Sri Lankan government is not fighting a ‘war on terrorism’, but a war on its people
The international community has yet to realize that the Sri Lankan government is not just fighting a ‘war on terrorism’, but a war against journalists, dissidents and anyone else who questions its legitimacy.
By Mathusha Senthilmurugan on Saturday, January 17th, 2009 - 453 words.
Murdered newspaper editor, Lasantha Wickramatunga
The long and bloody 25-year civil war in Sri Lanka between the Sinhalese-majority run Sri Lankan government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist rebel organization seeking a separate state for the minority Tamils — described by them as “a fight for freedom” — has slowly started to take its toll on civilians, reaching its bloodiest peek yet. Through its history, the war has left more that 300,000 dead and over 100,000 Tamils displaced in the northeast of the island.
While much of the international community focus on helping the Sri Lankan government wipe out the supposed terrorism of the LTTE, much of the Sri Lankan governments corruption is being brushed under the carpet — including the large number of disappearances and media censorship.
Human Rights Watch reported that the abductions and mysterious disappearances are growing at an alarming rate and they blame the government for it. The report demonstrates that a majority of the victims happen to be the Tamil minority of the country.
The Asian Human Rights Commission has said that there is a disappearance in Sri Lanka every five hours. Sri Lankan government officials denied all accusations and have set up a team to investigate these disappearances. So far nothing has come out of these alleged investigations by the government.
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Aside from the high abduction and disappearance rates, journalists have also fallen victim to the wrath of the Sri Lankan government. Tamil journalists who have taken a strong stance on the human right violations perpetrated on the Tamil minority have either been jailed or shot dead.
It is not just Tamil journalists facing this hardship. Sinhalese journalist and editor of the Sri Lankan newspaper the Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickramatunga, was shot dead while on his way to work on Jan 6th 2009. Wickramatunga and his newspaper were openly critical of the governments handling of the civil war against the LTTE and government corruption.
The well-known media watchdog, Reporters Without Boarders, have accused the Sri Lankan government and its president, President Mahinda Rajapakse, of being at least indirectly guilty of Wickramatunga’s death.
They state: “President Rajapakse, his associates and the government media are directly to blame because they incited hatred against him and allowed an outrageous level of impunity to develop as regards violence against the press.”
With the civil war, media censorship and attacks, civilian displacement, and the huge number of disappearances, the question many Sri Lankans are asking is, Will Sri Lanka ever be a free island, loyal to its supposed democracy? When will the realization hit the international community that this war is much more than a ‘war against terrorism’?
It’s starting to become obvious that this is a long war against the people of Sri Lanka.
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Mathusha Senthilmurugan
Mathusha is a socially aware human rights activist and feminist with a flare for fashion and beauty. She is a current journalism student residing in Toronto, Canada.
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Sri Lankan government is not fighting a ‘war on terrorism’, but a war on its people
The international community has yet to realize that the Sri Lankan government is not just fighting a 'war on terrorism', but a war against journalists, dissidents and anyone else who …
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True, given there's a clampdown on media reporting in Sri Lanka…but that's normal in war reporting…as is Israel doing now in Gaza or anywhere else.
Surprised that you mention of "supposed" terrorism on the part of LTTE – make no mistake it's one of the world's most brutal terrorist outfits and no longer fight for the Tamil people, but only for their profit and survival!!! See how they keep the civilians hostage as they withdrew to Mullaithivu
You are brainwashed by false propaganda of Rajapaksa and co Company. If you want to witness the reality, you should visit the SL military check point in Vavunia, in which you will find, by your own eyes, as to how many people are queuing to cross into LTTE controlled areas every day.
Nice one .. better way to learn the truth behind singala doors
This is a well-written article; despite I disagree with some of issues brought up by the writer. It is very obvious that Sri Lankan government is conducting a genocidal war on its own people. The critical situation of Tamil people in Sri Lanka has not drawn the attention of media locally and as well as internationally, partly because of media censorship and the evacuation of international bodies by SL gvt from LTTE controlled areas and ban on journalists visiting to Wanni where displaced people are experiencing immense hardships.
It is indeed obvious that there is a genocide happening against the Tamil people. The lack of freedom of press in Sri Lanka can be blamed for why important information about the displaced Tamils in LTTE regions and the bombings by the Sri Lankan government into these regions; which result in a disgustingly large number of civilian casualties, is going unheard. But regardless of the media censorship and ban, there is very little being written about the corruption of the government and that is what I have intended my article to focus on.
Governments aren't necessary always right, or hold whats best for their civilians as first priority. Here's where we can find a similarity between Israel and Sri Lanka.
