I think it's great you're taking an interest, Michelle, but this post wasn't meant for the international community at large. It was my way of venting against the way the people of my country are being so naive and simplistic about it all. This sort of blind nationalistic fervour always incites a perverse instinct in me, so I have actually focused on the most cynical and dire possibilities rather than painting an accurate picture of what the war was about.
The international media and the government are both being pretty simplistic in their own extremes. If you listen to CNN and BBC, you'd probably think that SL was something like Iran, run by a racist, intolerant majority that drives its minorities to arms. (Needless to say, these reports are colored by the Tamil political refugees of the '83 riots, who have been nursing a massive chip on their shoulders for 20 years and still think that the Singhalese go around attacking Tamils at random). If you listen to the government channels, the government is painted as a conquering hero who has single-hadedly brought "peace" and inter-racial harmony to the nation against the obstructions of pro-LTTE sympathisers (which is pretty much the entire rest of the world, if you believe them).
Both these scenarios are pretty much removed from reality. Inter-racial tensions and racism still remain in the country, and it certainly has the potential for disaster. War atrocities have been committed from both sides, and brushed under the carpet. But Tamils in SL are not persecuted and discriminated against anywhere near what the international media says. And it's not just a case of the majority oppressing the minority - it's a case of mutual distrust and jealousy.
One thing that most of the rational Sri Lankans know and the Tamils living abroad have a hard time accepting - the LTTE has never stood for the interests of Tamils as a community, any more than Tamils in SL all support the LTTE. Whatever atrocities have been committed by the LTTE against the Singhalese, it's nowhere near the amount of harrasment they have dealt out to their own people. Tamils living abroad have been extorted from, entire families taken hostage, properties annexed and prepubscent Tamil children kidnapped on their way to school and forced into war training. I think it's safe t say that most SL Tamils hate the LTTE more than the Singhalese can even comprehend.
I actually supported Mahinda Rajapaksha's government, and approved of his no-holds-barred approach to the war, whatever else he's fucked up. The only reason I wanted him in power was because i knew he ws the best chance we had of finishing this once and for all. Unlike his predecessors, he actually delivered on that promise. For that, I respect him. But now that's done, I'd rather the opposition (which I loathe even more) pulled itself together and came back to power, since the UNP is the party halfway capable of handling a capitalist economy, which is pretty much fucked to shit right now.
Anyway, I'll be glad to make more balanced and comprehensive post in the morning, to give you a clearer picture of how it began and what it's like now. Meantime, here are a couple of links:
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-05-19 06:35 pm (UTC)The international media and the government are both being pretty simplistic in their own extremes. If you listen to CNN and BBC, you'd probably think that SL was something like Iran, run by a racist, intolerant majority that drives its minorities to arms. (Needless to say, these reports are colored by the Tamil political refugees of the '83 riots, who have been nursing a massive chip on their shoulders for 20 years and still think that the Singhalese go around attacking Tamils at random). If you listen to the government channels, the government is painted as a conquering hero who has single-hadedly brought "peace" and inter-racial harmony to the nation against the obstructions of pro-LTTE sympathisers (which is pretty much the entire rest of the world, if you believe them).
Both these scenarios are pretty much removed from reality. Inter-racial tensions and racism still remain in the country, and it certainly has the potential for disaster. War atrocities have been committed from both sides, and brushed under the carpet. But Tamils in SL are not persecuted and discriminated against anywhere near what the international media says. And it's not just a case of the majority oppressing the minority - it's a case of mutual distrust and jealousy.
One thing that most of the rational Sri Lankans know and the Tamils living abroad have a hard time accepting - the LTTE has never stood for the interests of Tamils as a community, any more than Tamils in SL all support the LTTE. Whatever atrocities have been committed by the LTTE against the Singhalese, it's nowhere near the amount of harrasment they have dealt out to their own people. Tamils living abroad have been extorted from, entire families taken hostage, properties annexed and prepubscent Tamil children kidnapped on their way to school and forced into war training. I think it's safe t say that most SL Tamils hate the LTTE more than the Singhalese can even comprehend.
I actually supported Mahinda Rajapaksha's government, and approved of his no-holds-barred approach to the war, whatever else he's fucked up. The only reason I wanted him in power was because i knew he ws the best chance we had of finishing this once and for all. Unlike his predecessors, he actually delivered on that promise. For that, I respect him. But now that's done, I'd rather the opposition (which I loathe even more) pulled itself together and came back to power, since the UNP is the party halfway capable of handling a capitalist economy, which is pretty much fucked to shit right now.
Anyway, I'll be glad to make more balanced and comprehensive post in the morning, to give you a clearer picture of how it began and what it's like now. Meantime, here are a couple of links:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KE20Df03.html
http://ladymirth.livejournal.com/55141.html
http://ladymirth.livejournal.com/89200.html
http://ladymirth.livejournal.com/46426.html#cutid1
Sorry for the lack of solid information. I'll make it up to you in the morning. =)