In developing parts of the world like Sri Lanka, women remain more or less subjugated, writes Kalyani Inpakumar.
As Tamils in Australia, we feel for our brothers and sisters back home in Sri Lanka. The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) was formed to unit all the Tamil organisations to make our voice more powerful.
ATC is part of a global organisation which is Global Tamil Forum and in March Global Tamil Women’s Forum was also launched.
I am from Tamil Eelam, a land that has been torn by the struggles of war for the last 30 years.
Women are the most vulnerable victims in armed conflicts and post conflict situations. No age group is sheltered from the heinous acts of rape, sexual harassment, trafficking, prostitution and murder.
Innocent females face the painful aftermath of short and long term physical, psychological and social trauma which is further complicated by the absence of adequate facilities and trained staff in war-torn settings.
For those who have no carers to provide basic psychological support, the emotional injuries may be as debilitating as any physical injuries. It could have easily been me or my daughters who are going through all our nightmares, which is the Tamil women’s reality in the island of Sri Lanka.
In the 19th and 20th centuries the status of women improved the most in economically progressive areas dominated by Western culture. In Australia, North America and Europe, women have enjoyed a rising status - getting closer and closer to achieving economic, social and political equity.
In developing parts of the world like Sri Lanka, however, women remain more or less subjugated, and in some countries they are stripped of any human rights.
It is the stripping of these human rights that I would like to talk about.
It is the stripping of these human rights that results in an estimated 35 million people worldwide being displaced by conflict, and most of them are women and children.
One of the consequence of these abuses are the recent boat loads of asylum seekers attempting to seek refuge in Australia. Recently we saw the 100th boat for the year.
Increasingly, these people are from Sri Lanka and they are Tamil. While the media and our politicians argue about people smugglers and border security and who should and shouldn’t be allowed to be part of Australian society, the reason – the oppression that forced these people to risk their lives, paying thousands of dollars to get into leaky boats and attempt the dangerous voyage to Australia, continues.
Many western countries have started to acknowledge the Sri Lankan government’s unacceptable treatment of Tamils and spoken out.
Australia is yet to openly show disappointment. As Australians we need to demand that our government deplore a regime such as that of Sri Lanka.
Since early 2009 young Tamils including 556 children held in detention centres in undisclosed areas by the military – have no access to ICRC (the Red Cross) or any other international agency.
While the war in Sri Lanka has been over for months now, peace does not prevail.
Despite hostilities to the country’s civil war being declared 'over' by the Government of Sri Lanka in May 2009, some 100,000 Tamil citizens remain illegally held in squalid internment camps wrought by allegations of torture, rape and abductions.
As you can imagine, as always, women - as widows, mothers and victims of rape and abuse - bear the brunt of this.
Today 100,000 Tamil people remain in these internment camps – denied access to proper healthcare, sanitation or even their loved ones… let alone the freedom of speech, cultural rights or the right to self determination that we all enjoy.
100, 000 people are being denied the right to go back to their homes, establish new lives for themselves and live peacefully.
But it’s not simply a matter of going back to live peacefully. This is hardly possible for most Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Continually we hear reports and stories about the ongoing discrimination and abhorrent treatment of Tamils in their homeland, continually under scrutiny and suspicion of anti-state activities, they cannot lead peaceful lives.
Unfortunately, the Australian media does not report on it too well, but recently in the international media I read that it was a very sad day for one young asylum seeker on Christmas Island.
He learnt yesterday that his 14-year-old brother (back home in Sri Lanka) had been kidnapped and then murdered. He comes from a reasonably well off Tamil family. The inability and unwillingness of the Sri Lankan authorities to protect Tamils is another reason why they are fleeing from their lives.
Background to Sri Lanka
To provide some context to the situation in Sri Lanka, I’d like to tell you a little bit about the country’s history. I’ll try to avoid giving you a history lesson but I think it’s a really important to grasping my story, and the plight of the Tamil people.
In Sri Lanka, the Tamil community constitutes a large majority in the northern part of the island, but a small minority in the country overall. Tamils are a distinct people: they are culturally different from the dominant Sinhalese, have a different heritage, speak a different language and most have a different religion. Prior to colonisation, the Tamils had their own separate kingdom on the island.
