There "is" hope for Peace in Sri Lanka - Article on: People to People connectivity in Peace Interaction

I wanted to share an amazing article which is a transcript of a speech on "People to People connectivity and Peace interaction: redefining heritage for conflict resolution" by Sudharshan Seneviratne - an University of Peradeniya Scholar.

It was sent to me a few weeks back and I have now finally gotten around to finishing reading it. The persons ideas are very interesting and positive and I have included a few excerpts to give the gist of the article (otherwise you might be like me and not get around to reading it for ages). It was a speech delivered 2 years ago, but it's message is timeless.

I think it is very worthy to send this message at this point in time because I believe there really is hope for Sri Lanka to address the most important issues that have lead to this ethnic conflict in the first place - namely a lack of appreciation of how we are all connected no matter who we are.

I feel the contents of this article help - because it highlights that the solution is already written in our collective cultures and the history of Sri Lanka.

Here are just a few excepts from attached document (it is better that you read the whole thing rather than just this - i don't want to change the overall tone of the prose by presenting excepts, however hopefully this will catch your eye and wet your appetite to want to read more : -

"While South Asia celebrates a vibrant history of cultural pluralism and diversity, there is a tragic contradiction posed by conflicts triggered off on the basis of imagined racial lines."

" Heritage in the main is viewed as a source of people to people connectivity in conflict resolution. It seeks to understand the Pre Colonial heritage and question exclusiveness against inclusiveness; grassroots level peoples’ connectivity cutting across ethnic, language, religious and political divides juxtaposed to divisions imposed from above by Colonialism and later by local decision-makers. It looks at heritage as an idiom that expresses a common language of humanity where people reach out to each other for understanding, sharing and co-existence."

"Towards an alternative dialogue: heritage and conflict resolution
The cultural landscape of South Asia essentially represents a habitat of multi-cultural and varied biological identities. In contemporary South Asia we possess ethnic, language, religious and religio-cultural diversity providing its regional society with multiple identities."

"While Archaeology and history are subjects that are effectively used by all contending parties in conflicts where the past is subverted in creating imagined identities, conversely archaeology and heritage studies are perhaps the best avenues that could rectify the process of cultural plurality and demythifying all forms of parochialisms in a scientific manner and place alternative histories before the next generation for a better and rational understanding of the past. The mind set must be reoriented beyond the mono country and monoculture and be exposed to cross-regional and cross-cultural horizons."

"In order to further activate a dialogue with the past supporting conflict resolution, the Department of Archaeology, University of Peradeniya took cognizance of this situation and structured its curriculum in training the next generation of archaeologists and heritage managers in the most professional manner in reading the past devoid of any inhibitions and parochialisms.....The aim of this program was to familiarize the young archaeologists on the common heritage south India and Sri Lanka shared and to negate the fallacy of considering south India as the ‘other’ region and Tamil speaking people as enemies due to activities of the LTTE. "

" In spite of recurring upheavals I am positively optimistic about the wisdom of the people in our region to rise above abysmal parochialisms and reach out to each other with sanity and understanding on cultural connectivity and our shared heritage as a point of convergence “beyond the bloody dances of death” (Bhan 2006:99). "

If you found this article as interesting and as inspirational as I did then please pass it on.

A truly Unified Sri Lanka need the work of us all

There is still much hope for a unified and diverse Sri Lanka - however it is not going to fall on the table - We all have to contribute to help CREATE IT and PROMOTE THIS.

I have noticed that there are presently many LTTE Diaspora overseas are waving LTTE flags and seemly don't really understand what who this organisation is who they are supporting, nor do they understand the situation in Sri Lanka. They are also posting inflammatory and ill-informed statements on internet discussion groups.

Sadly i do not think this activity will act to help "heal sri lanka" which is what I believe is needed.

Similarly many Ultra -Nationalist Sinhalese are not helping the situation (who also post inflammatory statements on the internet and egg-ing on further meaningless debate).

Now is the time for the moderate peaceful people to speak out. Now is the time for people who care about Sri Lanka not to just focus on what is going wrong - but to create more of what is going write. I believe this group is just one group that is http://srilankan-diaspora.org/

[excerpt]

"Vision:
Making peace is more difficult than making war. But a start has to be made somewhere. It is hoped that this dialogue will be one of many endevours leading to a road map for all communities in Sri Lanka to co-exit in a non-violent environment."

When i see something that makes sense - I like to promote it.

Again these are just my thoughts, hopes and aspiration for a Unified Peaceful Sri Lanka that i'd like to share with you. I would like to hear your positive view on this suggestion.

Take care and stay in touch.

Please share your thoughts either with me or my blog

It's time to start the process of unity in diversity!

God Bless
Theruwan Saranai
Om Shanti
Inshalla

Love and Peace

Bishan :)

There "is" hope for Peace in Sri Lanka - Article on: People to People connectivity in Peace Interaction

I wanted to share an amazing article which is a transcript of a speech on "People to People connectivity and Peace interaction: redefining heritage for conflict resolution" by Sudharshan Seneviratne - an University of Peradeniya Scholar.

It was sent to me a few weeks back and I have now finally gotten around to finishing reading it. The persons ideas are very interesting and positive and I have included a few excerpts to give the gist of the article (otherwise you might be like me and not get around to reading it for ages). It was a speech delivered 2 years ago, but it's message is timeless.

I think it is very worthy to send this message at this point in time because I believe there really is hope for Sri Lanka to address the most important issues that have lead to this ethnic conflict in the first place - namely a lack of appreciation of how we are all connected no matter who we are.

I feel the contents of this article help - because it highlights that the solution is already written in our collective cultures and the history of Sri Lanka.

