tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post6750284258053633591..comments2023-12-04T19:26:52.683-05:00Comments on Puligal Today: This period Tamils would like to forget, can they?Editor: "Badrinath"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17030941526579143296noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-85092451784062818892010-06-13T09:05:30.448-04:002010-06-13T09:05:30.448-04:00There are strong evidence that LTTE killed tamil c...There are strong evidence that LTTE killed tamil civilians in the last stages of the war whereas SL army helped civilians to move to safe area. LTTE throw bombs into bunkers packed with tamil civilians.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07663781982578207668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-74259815383267592302010-06-13T09:01:26.956-04:002010-06-13T09:01:26.956-04:00SLGO signed few contract with Indian Govenment to ...SLGO signed few contract with Indian Govenment to develop roads, port, airport, cement plant etc. SLGO also signed with China. All these for the benefit of Tamil people in Jaffna and Vanni.<br /><br />But these LTTE supporters do not see the benefit. They see always opposite of benefit.<br /><br />It is better those guys leave SL for western countries leaving ordinary tamils to live in SL peacefully with other races.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07663781982578207668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-28980486775832718252010-06-13T08:49:26.831-04:002010-06-13T08:49:26.831-04:00LTTE is the main culprit for the tamil people'...LTTE is the main culprit for the tamil people's suffering. It was LTTE who rejected the piece talks believing that they can get tamil eelam.<br /><br />LTTE's leadership was arrogant that LTTE can defeat SLGO by going for war.<br /><br />LTTE is arrogant like current Indian cricket selectors like any Indian Team can beat ZimUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07663781982578207668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-87653896147449348962010-05-29T15:05:27.099-04:002010-05-29T15:05:27.099-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-90503966036341853042010-05-28T17:22:23.617-04:002010-05-28T17:22:23.617-04:00Don't-ask-and-don't-tell policy of Sinhala...Don't-ask-and-don't-tell policy of Sinhala colonization is in full pace now.Bhairavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16773772029563941265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-81730073017623373302010-05-28T12:51:04.869-04:002010-05-28T12:51:04.869-04:00When you can, please sigh AI petition
Call on UN...When you can, please sigh AI petition <br /><br />Call on UN to investigate Sri Lanka rights violations.<br /><br />Amnesty International need at least 50,000 signatuares, but so far only 5446 signatures obtained.<br /><br />Please forward this link to all your contacts and encourage them to sign.<br /><br />http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-un-investigate-sri-lanka-rights-violations<br /><br /> ThanksArulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-89313954685606391712010-05-28T12:47:12.112-04:002010-05-28T12:47:12.112-04:00Dr Kohona who claims the commission as a comprehen...Dr Kohona who claims the commission as a comprehensive process also said that this commission is similar to South African Truth and Reconciliation commission but not be the same. <br /><br />“This is our own approach, this is our domestic process and we take responsibility for it” he said<br /><br />Ambassador Kohona argues that the recommendations by the commission will direct the authorities on how to deal with individuals and groups who may have been responsible for certain acts. <br /><br />He also reminded that one party to the conflict no longer exist thus this is an exercise not finding guilty party to punish. <br /><br />“We have established a commission and we are fully confident. So we can deal with our own issues in our own way” he said. <br /><br />Former UN High Commissioner Louise Arbour, current President of the International Crisis Group [ICG] told the BBC Sinhala Service that the Commission appointed by the government is unresponsive to the allegations of violations raised by the human rights organisations.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-44098759886971228702010-05-28T12:46:44.474-04:002010-05-28T12:46:44.474-04:00No evidence- Kohona
Video footage of alleged abus...No evidence- Kohona<br /><br />Video footage of alleged abuses were collected <br /><br />When pointed out that the ICG [International Crisis Group] report quoted sworn affidavits, photographs and video footage of abuses, the ambassador said the evidence was not sufficient to launch any investigation. <br /><br />In a recent report, International Crisis Group claimed that, from eyewitness evidence, it believes at least 30,000 civilians were killed or unaccounted for and countless others wounded and deprived of food and medicine during the last stage of the war in Sri Lanka. The report also say that there is evidence that government forces intentionally shelled civilians, hospitals and humanitarian operations. <br /><br />The report of the ICG was followed by another comprehensive report by the Human Rights Watch [HRW]. HRW report also detailed war crimes allegations. The report was illustrated with witness statements and detailed photographs of alleged crimes taking place. <br /><br />“You should not establish a panel or enquiry on the basis of irresponsible allegations made by organisations” added the ambassador.