lankan police. Some of
the victims have sought reparations through formal legal
processes; however, their pleas are being forcibly withdrawn by
Sri Lankan officials. In addition, there have been reports of
individuals being killed while under police custody. Gerald
Perera, a torture victim, attempting to present incriminating
evidence against seven policemen in the High Court, was shot and
killed on November 21st. In August 2006, the National
Police Commission announced that they will be addressing the
issue of police torture. They also added that they will take
control of their police officers while revoking the previous
authority of the Inspector General Police (IGP) as it pertains
to issues relating to disciplinary matters for officers below
the rank of inspector. Providing a critical response, the
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) established a Torture
Prevention and Monitoring Unit to investigate charges and
initiate surprise checks at detention centers. Not surprisingly,
in September the IGP issued a statement that was based on the
Attorney General's advice that would require the NHRC to notify
senior police officials before making any inspections.
The
Sinhalese government has been responsible for the systematic
ethnic cleansing of non-Buddhist populations and has thereby
engaged in a campaign of genocide against the Tamil population.
Consequently, the LTTE has responded with violent attacks
against the Sinhalese government, in hopes of achieving rights
to a Tamil-operated homeland that would be free of
discrimination. That being said, it is important to recognize
that while the LTTE should be seen as a resistance movement
defending credible grievances, particularly the argument for an
independent state that is free from Sinhalese domination and
brutality, the tactics they utilize should be equally condemned.
The LTTE-affiliated
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) won a majority of the seats in the
north-east over the government headed by the President's United
People's Freedom Alliance. Nevertheless, it is important to
point out that vote rigging, intimidation and violence have
marred elections in this region. After the election, Colonel
Karuna, the LTTE eastern commander, split from the group taking
with him a number of cadres. As a result, LTTE troops engaged
him and the group soon disbanded. Nevertheless, he continues to
speak out against the LTTE and joined the Eelam National
Democratic Liberation Front. Throughout 2004, violence,
including assassinations and widespread child recruitment, in
the east remained constant tension between LTTE and Karuna
supporters. It has been reported that over 1,600 child soldiers
from the east who have been disbanded after fighting with
Colonel Karuna are being re-recruited by the LTTE following
their loss after the disband.
In Sri
Lanka, Buddhist villagers are reported to have been attacking
Christian groups in the southern region of the country. In
addition, riots between various Muslim sects in the east have
resulted in instances of widespread violence including arson and
vandalism, forcing families to flee their homes for safety. The
same tension exists between Muslims and Tamils in other areas in
the country – particularly, in Mannar and Akkaraipattu.
Over
one-quarter of Sri Lanka's Tamil population have left the
country in an attempt to escape governmental and LTTE brutality.
Despite their attempts, those who have escaped the turmoil are
still systematically pressured by the LTTE from overseas. When
Tamils from the West visit family members, they are pressured to
provide funds in LTTE-controlled areas in the North. They are
told that they may not leave if they do not produce the
requested amount of ransom. Failure to do so may even result in
the confiscation of their passports.
Governments of countries that hold a substantial population of
Tamils have a responsibility to protect individuals from these
abuses. A proactive reaction, including police investigations,
prosecutions and public outreach to the community, should be
taken. That being said, this should not translate into support
for the Sri Lankan government and their paramilitaries nor
should this be taken as free reign to harass the Tamil
community. The root of this conflict is the abuses of the
Sinhalese government which should be subjected to international
and internal pressure first and foremost. From there, legitimate
Tamil grievances with the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE
opposition must be addressed separately from the selfish goals
of these two groups. Mainly, Tamil independence must be
addressed or perhaps steps can be taken in order to create
substantial reforms in Sri Lanka that will not result in this
split which could plausibly bring more problems to the
forefront. Either way, the abuse on all sides must cease, and
the Tamil population must be given a legitimate chance to create
a collective position, free from intimidation from the Sinhalese
government and the Tamil Tigers.