Here are just a few excepts from attached document (it is better that you read the whole thing rather than just this - i don't want to change the overall tone of the prose by presenting excepts, however hopefully this will catch your eye and wet your appetite to want to read more : -

"While South Asia celebrates a vibrant history of cultural pluralism and diversity, there is a tragic contradiction posed by conflicts triggered off on the basis of imagined racial lines."

" Heritage in the main is viewed as a source of people to people connectivity in conflict resolution. It seeks to understand the Pre Colonial heritage and question exclusiveness against inclusiveness; grassroots level peoples’ connectivity cutting across ethnic, language, religious and political divides juxtaposed to divisions imposed from above by Colonialism and later by local decision-makers. It looks at heritage as an idiom that expresses a common language of humanity where people reach out to each other for understanding, sharing and co-existence."

"Towards an alternative dialogue: heritage and conflict resolution
The cultural landscape of South Asia essentially represents a habitat of multi-cultural and varied biological identities. In contemporary South Asia we possess ethnic, language, religious and religio-cultural diversity providing its regional society with multiple identities."

"While Archaeology and history are subjects that are effectively used by all contending parties in conflicts where the past is subverted in creating imagined identities, conversely archaeology and heritage studies are perhaps the best avenues that could rectify the process of cultural plurality and demythifying all forms of parochialisms in a scientific manner and place alternative histories before the next generation for a better and rational understanding of the past. The mind set must be reoriented beyond the mono country and monoculture and be exposed to cross-regional and cross-cultural horizons."

"In order to further activate a dialogue with the past supporting conflict resolution, the Department of Archaeology, University of Peradeniya took cognizance of this situation and structured its curriculum in training the next generation of archaeologists and heritage managers in the most professional manner in reading the past devoid of any inhibitions and parochialisms.....The aim of this program was to familiarize the young archaeologists on the common heritage south India and Sri Lanka shared and to negate the fallacy of considering south India as the ‘other’ region and Tamil speaking people as enemies due to activities of the LTTE. "

" In spite of recurring upheavals I am positively optimistic about the wisdom of the people in our region to rise above abysmal parochialisms and reach out to each other with sanity and understanding on cultural connectivity and our shared heritage as a point of convergence “beyond the bloody dances of death” (Bhan 2006:99). "


If you found this article as interesting and as inspirational as I did then please pass it on.

A truly Unified Sri Lanka need the work of us all

There is still much hope for a unified and diverse Sri Lanka - however it is not going to fall on the table - We all have to contribute to help CREATE IT and PROMOTE THIS.

I have noticed that there are presently many LTTE Diaspora overseas are waving LTTE flags and seemly don't really understand what who this organisation is who they are supporting, nor do they understand the situation in Sri Lanka. They are also posting inflammatory and ill-informed statements on internet discussion groups.

Sadly i do not think this activity will act to help "heal sri lanka" which is what I believe is needed.

Similarly many Ultra -Nationalist Sinhalese are not helping the situation (who also post inflammatory statements on the internet and egg-ing on further meaningless debate).

Now is the time for the moderate peaceful people to speak out. Now is the time for people who care about Sri Lanka not to just focus on what is going wrong - but to create more of what is going write. I believe this group is just one group that is http://srilankan-diaspora.org/

[excerpt]
"Vision:
Making peace is more difficult than making war. But a start has to be made somewhere. It is hoped that this dialogue will be one of many endevours leading to a road map for all communities in Sri Lanka to co-exit in a non-violent environment."


When i see something that makes sense - I like to promote it.

Again these are just my thoughts, hopes and aspiration for a Unified Peaceful Sri Lanka that i'd like to share with you. I would like to hear your positive view on this suggestion.

Take care and stay in touch.

Please share your thoughts either with me or my blog

It's time to start the process of unity in diversity!

God Bless
Theruwan Saranai
Om Shanti
Inshalla

Love and Peace

Bishan :)

A great step in the direction of "lasting Peace" in Sri Lanka

Dear friends

Asia tribune has written an article about latest developments in Sri Lanka where the Sri Lankan Diaspora abroad have held talks in Colombo with officials - with resultant positive outcomes at this early stage (see below). I have supplied the link below, as well as the entire transcript at the end of the email. There is a call upon all who are willing to help to do so, with many suggestions of how included.

http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/16728

Also the link to the website called "The Sri Lankan Diaspora - dialogue for peace"

http://srilankan-diaspora.org/

Below i have also included excerpt from an interview with a Leader of the Tamil Diaspora - with a very insightful interview into one perspective of a Tamil Diaspora group

This interview and perspective illustrates that journey to peace is not going to be easy - but I believe with open communication and effort on both sides (as I believe is already starting to happen) it will be possible.

Please forward this email to spread these important articles which offer real hope of how peace and understanding can be spread with regards to Sri Lanka - as I believe these articles aim to do.

Peace in Sri Lanka
and Peace on Earth

love
Bishan

ps sorry to bombard you with emails in the last few days - I will not be sending more group emails for some time! (I just felt that this was an important one - if you are interested in the development in Sri Lanka the asia tribune article is important to read, and the sri lankan diaspora website is worth checking out!)

http://peaceandunity-bishan.blogspot.com/

“Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong”

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

“Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected”

(quotes by Mahatma Gandhi)

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that"

(Martin Luther King, Jr.)