<br /><br />Earlier this year, UN secretary General said that his Chief of staff Vijay Nambiar and Dr. Palitha Kohona were having discussions about the UN appointing an advisory panel of experts on human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. The Secretary General confirmed to the media this week that he is in the process of setting up the advisory panel. <br /><br />According to Ambassador Kohona Sri Lanka’s approach is not to find guilty parties and punish them but to deal with them in old Sri Lankan way. <br /><br />We don’t go around looking for guilty party and string them up, that attitude comes from a different culture<br /><br />Dr. Kohona <br /><br />“We don’t go around looking for guilty party and string them up, that attitude comes from a different culture” Dr Kohona Said.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-16331279621463348172010-05-28T12:46:17.604-04:002010-05-28T12:46:17.604-04:00‘Not looking for the guilty’ – Kohona
The commis...‘Not looking for the guilty’ – Kohona <br /><br />The commission set up by the government is sufficient to investigate the allegations of humanitarian standards and human rights violations say the Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Palitha Kohona.<br />Speaking to BBC Tamil Service he said that since Sri Lanka had established a commission of enquiry under the parliamentary act and it has full powers to investigate, there is no need for another international body to do the same. <br /><br />United Nations and many prominent human rights organisations are calling for an independent international investigation in to war crimes committed during the last stages of the war by both the government forces and the Tamil Tiger rebels. <br /><br />International body will confuse<br /><br />“It will be a confusing thing to have another international body to investigate these claims” said Dr Kohona<br /><br />Pointing out that there is no precedent any where in the world where enquiries had been established by anybody on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations Dr Kohona said “even the ICG report refers to this that and another thing but there is no just substantiation with accurate evidence”.<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2010/05/100527_khona.shtmlArulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-33791422485719941672010-05-28T12:44:24.254-04:002010-05-28T12:44:24.254-04:00Bhairav
You are welcome !!
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any-b...Bhairav <br /><br />You are welcome !!<br /><br />--------------<br />any-based 50 year old Tamil woman arrested at Katunayake airport for taking part in ‘Anti War’ Demonstrations in Germany.<br /><br />GoSL arrested a Tamil Woman on her arrival in Colombo at Katunayake Airport in Colombo. She is accused of taking part in demonstrations against the Sri Lankan Government in Germany<br /><br />http://www.uktamilnews.com/index.php/2010/05/28/germany-based-50-year-old-tamil-woman-arrested-at-katunayake-airport-for-taking-part-in-demonstrations-in-germany/<br /><br />---------------------------<br />Sri Lanka once again they are breaking every international norm.<br /><br />Vindictive and petty and breaking international law.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-24592090388745772462010-05-28T04:33:34.960-04:002010-05-28T04:33:34.960-04:00Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse has rejected...Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse has rejected international calls for a war crimes probe.<br /><br />In an interview with the Al-Jazeera television news network , Rajapakse said he would not tolerate any outside review of the Civil War<br /><br />“I don’t want my internal matters to be inquired by any other country or any other NGOs. Rajapakse said<br /><br />http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5htHo_XYjFQlVqo04bEgJMXbeXW9wTamil Kovilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11389206995194518947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-22321316371250397202010-05-28T04:08:56.955-04:002010-05-28T04:08:56.955-04:00Germany-based 50 year old Tamil woman arrested at ...Germany-based 50 year old Tamil woman arrested at Katunayake airport for taking part in ‘Anti War’ Demonstrations in Germany.<br /><br />GoSL arrested a Tamil Woman on her arrival in Colombo at Katunayake Airport in Colombo. She is accused of taking part in demonstrations against the Sri Lankan Government in Germany .<br /><br />http://www.uktamilnews.com/index.php/Tamil Kovilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11389206995194518947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-26786658856424699392010-05-28T04:06:30.048-04:002010-05-28T04:06:30.048-04:00Thanks Arul