During the colonial period, the Tamils, a very hardworking nation were generally better educated and formed the backbone of the civil administration. This permitted resentments against them to grow.
Independence was granted in 1947, just as in India. But whereas India was partitioned, Sri Lanka was not. As a result, the Tamils became a permanent minority in the new nation.
Racist laws against the Tamils were enacted almost immediately. The parliamentary and legislative system did little to acknowledge, let alone protect the rights of minority groups and, a process of parties outbidding each other in the demonisation of the Tamils ensued.
The measures adopted against the Tamils became increasingly discriminatory, to the point where we were effectively denied tertiary education altogether and even tuition in their own language. Politicians whipped up pogroms in which thousands died, often with the police looking on or participating, and systematic 'disappearances' of Tamils were common.
Our struggle for freedom and independence had taken many different paths and phases. The first phase was a peaceful struggle but the Tamil people were met with state sponsored violence and death and conventional warfare ensued. It’s been described as one of the longest, bloodiest and protracted wars ever.
The Tamils sought an independent homeland, Tamil Eelam, in the north of the island - and for decades, in fact, they ruled such a homeland, amidst a bloody conflict.
Sri Lanka’s minority Tamil population have endured more than half a century of marginalisation and subjugation.
The government of Sri Lanka has one of the worst human rights records in the world. Anyone interfering with its rule is at risk of extrajudicial murder. Many journalists and editors - even those of Sinhalese background - have been killed.
As I mentioned earlier last year, the civil war came to an end but as it did Sri Lankan government troops indiscriminately shelled hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians trapped in a small area. On 18 May, Tamil leaders, seeking to prevent further bloodshed, arranged with international mediators that they would carry white flags and give themselves up. When they did so, they were murdered in cold blood.
Now that the decades-old civil war is over, hundreds of thousands of Tamils remain behind barbed wire in unsanitary concentration camps.
Now we are in another phase of our struggle. Hopefully this phase which is peaceful will achieve the freedom that all of us crave.
As a woman, and as part of this struggle I often reflect on the experiences of my sisters back home.
Women experience armed conflict in diverse ways as victims, survivors, leaders and peacemakers. Violence against women in conflict zones is often an extension of the gender discrimination that already exists in peacetime.
Because of their lack of status within society women are systematically excluded from decision-making opportunities, they are often stereotyped as victims and their experiences and contributions are virtually ignored in conflict zones and in nations emerging from war.
Despite this women can also play a significant part in peacemaking if they are properly supported and genuinely included.
Today, as a Tamil and as a woman I am trying to be part of this, through the Australian Tamil Congress.
We are asking the Australian government to join other Western governments like the UK in condemning and holding Sri Lanka accountable for its blatant abuses of human rights. I invite you to join us.
We will continue to pressure the Sri Lankan government to release the victims detained particularly those at risk including women and children. We intend to increase awareness of the dire situation for Tamil women who are living in fear, and advocate at regional and international meetings.
We intend to address the issue to international court to acknowledge that rape has and is continuously being used as a weapon of war and that the perpetrators should be charged. The war is over but the fight for freedom still continues.
Kalyani Inpakumar heads the Women’s Advocacy Group of the Australian Tamil Congress. She also a leading member of the Global Tamil Women's Forum, which is part of the Global Tamil Forum - an international organisation for Tamil solidarity. She can be contacted at Kalyani [at] australiantamilcongress [dotcom].
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written by Adi, 17 May 2010
Make peace only to confuse the psyche of both Tamils & Singhalese. Make peace only to defuse the International support that the Tamils are steadily gaining on.
“Not all Tamils” and “Not all Singhalese” . . that is being naive! Rajapaksa represents the Singhalese psyche and LTTE represents the Tamil psyche. There is no question about that. That is precisely why they get the mass support, even unconditionally.
Why do I lump all the Singhalese and Tamils? Only because, the people have to change so that their representation changes. Take a look at Rajapaksa brothers; they are so comfortable with their mass-popularity that they don’t even give a damn about being careful even in their duplicities. With this trend, how do they expect to earn trust? How could there be peace without trust??