Asia Tribune article - 11-4-09

Thousands of lives would have been saved if Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora were invited long time ago

Sat, 2009-04-11 05:11

By Henry Sathananthan from Australia

Twenty one of us went to Colombo to get help for our refugees (IDPs) in the North by invitation of the foreign minister, the Hon. Mr. Bogalagama. This was the first time a foreign minister invited the Tamil Diaspora for direct talks in a 2 day conference organized in Colombo, for which we are very thankful. The Government listened to us, one to one, each with diverse opinions and we initiated a constructive dialogue.

This should have been done a long time ago and would have saved thousands of lives. We opened the door for further negotiation for anyone who wants to go and we will facilitate this to the best of our ability.

The talks were cordial and various matters were discussed including the rehabilitation of the IDPs, devolution, discrimination of Tamils by successive governments, safety of the people in the war zone, resettlement, medical aid etc., focussing on the immediate future of the Tamils.

We also met four other ministers and their secretaries, including the Basil Rajapakse, who elaborated at length about the rehabilitation of the East, which was impressive. Dr.Tissa Vithana spoke to us about devolution which was most encouraging. We also met some Tamil politicians but not the TNA who were conspicuously absent, and asked them to help the people in the North. We believe that the TNA must go to their electorates and help the IDPs, which is their responsibility.

When I met the foreign minister in October 2008 in Melbourne with Dr.Nadesan, I requested him to open up the roads and allow our IDPs to go anywhere they like to settle, which he agreed to in Colombo among other concessions, which will be elaborated in our website in due course by other members of our team.

We represented ourselves as individuals members of the Diaspora and seek nothing in return. I represented my forefathers and my father, the late C.Arunachalam. We hardly knew each other before we met in Colombo.

Since our mission was primarily to help the IDPs, I undertook urgent medical needs for the IDPs and met the Secretary Health Ministry on 30th March 2009, in keeping with my expertise, which was agreed to at the conference. We will do our best to help these people who have nothing left, except maybe there homes or land.

The government has given them shelter, food and some medical aid and now it is our turn to help, irrespective of our political affiliations. The government cannot do this alone, since they have to look after, the soldiers, as well. The news this week has not been good. We have lost more innocent lives and a generation of youth on both sides in this conflict, our own children - a tragedy indeed! We may be able to stop this by further negotiation, if the Tamil Diaspora all over the world are willing to do so now.

Here are the stats:-

* 60,000 IDPs in government welfare camps – more coming day by day- many injured or maimed

* 60,000 or more trapped in 20 sq Km in the “safety zone” under LTTE control (Peace Council)

* 14 IDP camps in Vavuniya (see table attached) – one was visited by some of us

* 1 camp in Ambepussa – 39 youth who surrendered – we saw it and were impressed

Urgent needs from Health Ministry:-

* Anaesthetists

* Orthopaedics surgeons

* Psychologists

* Physiotherapists & Occupational therapists

* Drugs and bandages (drugs approved by Ministry – are cheaper in SL)

* Cheddikullam hospital – equipment and doctors – instruments cheaper in SL

* Upgrade Mannar and Vavuniya hospitals

* Nurses and Counsellors

* Tents for refugees and doctors in camps

Sri Lankan, Indian and French doctors are already there plus 14 NGOs - local and international

Doctors need to work at least 1 month – security, transport in SL and house? will be provided.

So I appeal to all doctors and paramedics in the Diaspora – Tamil, Sinhalese, Burgher, Muslim and also Australians. We have to work closely with the Health Ministry and Sri Lankan doctors

Other needs for IDPs. These will be addressed by other members of our group eventually

* Food and nutrition

* Beds and sheets

* Schools, teachers, books

* Computers and CDs, DVDs, PPTs

* Prostheses

• Toys

Yes we can :-

* Sponsor a student or orphan in a school

* Sponsor a family for rehabilitation

* Rehab a whole village – build homes

* Ask your relatives in SL to give a home to a family – anywhere in Sri Lanka

* Contribute funds to ICRC or camps, churches, temples or open your bank account in SL

I urge the Tamil Diaspora and all Sri Lankans to come forward in the darkest hour of our tormented history. Don’t take a back seat now, politics apart. The IDPs of all communities need your support, now or never. They have suffered long enough. They are our own people – not so fortunate as we all are. They have to be resettled and cannot live in camps for the rest of their lives. This is their hour of greatest need. Please visit http://srilankan-diaspora.org/ for images of refugees and other information

We lived as one not so long ago, remember our school and university days and the free education we had? Lets work together to help our motherland and our peoples.

Arunachalam Henry Sathananthan Professor, Monash Immunolgy & Stem Cell Laboratories, Monash University

- ASian Tribune -


(excerpts from ) "The Sri Lankan Diaspora - dialogue for peace"

http://srilankan-diaspora.org/2009/04/bridge-the-trust-deficit-a-tamil-diaspora-leader-tells-president-rajapaksa/#more-36

Bridge the trust deficit, a Tamil diaspora leader tells President Rajapaksa

By K.T.Rajasingham

mathiandvathanan1img_assist_customCopenhagen, 06 April, (Asiantribune.com):

‘My eldest brother must pave the way for the Tamils living abroad to come back and work for Sri Lanka’, Mathi Kumaraturai (38), a leader of the Tamil Diaspora from Denmark, told the Asian Tribune, saying ‘For me Sri Lanka President is my eldest brother. He must remove the trust deficit that is responsible for the ethnic divide in the country’.....

Even in the conference in Colombo, Government leaders avoided the existence of an ethnic issue in the country. They very tactfully gave prominence to fight against terrorism and once the battle to defeat the terrorists is over then they will endeavor to bring about solutions to issues confronting the Tamil community. They just simply lectured to us.......