The colonization and subjugation is i...Thanks Arul<br /><br />The colonization and subjugation is in full swing in Sri LankaTamil Kovilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11389206995194518947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-33583266062184139802010-05-27T23:37:53.447-04:002010-05-27T23:37:53.447-04:00Arul, interesting stuff!Arul, interesting stuff!Bhairavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16773772029563941265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-72902350695070851002010-05-27T13:13:55.229-04:002010-05-27T13:13:55.229-04:00So people I met in Vanni are happy that the bombin...So people I met in Vanni are happy that the bombings and shelling have ceased. They are relieved to have been allowed to go back, after multiple displacement and subsequent detention by the government.<br /><br />But they still face an uncertain and fearful future.<br /><br />Most people in interior villages live isolated lives, surrounded soldiers they fear. Men live in fear of being abducted or detained. Women and girls live in fear of sexual abuse. They also fear domination of their lives, lands and culture by the Sinhalese and Buddhists.<br /><br /> The Tamils are saddened as the cemeteries of Tamil militants are destroyed and monuments are built by the military and for Sinhalese soldiers<br /><br />And the despair and fear worsens as the rest of country prepares for a massive celebration of a war victory, while people in the Vanni cry over their dead family members, try to trace their missing family members, try to recover from their injuries, await release of detained family members.<br /><br />Divisions between Sinhalese & Tamils, North & South become clearer as the Sinhalese in the South celebrate and Tamils in North mourn for the same occasion. If Sri Lanka is a home to one family, where Sinhalese and Tamils are brothers and sisters, what we might see on the occasion of one year since the end of the war is something like having a funeral and a wedding in two rooms of the same house for two children of the same family.<br /><br />One year after the end of the war, reconciliation would be a hollow and empty word unless concerns such as the above are not addressed.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-732661849267198752010-05-27T13:12:35.920-04:002010-05-27T13:12:35.920-04:00Freedom of Association
The government is also tr...Freedom of Association <br /><br />The government is also trying to restrict any peaceful mobilization, collective action of empowerment of people in the Vanni.<br /><br />The Presidential Task Force headed by the President’s brother Basil Rajapakse had granted permission to some NGOs to launch some projects to assist people in need of assistance. “But permission has been granted only to build houses and infrastructure and start income generating activities. Permission has been rejected for counseling, capacity building and empowerment activities. So we are restricted in what we can do” said one head of an NGO based in Mannar, which is keen to assist people in Vanni.<br /><br />“We tried to start a small association to help people who were helpless. But the army doesn’t allow us to meet” an elderly gentleman told us in Vattapalai, close to the Mullativu town.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-5487949862000752462010-05-27T13:11:23.525-04:002010-05-27T13:11:23.525-04:00Cultivation and fishing
As I visited the Vanni, ...Cultivation and fishing <br /><br />As I visited the Vanni, I was struck by the fertile land and greenery, especially around Adampan. It was refreshing to see that some farmers had already started cultivation in these areas.<br /><br />However, in most parts of Killinochi and Mullativu, there was no cultivation yet and I heard despairing farmers waiting to start cultivation. Some had received some agricultural tools, but no seeds. Most importantly, many still didn’t have access to their farmland. Some remain occupied by the Army, some areas are claimed to be still not demined and other areas simply declared off limits without reasons.<br /><br />Fisherfolk on the western coast have been more fortunate in terms of easing of restrictions since the end of the war. Restrictions still apply however, such as around Iranathivu, Periyathivu, Sinnathivu, all of which are occupied by the Navy.<br /><br />Some fishermen complained to us that the Navy had beaten them. “We thought the restrictions were lifted and went nearby these fertile areas for fishing. But we were beaten by the Navy and told we can’t fish there as the area belongs to the Navy. At least they could have informed us without beating us” was what a group of fisherman told us.<br /><br />A major problem these people face is the lack of boats and nets, as most of these had been abandoned when they fled for their lives. Most boats and nets were lost, while others are damaged. Some said boats had been stolen. “There were about 250 boats in our village, but now, there are only 3 left” one fisherman told us. Another fisherman told us that they can earn about Rs. 1,000.00 per day when they go fishing, but they only get the chance to go once a week on average, due to lack of boats.<br /><br />Government servants such as the Grama Sewekas, Divisional and District Secretaries and their staff, health officials, teachers and education officials have also returned to work.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-2382077635430161402010-05-27T13:10:56.513-04:002010-05-27T13:10:56.513-04:00Military restaurants and people’s restaurants