Shehan- while the tactics of the LTTE are undoubtedly questionable, the corruption of the government is undeniable. Especially noting the fact that they are a government, internationally recognized and internationally supported- therefor their actions and methods are unacceptable.
As for media censorship being normal- you're wrong. Censoring media is just proving that they have something to hide, and as reporters and journalist, it's their job to uncover and report it.
Only "questionable"?? eh that shows where ur sympathies are.
Nicely written. I think you do have a point here. The inadequacy of the country's strength in media coverage lies as the most prominent reason to why international awareness has not peaked over the almost three decade war that has been in effect in the country. Media in any state, any situation, and any depth cannot fully cater the 'truth' due to broadcasting restrictions placed upon the local press. Many of the news channels for example have an information filter placed upon them; and in a country like Sri Lanka where reporters disappear by the numbers constantly, 'fear' is perhaps the largest filter placed upon the press. Like Tharany mentioned above, reporters in a country of war are almost always restricted of their ability to reconnoiter fully within the country. Keep on writing. I think your work is a great contribution to raising awareness.
She's a kid, just parroting the 'party' line. It doesn't matter, the war will be over in a few weeks, Praba will be dead and Sri Lanka can begin to pick up the pieces. And no, I'm not Sinhalese, I'm black, from Africa, with no biases, I've been in war and seen tin-pot murderers, you NEED the war to be over, LTTE to lose and reconciliation to begin.
Unfortunately for you, as kid I see two sides to this issue as I have been in Sri Lanka to witness both sides, so no- not parroting the 'party' line at all. But just out of curiosity, I haven't seen or heard a non-Sinhalese or Sri Lankan for that matter call Prabhakaran anything but that, let alone Praba.
But regardless of who you are, you're ultimately severed by a bias. The LTTE can be losing, that isn't the point.
"…Sri Lanka can begin to pick up the pieces."
Can it pick up the pieces, especially since it's playing a leading role in breaking the pieces?
The current government oozes nothing but corruption and no matter how hard you try to hid or maneuver the issue away, they are equally apart of the problem.
I write for the people, not for a particular side so sorry, I will not sit here and write about how excellent the present government is and what an excellent job they're doing in wiping out the LTTE. Not when they're killing hundreds upon thousands of Tamil civilians daily and displacing them left, right and center.
"It doesn't matter, the war will be over in a few weeks." (Ben) To press such a strong statement in the midst of a devastating war occurring outside of your 'supposed' country in Africa is plainly unscholarly. In any case of proposal, whether it be a supportive statement or a counter-argument, words with factual information to reason it is always respected above all others. Before discrediting the work of a young-adult, it may be wise to study the history behind Sri Lanka. Cheers Ben!
Thank you, and well said Blanchart. Unfortunately people like Ben refuse to acknowledge a 'kid' would probably have a sensible opinion, even if not the same as their own.
But Ben, I would like to thank you also for the mere fact that you read this and it obviously made you feel that it was necessary to comment and express your opinion; so thank you! It makes this article a whole lot worthwhile for me.
Your article is well written Mathusha but it is biased,words such as "supposed terrorism" indicates that your willing to turn a blind eye to some of the LTTE methods. In saying that I wouldn't say I support the government, ironically I think the GoSL and the LTTE are mirror images of each other, both do a great job suppressing dissent and truth, both treat their citizens with impunity. The both practice nepotism, ultimately the Tamil people are going to screwed over each way. I am a Tamil who seen both sides and I can safely say both are as bad as each other. You can call me a traitor or government agent but the problem is the propoganda and lies spread amongst our people is just as bad as the government who silences their version of the truth.
Good Luck in for future articles.
For those who want a fair understanding of both sides, read the broken palymrn on http://www.uthr.org,greatsite with unbiased reports on the situation in SL.
Sathyam- the words that I have decided to use, such as "supposed terrorism" reflect just that. Terrorism is a word that is too easily flung around. Yes- doubtingly the methods of the LTTE are questionable, but when you put a race against another race, in this case a racially motivated government, you are bound to get rebellion. If the LTTE is a terrorist group, then so is the SL Government- but of course, many people refuse to acknowledge that. Why? Because the LTTE happen to be a separatist organization and the Sri Lankan government is… well, a government.
There is bound to be propaganda from both sides. But how you look at the struggle and the war- now that's what it comes down to. A majority of Tamils in the Northeast and the Tamil diaspora both are willing to allow LTTE to be their representative as opposed to the SL government. At the end of the day, I think that says a lot.
As the saying goes, "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."