But I wish to point it out to the President of Sri Lanka and the people of Sri Lanka that the Government without bringing a reasonable and acceptable solution to the issues affecting the Tamils, it will never get either my support or the support of the entire Tamil Community who are in Sri Lanka as well as from those like me living in foreign countries.......

No one should think that I am saying this with some ulterior motives. I just expressed, as a Tamil, the views of Tamils.....

We consider the President as an honest person. We observed that he wanted to solve the issues and win the hearts and minds of the people. Unfortunately he hasn’t got one right thinking Tamil man as his advisor to advice on the Tamils’ mentality......

It is unfortunate. All those surrounding him wanted to make him an uncrowned leader of Sinhalese, but they failed to advise him to be a Sri Lankan statesman. We are thankful to the President for making some portion of his address also in Tamil language in the last UN General Assembly......

I would not have addressed him as “Excellency”. Because as a President, I consider him as my “Elder Brother”. Therefore it is his bounden duty to treat the Tamils as his own brothers and sisters and win their minds and hearts.

He should understand that outside Sri Lanka there are thousands and thousands of Tamil who are professionals who can help him in building the country and also invest in the infrastructure of the country. These Tamil professionals are itching to come to Sri Lanka and build it with all the others. But it is the moral duty of the President, Government and the people of Sri Lanka to make these Tamils living abroad to feel that Sri Lank as their home."

Melbourne Riots

Beyond the pain of this ongong conflict here in Sri Lanka, I have know that there has been tensions flaring between the Sinhalese and Tamils diasporas in places much more close to my other homes in Australia and New Zealand.

However it was with great saddness that there was a clash between a group of Sinhala and Tamil people peacefully protesting in Melbourne.

The google search for melbourne riots and Sri Lanka picked up

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/tamil-peace-march-attacked-sinhalese-melbourne#comment-337820 (1st hit)

http://sinhale.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/melbourne-tigers-become-violent-attack-people-and-damage-shops/ (3rd hit)

There are quite disparaging reports available on the internet as to who started the brawl, I have my suspicions based upon what I have read. However, who started the clash is not what matters the most to me (although it is of some significance), but rather it is the the discussion that follows by expatriats who have grown up as citizens of the same country - ie Australia.

I really think it is time for us to use our "intellect" and "compassion" to approach this terrible escalating situation of hatred.

I posted the following comment just now after reading some of the 21 comments written after the posting of the article (mine is the 22nd comment on the first link, but reproduced here for you). I really feel it is time for us to start expressing our views (with care). I would love to hear your responses to what I have said from all my friends and others who i don't know for that matter. Please speak your mind, but do so gently for everyones sake - i like dialogue, not destruction!

Start of comment

0

• reply

Bishan Rajapakse (not verified)

at 11:01 on April 6th, 2009

Dear friends

I am a Sri Lankan, Sinhalese person who was born in Sri Lanka but left there at age 6 months of age. I've lived most of my life in New Zealand during which time I had equal numbers of Sinhalese and Tamil friends - we all had amazing times growing up together but never really talked about the politics of Sri Lanka. Some of my Tamil friends were, and still are, the the closest friends I have, and the most amazing people I have met. Similarly some of my Sinhalese friends from NZ and Australia are the most amazing people in the world to me. And to add to this I am fortunate to have wonderful friends in Sri Lanka from all races - however the purpose of this post is not to talk about my blessings of having good friends - there is something important I want to communicate.

I returned to Sri Lanka 3 years ago, carrying my western background on my shoulders as I have been doing a PhD here which has taken me all around the island, from Anurahdapura, to Polonnaruwa, to Chillaw, to Kandy, to Galle, to Beruwalla and hopefully soon to Jaffna and Kilinnochi.

During this journey I have seen such cultural diversity and learned that the people of Sri Lanka are amazing in so many ways.

I have also learned Sinhalese during my time here and am currently learning Tamil. There are many problems with the Sri Lankan government such which are found in this region such as corruption and lack of accountability (however there is that also in countries such as western countries). Sri Lanka has witnessed terrible atrocities against the Tamil people for which I personally feel sorry for despite having no connect. However I also feel very sorry for the countless suicide bombings that have killed so many innocent people

I have one question, one statement, and one plea for the people in this forum

1 Question : Can you not see that we are all one race - the human race. Brothers and sisters? The sooner we realise this at every juncture - even when writing in forums like this the better. We all have mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. WE all have children in our communities. Children a beautiful gems of innocence - can you not see that it doesn't matter where they come from they are the same. When i treat a patient it doesn't matter to me if they Tamil, Sinhala, Muslim or Burgher - i know this is the case for the docotrs that I have worked with in Sri Lanka - How do I know because I have worked with them - not because i'm chanting someone elses mantra - are you? I know that direct experience is the closest to the truth that I can get.

1 Statement: The Sri Lankan government is "not" having a war on Tamil Civilians, and is not trying to wipe out a race. I believe there is discrimination against (all) minorities in this country, and that situation needs to be improved here (just as discrimination against minorites has to be addressed in all countries around the world) , however, Sri Lanka it is "not" trying to wipe out Tamils in this country as many people in this forum are stating.

This is simply not true

This war is terrible and I am not for it, and i never have been (because for me it means we just haven't explored enough other possibilites). However, not being for the war does not mean I support the blatant lie that the current war is targetting Tamil civilians. It is a war against the LTTE a bonified terrorist organisation - or even a Freedom fighter movement (entertaining alternative perspectives as I like to) that is continually trying to paralyse the running of the country with suicide bombings.

There is clear evidence that LTTE have been and are currently using the civilians as human shields often against the will of the very people they claim to support.

There is no comment about this, in this forum, from those who are so vehemently in favour of this group.