On...Military restaurants and people’s restaurants <br /><br />One of the initial sources of livelihood when people went back to villages in the Vanni were the small tea shops that they set up along the A9 road and other roads.<br /><br />But these were overshadowed by the bigger, better looking and better equipped “Janaavanhalas” (People’s restaurants) put up by the military. Each and every time I go along the A9. There appeared to be more military run restaurants than before. In the small Paranthan junction, there were around 10 such restaurants, run by various divisions, brigades of the military.<br /><br />“We have nothing, had to start from scratch and wanted to slowly build up business. The Army has the resources to put up big structures, refrigerators, tables, and chairs etc., also people to work. Visitors coming in buses and vans from the south go to the bigger restaurants run by the Army. Most of the visitors are Sinhalese from the south and maybe they prefer to go to the restaurants run by the Sinhalese soldiers. So although thousands of buses and vans go on the A9 road, we have very little business and it’s very difficult to build up and develop our tea shop” was the grievance of one elderly women, at whose small and basic tea shop I had stopped to have some tea.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-25799739955939800902010-05-27T13:10:28.834-04:002010-05-27T13:10:28.834-04:00Military restaurants and people’s restaurants
On...Military restaurants and people’s restaurants <br /><br />One of the initial sources of livelihood when people went back to villages in the Vanni were the small tea shops that they set up along the A9 road and other roads.<br /><br />But these were overshadowed by the bigger, better looking and better equipped “Janaavanhalas” (People’s restaurants) put up by the military. Each and every time I go along the A9. There appeared to be more military run restaurants than before. In the small Paranthan junction, there were around 10 such restaurants, run by various divisions, brigades of the military.<br /><br />“We have nothing, had to start from scratch and wanted to slowly build up business. The Army has the resources to put up big structures, refrigerators, tables, and chairs etc., also people to work. Visitors coming in buses and vans from the south go to the bigger restaurants run by the Army. Most of the visitors are Sinhalese from the south and maybe they prefer to go to the restaurants run by the Sinhalese soldiers. So although thousands of buses and vans go on the A9 road, we have very little business and it’s very difficult to build up and develop our tea shop” was the grievance of one elderly women, at whose small and basic tea shop I had stopped to have some tea.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-72423935418408442452010-05-27T13:09:53.231-04:002010-05-27T13:09:53.231-04:00Education
Along the A9 road and along the interi...Education <br /><br />Along the A9 road and along the interiors, we saw many school children. Some schools buildings had been renovated some had not been repaired after been damaged or abandoned. And there were many classes being held in the open air under trees.<br /><br />In one of my visits to Thevanpiddy, I was surprised to hear that that the whole Church, the residence of the priest and even the garden was being used for the school, as the school itself had been damaged. In a subsequent visit this week, I learnt that some classes are still conducted inside the Church.<br /><br />One of my friends from Jaffna, is now teaching in this school. “We do our best to teach our children. But we who try to educate the children have no hostel or proper facilities to stay, while the Army and Police have good buildings” lamented my friend, who stays the weekdays in the makeshift school and travels every weekend to Jaffna to be with his family.<br /><br />We had the chance to chat with several students, teachers and principals and one Deputy Zonal Director of Education, who I met by coincidence in the train I was travelling to go to Vanni. Below are some of the stories we heard:<br /><br />•In Panikankulam Government Tamil Mixed School, along the A9 road, we found that there are 19 teachers for 18 students. However, teachers have to travel 2-3 hours, and some even more, from Jaffna and Vavuniya, on a daily basis. A free bus service was provided till the Presidential elections of 26th January, but since then, the teachers have to spend a major portion of their salary for transport.<br />•But in other schools, there was a clear lack of teachers. One Principal there were no teachers for Mathematics, Science and English<br />•We met some students (aged 17-18) who had sat for the G.C.E Ordinary Level examination in December 2009, and were now volunteering as substitutes for teachers<br />•At the time we visited in February, we learnt that only 10 of the 54 schools in the Thunukai division had started. 18 out of 29 were functioning in the Poonagary division.