Category Sri Lanka

While people talk much about the genocide and the declaration of Rajapakshe as a War criminal, I feel that not enough attention is paid to the Reconstruction activity for the Tamils remaining in Sri Lanka.
The Government insists it is developing the area well and the additional financial in lay is required.

Detractors declare that no activity is taking place and even where they are on , they are done in such a way as to ensure the Sinhalese dominance like resettling Sinhalese in these areas.

Apart from this , the Northern administration is making an all out attempt to humiliate the Tamils, as reported by hindering the developmental activities by constructing Walls in the Land donated for redevelopment.

1. Militarization of the area(from open democracy)

As Enloe states, "militarization does not just happen: it requires decisions, many decisions, decisions made by both civilians and people in uniform". Likewise, in Sri Lanka, the fact that private citizens and corporate entities provide donations to the aforementioned army’s welfare programmes rather than working with local community and social service groups illustrates the entrenchment and normalisation of militarization.

A disturbing aspect of the army’s philanthropic initiatives is the indication that they appear to view these as part of a charitable impulse dedicated to a population which in turn is expected to show servility and gratitude. This is demonstrated by phrases - such as, ‘grateful beneficiaries’, ‘charitable deed’ ‘this act of benevolence by the security forces have (sic) brought great joy to the children’ - used by both military officials and the MOD in speaking or writing about these activities.

In many instances the normalisation of militarization is aided by the dire economic circumstances of the conflict affected people, who due to lack of other livelihood opportunities take up employment with different sectors of the military machinery, such as the CSD which recently employed a large number of persons in Kilinochchi in agricultural farms which ironically were previously managed by the LTTE. It should be noted that instead of providing viable livelihood options to the conflict affected, the states appears to be offering opportunities mainly in the defence industry to those living in the former LTTE controlled areas. ..

2.Obstacles in Resettlement( a Case study)

As per the complaint allegedly from your office – I am not able to work out what the law says. If I were to take it that your actions were lawful and work backwards from the effects / outcomes I am able to work out your (interpretation of the) law / policy. According to that – we the donors do not have access to the main-road. Nor do the folks who sought the donation. Only you have access. It is to demonstrate this ridiculous outcome that we erected a fence around our part of the land – leaving a small opening for those who come into our premises to draw water from our well. When you showed no concern at all about this – we used our interpretation of common principles and our Truth as stated above – and erected the Gates towards orderly entry into our premises. At that time no one from that area – including your officers – objected nor did they say whether it was right or wrong. Later when we sent the Plan towards building the boundary wall, our coordinator who works at the Council asked one of the Council officers towards his own knowledge and informed me that we had to all 10 feet from the center of the road