The LTTE is even shooting at their own civillians when they want to leave to government safety. I know this because the civillians from the northern province sometimes come to the Anuradhapura hospital for treatment.

And who are the LTTE soldiers on the battlefield? 12-16 year old girls who have been forcibly conscripted and trained as snipers. I met soldier who had just been discharged out of hospital two days ago after being shot by one such person, telling how they have to shoot because these children are sent to the front line with the orders to shoot. They were given the option of surrendering by they army but they are not permitted by the LTTE.

It is a terrible thing this war. Imagine the psychological scars off all people considered.

These soliders I met had no malice against the Tamil people. I have no direct experience with the LTTE cardres., but certainly I have heard many reports amongst Anuradhapura doctors about conversations with patients who had come from the wanni who were convinced that Sinhalese because they all want to kill them - and this is the doctrine of the LTTE.

Sri Lanka is not performing Genocide

In the last year I have lived and worked closely with people from all the racial and religious minorities in Kandy and Polonnaruwa. We all shared our stories, food, knowledge of cultural practices, we all worked as one. Where I work at the moment sinhalese doctors are trying to attend classes to learn Tamil in their spare time (and it is a government requirement for them to do so to progress to the next level. When travelleing in Wellawatte in Colombo right now the predominate language you hear spoken is Tamil - is this a country that is trying to wipe out a race - why would they want to? Tamils are part of the community and the cultural diversity that makes up Sri Lanka. The day before independance day (3rd Feb 2009) there was a Hindu festival down our street where the Hindu community (predominantly sri lankan tamils) where proudly parading down the street in full costume, with smiling onlookers of other ethinic and religious backgrounds - the way it should be - and the way it "is" - please open your eyes. I am not saying there are no tamil grievances - but this idea of genocide that or that sri lanka is against tamil people is completely wrong.

I challenge anyone who says otherwise to state what their "direct" experience of Sri Lanka right now in 2009 April is in relation to their view?

Are you living in Sri Lanka ?

I would love to meet you and have a cup of tea if you are, and hear your pain, which I know is real, but maybe this is what is needed - for all of us to hear each others pain and share our love and forgiveness (I am serious), rather than throw around liberal helpings of hatred.

And if you have not direct experience, "please" consider the "range of altenatives" to your strongly held belief that Sinhalese hate Tamils, and that Sri Lankan Goverment want to wipe them out. Try reading both the lanka defence website as well as Tamil net - also how about reading the Sri Lankan Government's peace website (http://www.peaceinsrilanka.org/peace2005/Insidepage/SCOPPDaily_Report/SCOPP_report240309.asp) - I know many suppporters of the Sri Lankan government who still read Tamil net to know what is being said from a different perspective - I wonder if many LTTE supporters have actually read the Governemet of Sri Lanka's websites for a different perspective?

And finally - 1 Plea

Please, please, use "intellect" and "love" together and then we, together will find a way out of this mess.

The people caught in the conflict now are suffering and we can pool together to help them instead of slinging around our own versions of hatred.

I know of a gorup of academics from Peradeniya University who are organising Aid - for those people who are adamant that nobody in Sri Lanka cares about Tamils (which is not the case - as shown by the altruism of this particular group as just one example - all Sinhalese that, and endorsed by the university and government), why not put your compassion where your mouth is and help these people. Post on this blog your interest and I can organise the dissemination of more information about this mission that is headed to Vavuniya on Thursday.

To all my brothers and sisters whatever your background. Have courage to consider other possibilities to your own, and regardless, the courage to forgive and move forward.

Let's not hate each other. Let's Help each other out! It's much more pleasant that way!@

Peace on Earth

love

bishan

ps one more thing - to my friends from Sri Lanka who also feel the way I feel, please share you comments and make it clear that Sri Lanka "does" care about the Tamil people . Don't be put off by the comments of others. Don't fall into the trap of the hatred game. I liked your comments Deshi

pps also the language we use to communicate is very helpful, why not use "non violent communication" (http://www.cnvc.org/)

0

• reply

Bishan Rajapakse (not verified)

at 11:12 on April 6th, 2009

Pps. Speaking of considering alternatives to any peace of information - when i googled "Melbourne riots, sri lanka" this "now public" blog was the first hit, however 3 hits down was another report which gives quite a different perspective which I think ought to be considered by all who read this article - if nothing more than to gain quite a different perspective.

http://sinhale.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/melbourne-tigers-become-violent-attack-people-and-damage-shops/

take care

bishan

Images from "Sri Lanka and its long war"

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/sri_lanka_and_its_long_war.html

This link is a worthwhile link to images of the conflict that a friend sent me today.

The comment I left on this blog was:-

Thank you for presenting these photos. They avoid being too political but show the harsh reality of this conflict. There terrible methods of the LTTE (depicted in 21 which many have commented on), as well as the sad, sad consequences of war for the civilians, shown in photos of the civilians who have escaped the LTTE. It also shows how brutal war is - the picture with the tank destroying what is in front of it. Does the end justify the means? This conflict is so difficult to pass judgment on - however the pictures bring to light the common humanity we have - it doesn't matter if you are tamil, sinhalese, muslim or other - we are are all human beigns - if we concentrate on this then it will will bring real peace - my prayer

Posted by Bishan Rajapakse March 15, 09 03:18 PM

M.I.A. and the Bogey of Genocide in Sri Lanka (part 3)

mY reflections on MIA's interview:

I think that MIA is just expressing her views that she's fully entitled to. Regarding most of the facts regarding the conflict I believe she is either misinformed or aware of the incorrect information that she is providing for a political reason. The first of my posts (Part 1) was a transcript of an article published in the Sunday Leader by Dr Muttukrishna Sarvananthan which clearly outlines the error or lies in some of these statements. I feel Dr Muttukrishna gives a very balanced and factual account of some of the innacuracies of MIA's interview here.

