The civil war in Sri Lanka between GoSL (government of Sri Lanka) and LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) forces came to a bloody end in May 2009. According to the latest USAID report, there are still over 270,000 Sri Lankan Tamils in IDP camps. Tamils around the world in Canada, Australia and the UK are protesting the dismal conditions and poor treatment of Tamils in these camps. How quickly can these people be resettled and how soon can this area be (re)developed?
Opposing Views from the Diaspora
With the LTTE defeated, Sri Lanka is presented with another opportunity to develop the country. There are people on both sides of this issue: There are some that are still focused on achieving a separate state because they don’t believe Tamils will ever be treated fairly in Sri Lanka. Some of these “Tamil circles” (I’d like to know who they are!) are criticizing multinational corporations that are investing in the country in articles such as this one: MNCs flock in to get the ‘fruits’ of war.
On the other side, there are those who believe that economic development of the entire country can be the starting point in rebuilding a stronger, united Sri Lanka. There are thousands in the diaspora who, I’m sure, would be happy to invest provided we know that the funds are being used properly and fairly.
I hope this blog can bring together like-minded individuals both abroad and in Sri Lanka where we can discuss ideas and, sooner than later, take some concrete steps towards progress. I’d like to leave you with a quote from Mano Ganesan discussing the Tamils imprisoned in the IDP camps:
“These people are neither beggars nor homeless street people. They are proudful people who lived honorably in their traditional villages, the villages and land of our ancestors who lived and shaped our heritage for thousands of years. It is very true that Buddhism and Hinduism carry the messages of kindness and mercy. But these people do not require mercy. They need no to be at anybody’s mercy. This national problem cannot be restricted to water bottles, clothing, food packets and tents. Government is trying to cover it’s nakedness by using the media excessively to telecast the ‘merciful’ supplies of such goods to the IDPs. … This trend of portraying our people as poor beggars on the breadline should stop at once. Their legitimate rights to live freely in their own traditional villages should be treasured and respected. I am talking this from my heart.”