Nice article!but yet it's not the truth aint it? I am a sinhalese,but a person with avery moderate view.some points to ponder. can we see any development in thenorth in this terror regime.All the supllies and essentials sent to tamil people have been misapropriated.fuel ,medicine and food,everything.even thehospitals.LTTE never represented the tamil people.They were a teror outfit in the best sense of the word and they were catering to the needs of the capitalist countries.
Do you know if we trace back any terror outfit in thiis world to its origin a capitalist country like America is sure to be there.This is the new way of imperialism.In th guise of fighting for freedom they cater to the needs of such countries.
LTTE was given a military training in ISrael by Mozart.All those funds came from foreign countries.So just remember this was and is a strugle against imperialism,not a struggle against the Tamil People.Both Sinhalese and Tamils have suffered cz of this war.All just common people.when bloood is shed it will not create any difference whether that person is a tamil or sri-lankan.
I am proud that we are ending this brutal terorism.without this terrorism we hope for a better future.U can just count on it!
Hi Rajiva. You definetly do not seem neutral at all. I'm Sinhalese and Tamil mix and I grew up in Sri Lanka, Colombo to be exact and my family fled when I was 23 to Australia. I am currently 37. I just wanted to say that you sound like a moron, sorry. Your saying that this article is not true when there are facts from Human Watch groups? I must ask, have you seen the other side to this war? I hands down do not support EITHER side because both are at equal faults. The LTTE controlled regions were beautiful. Did you know that it was the Sri Lankan Government that stopped Tsunami aid supply and till this day do NOT send the ordered amount of humanitarian supplies to the Tamils in the north? Did you know that it was US, the SINHALESE that drove the LTTE to be formed in the first place? Remember the 83 riots? I witnessed it and my family is unfortunetly some of the very few who protected the Tamils from the Sinhalese rioters. Remember when they murdered them? Burned their homes and businesses? Stripped them in the middle of the street? Or maybe you were not born at that time? Ofcourse both sides have suffered! Nonetheless my dear, do not get that wrong! I find your post very hypocritical and the fact that you say that it will not creat any difference whether that person is a tamil or sri lankan. YOu know why? Because you said you are proud that you are ending this brutal terrorism. You are drowning in stupidity and hypocrisy. I am DISGUSTED that you find that "ending this brutal terrorism" is justice for murdering tamils. Unfortunetly the beautiful island of Sri Lanka will never see peace with morons like you in it. I am very glad I am no longer in such a corrupted country.
Mathusha I must applaud you on your article. I for one do not see a bias. I think its saddening that people (Sri Lankans especially) feel offended when the truth is revealed that they too are fueling this murderous ship. Keep up the excellent work and may the injustice of the people be known. God bless
Unfortunately many wish to only push the blame on the LTTE and never admit that the Sri Lankan government atrocities are the reason why the LTTE was formed and exists today. Rather than figuring out how to fix it the government does nothing but continue its genocide- and yes, it is genocide.
Hi Sachini! moron is not quite the correct word for me.You have got it wrong!All those dumb people who speak in favour of terrorist are the MORONS.just b a bit decent when commenting.Never give way to feelings.People like you are partly guilty for the state we are in.Good thing you r out of this country.With no such peolple we man make this country a better ana a peaceful place for all!
I am proud to be sinhalese but i have never felt that any minority shoul be denied their rights.
At the same time I fell very sooory about your past experiences here.but just remember they do not reflect the sentiments of the whole country,and if you have free time time just do some scholarly reading and you will find out that such a scenario was created by a well planned conspiracy of the west.Out there in the world the capiltalist are capitalizing on sensitive issues such as religion,race and color etc….If you can please do some background reading on CIA and then try to crack the truth of this whole thing1
God blees You too,my dear1
Rajiva because you are so right! Lets blame the West for our stupid and idiotic racist ways. I will leave it at that because I'm sure that everyone can point blank point out the hypocritical comments and your ignorance in both of your posts.
Cheers to you my dear!
Same to you my dear! Anyway wish a very nice journalistic career! U l alwez write in what u believe is right,but its upto the reader to get it sorted out.anyway Wish you all d best in your career!
But of course, and thank you.
hi, Mathusha
that was a well written article. We would like to see young generations to take a genuine interest in journalism. And throughout the comments you maintaining a balanced and bold language. Be firm on your thinking .Do not get persuaded by irritating comments like Ben. It's a certain group of people who act on anything that sounds against Srilanka. The very first thing they ask is how much money the LTTE gave you. I have seen it in various sites.
Hi Mathusha,
Excellent view, " you can wake them up if they are actually sleeping…, but you can't if they are acting!" keep up the good work.
Well.. they're all dead now.
Care to come for a visit??