With this post I would cover three themes that MIA talks about in her interview which have caused me to further delve into and reflect upon, and give my own commentry:-

1) the situation in Sri Lanka right now is dire
2) "Tamil equals Tamil civilians first, and the Tamil Tiger is a separate thing"
3) "I wanted to become a musician and help, like, some sort of change ....music was also used for social change"

1) the situation in Sri Lanka right now is dire

This is the truth from my perspective - but not for the reason that M.I.A. states.

There is no Genocide against the Sri Lankan Tamils (this is my opinion, but also the opinion of others).

However, for the group of civillians caught in the conflict (likely to be 100,000 - 150,000) the situation is dire, and has been dire for months. There is no nice way to dress this up - war is war, something that I am not in favour of (regardless of the situation see - www.warisaracket.com )

The reason the situation is dire is because of the war between the Government and the LTTE, ie the ongoing attacks and LTTE targeted shelling that is occuring. However, the dire situation is largely because the LTTE are using the civilians as human shields and will not let them cross over to government safe zones. In addition to this the LTTE have been opening fire on the very civilians they claim to represent (http://www.nowpublic.com/world/tamil-tigers-shoot-civilians-al-jazeera-english). I know this for a fact because I work in Anuradhpura and the Civilians who have been shot at are treated at Anuradhpura hospital. Often the care of these civilians necessitates the transfer of Army casualties to other centres. Clearly the Army would not be shooting at the very people who are then going to displaced their fellow soldiers in hospital beds. However the important fact is often glossed over by pro-ltte propaganda.

There have been many appeals made to the LTTE to release civilians they are using as shields such as this letter by V Anandasangaree the TULF (Tamil United Liberation Front) leader in the Sri Lankan government on March 14th ( http://tamilaffairs.com/news/the-last-chance-to-save-our-people )

The situation is dire also because of the huge number of IDPs (internally displaced persons)

The pro LTTE reports talks about the civilians being raped and murdered in the IDP camps as reasons for civilians not crossing to the goverment, yet what is shown on TV is army soldier looking after Civilians and giving them food etc. I do not believe that this is simply acting for the camera's

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/02/20092215405218943.html

I know from my contact with doctors who have been part of public health assesment teams that have visited such camps that the conditions of sanitation and health meet international standards presently. However they did mention the problem was that the residents couldn't move freely in and out of the camps (which has been covered by other media sources ). This is largely because of the risk of LTTE infilitration, but nevertheless a terrible situation.

Other reports say there is shortage of food and medicine, and I am currently trying to make donations of milk powder to help out with this shortage - so a situation of food shortage is a reality for at least part of the IDP population. However non governmental agencies are in operation to fill in the shortfall. This may not be as efficiently as one would hope for, but from the comments of one lady who is in charge of organising a charity mission to deliver food items to the Wanni - the response from the Sri Lankan communities in Colombo and elsewhere is very favourable. Her email (included below) shows what I have been observing for the last 3 years whilst living here that a large nubmer of SRI LANKANS CARE SINCERELY about the plight of Thamil citizens and the particularly the Thamil people currently caught in the crossfire or the IDP camps. This information is again contrary to the pro-LTTE propaganda which wants to create an image of Sri Lanka being a genocidal nation against the Thamil population)

excerpt from the email from a independant person organising a charity drop off of food to the civilians caught in the conflict :-

"Hi - Since this last mail to you, we have got approval from the government to ship this stuff out to the people in Mullaitivu. Please see attached the approval letter. Thank you to those of you who responded and brought in your contributions. The response was truly amazing. As you know we need quite a lot of milk powder so please continue to pass this on to your friends and their fiends because that is how we have managed to get so many contributions.

The revised list is as follows:

Lactogen – under 6 months
Cerelac 6 months – 1 year
Anchor + 1 – 3 years."

Large Number of IDPs

Because of the huge numbers of IDPs that have resulted from this conflict - the demand has outstripped the ability to provide. This is why there I believe there must be truth to many of the reports about the conditions of the IDPs.

The government is putting large resources into services that will ensure that these IDPs are looked after. Many cry that the government is doign this to hood wink the media - but as far as I can see - hoodwink or not they are "organising services", and rapidly doing so.

I was due to conduct a workshop in Padaviya Hospital (a provincial hospital at the northern boarder of the North Central Province) in a weeks time yet will probably have to cancel because the doctors and nurses are expected to be overwhelmed with the IDPs who are comming from the north to be treated starting tomorrow. They are transferring 400 IDPs to be treated at a time. So we have experienced a lag in service to what the demand was. This situation as terrible as is it is for the civillians has been manipulated by the LTTE propaganda movement to try and show that Sri Lankan government doesn't care about the Tamil Civilians which is not the case.

2) "Tamil equals Tamil civilians first, and the Tamil Tiger is a separate thing"

This is the second point that i have picked from MIA's interview which struck a chord with me. Living most of my life off the shores of Sri Lanka - I have always felt bad as to how Tamil Sri Lankans are constantly being with the Tamil Tigers (ie the LTTE) by default which is incorrect. I have always made it a point to correct non-Sri Lankan people when they just substitute the phrase "the Tamil Tigers" or "Tamils" (insinuating that they are referring to the Tamil Tigers) by telling them that they are two separate entities which may coincide in certain cases where Sri Lankan Tamils support the LTTE movement and their methods.