<br />•At least in two schools, we heard that children walk at least 8km a day (4km either way) to go to school, as there is no bus service or any other transport system<br />•Some children have also been compelled to travel far to distant schools, as schools in their villages had not reopened<br />•Several children told us that they had not received text books or even copy books<br />•We observed that some children were in school uniform, while others were not in uniform. “Many children don’t have uniforms, they have not been given uniforms and parents don’t have livelihoods and can’t afford to buy school uniforms. So we allow them to come without uniform” explained one Principal<br />•Most of the support for students comes not from the government, but from UN. The UN’s World Food Program (WFP) was providing mid day meals to some school students. One Principal told us the WFP subsidy comprises rice, dhal and cooking oil and is an average of Rs. 2.00 per student<br />•UNICEF provides most other materials, from mats for children to sit on (both indoors and classes under trees) as well as school bags, books, tools etc.<br />•Several Principals and teachers also told us about teachers and children who had been killed and injured during the last months of the war. Principals also reported about their students who had been abducted /recruited by the LTTE. One Principal added some students forcibly recruited are now detained by the governmentArulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-91517653064121357912010-05-27T13:09:18.672-04:002010-05-27T13:09:18.672-04:00Houses
Most of the houses had been damaged. Most...Houses <br /><br />Most of the houses had been damaged. Most people I met were living in temporary make shifts tents built with canvas and tin sheets provided with foreign aid. Many more were living in makeshift houses that were damaged. When I first visited Adampan, some people were living in a church.<br /><br />We also saw a number of houses destroyed. Some were totally destroyed and will have to be built from scratch. Others were partly destroyed, but parts still standing.<br /><br />I was told by people that while some houses were damaged during actual warfare. In case of other houses, people had just abandoned their houses and left as the Army advanced. Several had been converted as bunkers by the LTTE. Others had been occupied by the Army. Some are still occupied by the Army.<br /><br />Basically, there was hardly any house that was in good shape that I saw. Except some that were occupied by the Army.<br /><br />“The house we built had to be abandoned during the last phase of the war. When we came back, the house had no roofs, windows, doors. There was not much fighting in these areas. Who took these? Why did they take these? What was the connection between war, terrorism, LTTE and the roof, windows and doors of our house?” questioned a Principal of a school close to Killinoch town.<br /><br />“When we came back (after displacement), we found that roofs, doors, windows of all houses were missing, except one house. The remaining house with roof was because the army had used it as their camp. Valuable household items were also missing” commented a middle age man from Vattapalai, close to Mullativu. Another middle aged man from Katsilaimadu, also close to Mullativu showed visible anger as he told us “I have heard that doors, windows etc. is available for sale. This means selling our own things that were stolen from us. There was no war in these areas, we left everything. Walls of houses are there. But nothing else.”Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-18353955215497742032010-05-27T13:08:47.251-04:002010-05-27T13:08:47.251-04:00New monuments for the Army and destruction of dead...New monuments for the Army and destruction of dead Tamil militants cemeteries <br /><br />Along the A9 road such as in Killinochi and Elephant pass as well as in interior villages such as Pooneryn, there were monuments built by the military. These symbolize victory for the military and the government, but for most of the Tamils I spoke to these monuments symbolize domination of their lands by the Army. And glorification of a war that killed and injured thousands of their loved ones.<br /><br />There were no monuments for the thousands of Tamil civilians who were killed and went missing in the war. I asked many times, in many places from many people about any monuments to remember the thousands of Tamil civilians killed and gone missing, but there were none.<br /><br />Making this worse is the destruction of cemeteries with dead LTTE cadres by the Army. I saw at least one in Vanni, while I had seen such destructions in Jaffna as well. Despite it’s brutality and record of violence & killings, the LTTE had a tradition of respecting it’s dead cadres and this had provided family members and friends to visit the graves of their loved ones and conduct religious and cultural rituals, especially on special days such as birthday and day of death. Now, family members are compelled to gaze emptily at gravel heaped together.<br /><br />Re-displacement and occupation of land by Army<br /><br />In my most recent visit to the Vanni, earlier this week, I went to Eechalavakai, along the Periyamadu Road from Vidathalthivu, in the Mannar district. There, I met some people who were still living in tents in a common village land as displaced persons. Amongst them was a 10 day old infant.<br /><br />“We were told by the Divisional Secretary that we can go back to our lands. So we came from the camps. But when we came and started to clean up the land, the land we have been living for more than 25 years, the Army came and told us to go away. When we asked why, they told us that they are going to take our land for a Army Camp” one villager told us.