I was glad to see that MIA clearly expressed the same view.

When i first came to Sri Lankan in 2006 January, i was really interested in the the level of genuine support there was amongt the Thamil community for the LTTE. It is an increadible difficult thing to gauge, because there is support and non-support at so many different levels. For example one might align with the view that there are legitimate Tamil Grievances that the LTTE originally brought to the limelight with some vigour and they support the LTTe in this way, discounting the rest of what they stand for. They may support in the sense that one of their family members was a supporter or received some help, education or other support for a period of time. They may be fully aligned and active in all their causes, or perhaps (which is a situation I commonly come across) - they have been out of Sri Lanka for such a long time, after a very traumatic departure for terrible crimes against the Tamil Sri Lankans as a group committed by a minority of sinhala extremists (such as in the 1983 riots) that they clearly distrust the Sri Lankan government and will support the LTTE by default no matter what means they use to achive their objective of Eelam or a separate state.

I think question of how widespread and how firm the allegience of the Thamil Sri Lankans as a group is still a very important question (as I expressed recenty i a Ground views discussion on "Calling a spade a spade: Michael Roberts' 'moral relativism'") I was very frustrated with the way that sweeping statements about people allegiences are often made in disucssion forums where there is no firm evidence to back up their own strongly held beleifs. (I would like to make a point that anything i write here I am willing to be enlightened and educated to the contrary)

previous statement in Ground views discussion:-

“I am no admirer of the LTTE or of its ideological and military tactics, but I do not hesitate to recognise that it does represent a sizeable proportion of Tamil political spectrum and aspiration."

"bishan said,

March 7, 2009 @ 7:49 am

I have been reading these articles with interest. Thanks for all your viewpoints and perspectives.

There seems to be a simple difference of opinion her as to what the majority of the Tamil population feel with regards to the LTTE. Surely a more scientific answer to this question would be the best solution.

"but I do not hesitate to recognise that it does represent a sizeable proportion of Tamil political spectrum and aspiration."

Perhaps this is true, but please define "sizeable" and please let me know how you make this judgment? What is the sample you used to survey opinion of Sri Lankan Tamils? (please send a link to the study and methodology if it is available) Without a systematized well designed survey we are often left with "convenience sample" - ie people we move with, and not the people who we don't generally associate with - and we assume that this judgment is generalizable.

Agreed, that such a survey would be difficult to carry out, especially given that LTTE is a proscribed terrorist organisation in most countries and now Sri Lanka also. However, with a little ingenuity and if it were recognised to be important, I think a more scientific answer to the question of Tamils Sri Lankan's allegiance with the LTTE and or their views would be possible.

Otherwise the crux of this argument consists of largely speculation and opinion

thanks
bishan"

So again back to MIA - i think she clearly expressed her feeling that she did not like to be automatically associated with the LTTE

"So human beings around the world have to be taught to go Tamil equals Tamil civilians first, and the Tamil Tiger is a separate thing. And both of those groups are different. It's like a square and a circle."

This adds just a little bit more information to that important question of what do Sri Lankan Tamils think of the LTTE, or what does anybody think of the LTTE for that matter, as we are all affected by their activities (often negatively, with their associated extortion and crime) in any part of the world.

Just so there is no confusion this Aljezeera clip is a must see for any person who lives overseas and supports the LTTE. It illustrates the extortion that is going from the very people who they claim to be representing (LTTE terrorising UK Tamils Part 1-3)


3) "I wanted to become a musician and help, like, some sort of change ....music was also used for social change"

Finally, this is the element of the MIA interview really appeals to me - despite what she has incorrectly stated. All things said and done, i feel she is standing up for what she believes is correct, and is not afraid to express her views. There is great potential to be used for peace here.

I belive every post about the conflict in Sri Lanka should really end with a suggestions for peaceful solutions to this mess that we live in. Here i use the plural because I believe it will take more than just one solution to really make a difference.

I think music and the arts are key, and as MIA states - i think the music medium is powerful. I myself am a musician and have dreams of creating songs that will tie together our similarities rather than our differences in opinion.

Basicially we are all part of the human race, right? We live on the same planet - so we've got to share it.

It doesn't matter to me whehter you are Tamil or Sinhalese, Palastinean or Isreali, Afrikkaans or Black - we are all on bound by our desire for for peace and love, only we don't realise it.

MIA's message in the interview was political I feel, and many argue so is her music. This will naturally encourage a counter argument to be expressed

De Lon a westcoast rapper who is an ethnic Sinhalese Sri Lankan American makes this point is a "diss rap" of MIA's paper plane. Here he hightlights some very important facts about the LTTE atrocities ( M.I.A. Paper Planes Diss By DeLon - Nb there is some gruesome footage of LTTE suicide bombing in his video so please don't watch if you are not willing to see this)

I feel that De Lon has done well with this video, and I commend him for expressing his opinion musically, and effectively.

However, watching this video (as with MIA's original video) somehow did not make me happy, as there is still the bitter tast of conflict in the tune.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Delon and MIA could actually meet - have a meaningful dialog - and actually talk about peceived misconceptions and create a kick ass rap together about peace in the future - about how if we really put our hearts together, embrace compassion for humanity and "forgiveness of all sides", instead of hate of one another we can overcome this conflict ?? - now that would be something to really rave about?

True peace will only happen when we all fight for like it's the oxygen we need to breath.

I guess that's all from me

Peace out

M.I.A. and the Bogey of Genocide in Sri Lanka (part 2)

I have included the relevant transcript from the interview for anyone who is interested with some of my comments following.

excerpt from the interview:

M.I.A.: This is a good luck baby for me, and all the events, the way it's been happening, the way I've been sort of seeing it, is that being the only Tamil in the Western media, I have a really great opportunity to sort of bring forward what's going on in Sri Lanka. Like my success, it just seems to parallel the situation in Sri Lanka -- the more successful I'm getting, the dire the situation in Sri Lanka's getting.

And there's a genocide going on, and it's kind of -- it's ironic that I am the only Tamil, and I've turned into the only voice for the Tamil people, the 20 percent minority in my country. And yeah, it's weird that I'm being given the opportunity.

Tavis: This platform.

M.I.A.: Yeah, a platform.

Tavis: Since you've been given the platform, take it for just a second. For those who may not be familiar with Sri Lanka and the Tamil people, tell me the top line of who the Tamil people are, what's happening in Sri Lanka, now that you have this platform to talk about it.

M.I.A.: Well, Sri Lanka is an island off the coast of India. There's two ethnicities there; one the Sinhalese, which is the majority and the government, and the minority, who are the Tamils. That's where I'm from. And my lifetime sort of began there, I spent 10 years, and I was there during when the war started and fled as a refugee to England.

And basically since I fled till now, it's -- there's been a systematic genocide which has quiet thing because no one knows where Sri Lanka is. And now it's just escalated to the point there's 350,000 people who are stuck in a battle zone and can't get out, and aid's banned and humanitarian organizations are banned, journalists are banned from telling the story.

It's just, like, one-sided, 100 percent, and I think it's just escalated because Obama was coming into power, because only under sort of Bush's presidency that you could get away with doing as much as that.

Tavis: When you say there's genocide happening there, what's your sense for why a story of genocide isn't being covered more in the media? Why don't we know more about this?

M.I.A.: You don't know more about it because due to the propaganda -- when you think Tamil, you automatically thing tiger, and that is completely disproportionate. So human beings around the world have to be taught to go Tamil equals Tamil civilians first, and the Tamil Tiger is a separate thing. And both of those groups are different. It's like a square and a circle.

And the thing is there's only 4,000 Tamil Tiger soldiers in Sri Lanka, and if you want, you could just sneeze and wipe them out in a day. They're not that sophisticated with their weaponry and stuff like that -- the Sri Lankan government, which is a million soldiers big, can handle that.

But using those people, we're managing to wipe out the whole Tamil population, the civilians, and that is why you don't hear about it, because the propaganda in the media, because if you're a terrorist organization, you don't have the right to speak, that is passed on to the Tamil civilians. The Tamil civilians don't have the right to speak or right to live, they don't have any liberties.

So that's been the key thing, that when you think al Qaeda, you're not thinking Afghanistan. That if you want to go and fight and kill al Qaeda, then you can, but you can't wipe out Afghanistan. And that's what's happening in Sri Lanka, and I think it's really important for America to understand that, because they set the precedent on how you fight terrorism around the world.

And it's really important that just that sort of throwaway comment, "Oh, Tamil, she must be a Tamil Tiger," actually, the repercussions of that is killing people back home.

Tavis: And offensive, I would assume.

M.I.A.: Yeah, definitely.

Tavis: I'm glad we had a chance to talk about that. I learn something on this show every day, so I thank you for indulging my questions about that. You mentioned -- we were talking about your country you mentioned that you sort of grew up there and you were there for at least 10 years. There were some other years when you weren't there, and I was reading about your background -- you've lived, like, a lot of places. How has that impacted your music, your sound, your style, the fact that you --

M.I.A.: Well, I've lived in India, too, and --

Tavis: Right. And London, and --

M.I.A.: Yeah. I've just always traveled because that's what you do when you're a refugee, and I think it's just impacted me because I'm not judgmental, and I like to hear things from the horse's mouth and I use my own brain to make judgments about what the truth is and what isn't, and I know it from my own experiences what that is.

And I think it's always been that's the thing about my music. Like, I wanted to become a musician and help, like, some sort of change, or stand up for what I believe in, or use music for what it's supposed to be for. And so it wasn't really about getting fame and success and becoming a celebrity and selling records, it was more about bringing together an opinion or a point of view of the other that doesn't usually get heard in the mainstream.

Tavis: You know there are a lot of artists who shy away from that; they don't want to bring their truth, whatever that is, into their music. They just want to entertain people.

M.I.A.: I know, but music was also used for social change. It's not a bad word. And I think we just kind of shy away from it because the pressure of being successful and the pressure of being sexy and standing up for nothing is just so big, you know what I mean? (Laughter.)

Tavis: Yeah, I like that.

M.I.A.: Yeah, so I think that is -- you have to be pretty tough to, like, fight that, and the fact that I kind of had the experiences that I had made me so tough and thick-skinned that it didn't matter what anyone put onto me, but it was more about the people that I was representing.

Tavis: Tell me about the song for which you were nominated for this Academy Award.

M.I.A.: It's kind of stirred up some emotions. I feel like people either love me or hate me, which is good, because that was the point of what I do. The point of M.I.A. is to be -- it's either to be loved or hated. At least you evoke that much of a strong opinion about music.

And "Paper Planes" I think is one of those songs that did that, and people couldn't work it out, and I think it was subversive for some people and it was too obvious for other people. Everyone constantly asks me what it's about, and like, "Are you a terrorist?" And it's like, "No," that has nothing to do with it.

And it could be about gun corporations selling guns and making billions of dollars, or it could be about immigrants coming over and being the scary other that's going to take everyone's jobs. And I kind of want to leave it ambiguous for my fans.

Tavis: Well, you picked the right soundtrack to be on.

M.I.A.: Yes.