<br /><br />Later, we were shown their lands, in nearby Sannar, where notices were pinned to trees saying “This land is reserved for Army”Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-74563906455835890352010-05-27T13:08:12.014-04:002010-05-27T13:08:12.014-04:00Foremost place to Buddhism even in Hindu and Chris...Foremost place to Buddhism even in Hindu and Christian villages <br /><br />A striking feature along the A9 road, in the Killinochi town is the large arch proclaiming “May Buddhism shine”. From what I understood from the civilians I spoke to, vast majority of the civilians were Hindus and a significant number Christian. However, there were of course no arches or boards proclaiming “May Hinduism shine” or “May Christianity shine”. The Lumbini Viharaya, the Buddhist shrine in Killinochi town was spick and span and was obviously being given a lot of attention.<br /><br />Compared to this, the Hindu kovils and Christian churches were visibly in bad shape, some were abandoned and buildings damaged.<br /><br />Along the A9 road and the smaller roads in the interior villages, new and shining Buddhist monuments and statutes were visible. All of these were villages with large majority of Hindu and Christian civilian populations. I saw soldiers cleaning up an area in Mankulam with a Bo Tree, probably to put up ayet another Buddha statue.<br /><br />There was even a Buddhist dagaba in the premises of a Catholic Church which was occupied by the Army when I first visited Manthai West AGA division in Mannar district, immediately after people were allowed to go back. 09.<br /><br />I have a lot of respect for Buddhism. But I wonder why Buddhism has to given such a prominent in villages where the civilian population is predominantly Hindu and Christian? Is it because our constitution has a clause saying “foremost place to Buddhism”? Or to show that Buddhism is the religion in Sri Lanka and people in Vanni had better learn to accept it now?Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-82505640540580845752010-05-27T13:07:42.241-04:002010-05-27T13:07:42.241-04:00Fear of Sinhalese domination
In the interiors of...Fear of Sinhalese domination <br /><br />In the interiors of Vanni, I could see many sign boards in Sinhalese. Despite the fact that almost all the civilians in Vanni are Tamil speaking now, Tamil language was visibly absent in many sign boards.<br /><br />Some places and names had been given new Sinhalese names by the military. As I took a photo of a signboard in Sinhalese marked “Ali handiya” (meaning elephant junction) Along the Mankulam – Mullativu road, an army officer rushed to stop us and asked us why were taking photographs. We asked in turn about this board. “The Tamil name is too long and complicated, so when we took control of this area, we put this name, as this is much easier for us” was his explanation. My friend from Mullativu was inside the van, but kept quiet, but he couldn’t hide his anger and hurt afterwards.<br /><br />Some of the signboards in Sinhalese are those with names of Sinhalese soldiers. Gamini Kularatne Mawatha in Pampaimottai and Ranawiru Abeysundara Mawatha in Kalliyadi are examples. When I asked a villager what this meant, he said he thought it was their village name written in Sinhalese, and was shocked when I told him that it was not the village name, but a Sinhalese soldier’s name.<br /><br />At the Mankulam junction on the A9 road, there is a signboard in all three languages. But in addition to the usual and accepted Sinhalese names, the board also mentions older Sinhalese names. “This is an attempt to show that these lands are Sinhalese lands” one Tamil priest told me.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782043383177523360.post-78095204281637211142010-05-27T13:07:08.177-04:002010-05-27T13:07:08.177-04:00Many others I met had similar stories.
In every v...Many others I met had similar stories.<br /><br />In every village, I would also meet people whose children and family members are being detained, for almost a year and some for many years. They have not been charges in court of law. And have limited access to friends, family and no access to ICRC and lawyers.<br /><br />“I have come back to my village. I could probably build my house. But my son is a prisoner. I don’t know when he will be allowed to come home. First the LTTE took him and now the Army has taken him. How can I be happy at coming back when my son is still a prisoner and I don’t know what will happen to him” asked a mother with tears in her eyes.<br /><br />Each time I visit the office of the National Human Rights Commision (NHRC) in Jaffna and Vavuniya, I run into anxious families, glancing through the list the NHRC had displayed. This list has a round one thousand names of people being detained in Boosa detention camp and elsewhere. But the governments officials have claimed over 10,000 are detained in Vavuniya alone. Many thousands more are in detention facilities all over the country.<br /><br />But these helpless families don’t have access to a centralized list with any government or independent agency, to check and see whether their children or loved ones are in any official detention facility.Arulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283107542531723290noreply@blogger.com