It may be utopian altogether but lasting peace is the only means to prosperity in Sri Lanka. If our representation cannot bring peace, let the people bring it among ourselves.
How do we, as citizens of Sri Lanka make peace among ourselves?
Let us think . . . !
Let us come up with ideas . . !!
written by PongalThambi, 17 May 2010
written by PongalThambi, 17 May 2010
written by PongalThambi, 17 May 2010
Rajapaske is doing a really bad job in making peace. There should be some devolution to the North by now.
I think the best solution is to hand Jaffna over to India to be run by the Tamil Nadu state.
written by Adi, 17 May 2010
You have defeated Prabaharan but you have not defeated what he represented.
At least the Rajapaksas could have listened to the international community and pretended to make peace. With the political strength bestowed on him, at least he could take the political risk and make peace. At least that perfect duplicity would have earned Sri Lanka more friends while retaining the ones you’ve already had. Most of all there would have been a form of peace in Sri Lanka. With that peace, you could succeed in confusing the psyche of Tamils.
Instead, the Singhalese people have shown their true colours to the rest of the world. They have done enough damage in international relationships by gloating, by being deceitful and embarrassing their friends during wartime. Don’t imagine even India would be of support if there is be a second time around. Don’t expect another full-moon-jellyfish in the UN if there is to be a second time around.
There is only one message in this: at least pretend to make peace.
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
written by eureka, 16 May 2010
Excerpt from CNN video on 'Witness to Survival" by Ms. Sara Sidner on her visit soon after the Presidential election: the journalist challenges the President's lies
written by eureka, 16 May 2010
'' Vast tracts of the North and East where they once lived are in different stages of destruction and need billions of rupees to be reconstructed. There is also a continuing breakdown of law and order with people in those parts of the country feeling themselves to be vulnerable to unlawful abduction, ransom taking and killings.''
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
written by Prasanna, 16 May 2010
2nd LTTE is a banned organization world wide as a terrorist group.
So the whole international community can see what kind of a lie you are telling here if they check these two facts.
written by Beau, 16 May 2010
Sri lanka had 2 women heads of state ! Women in leadership are well represented ! Look at the Ambassadors ?Ltte got wipedout just like Nazi for.......bigotry ! You Tamils ( not all)....dump your onesided propaganda to any in the west ! Only when they hear who u really are... They feel scammed by.... Your BS -
written by Adi, 16 May 2010
You have not defeated LTTE. In fact, no one cane ever defeat LTTE.
Let me make it simpler for you . . . no one can defeat "we the people"
Rajapaksa is nothing compared to Hitler. Adolf Hitler did not annihilated the Jews, no matter how genocidal he was. In fact, he made the Jews stronger!
Sorry to disturb your peace!
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
"Sarvodaya, Oxfam, FSD, IRD, JENS and LEADS received PTF approval to support WASH interventions in
the resettlement areas. Local authorities have prioritized support to community areas, schools and health
institutions."
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/EGUA-85DRPQ-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
"The Red Cross commenced the distribution of drinking water to IDPs using bowsers and 20 water tanks were installed in camps. Subsequently a 150000 litre capacity water purification plant was set up benefiting 140000 IDPs."
"Other activities covered are construction of latrines and shelter , distribution of hygiene kits, essential house holds items, kitchen packs, clothes, baby kits and complementary food. "
http://www.redcross.lk/eh_news173.html
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
"Sarvodaya, Oxfam, FSD, IRD, JENS and LEADS received PTF approval to support WASH interventions in
the resettlement areas. Local authorities have prioritized support to community areas, schools and health
institutions."
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/EGUA-85DRPQ-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf
And the Red Cross website itself seems to disagree with you; they even describe what they do in the camps:
"The Red Cross commenced the distribution of drinking water to IDPs using bowsers and 20 water tanks were installed in camps. Subsequently a 150000 litre capacity water purification plant was set up benefiting 140000 IDPs."
http://www.redcross.lk/eh_news173.html
http://www.redcross.lk/brvavuniya.html
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
You seem to have missed these parts of that article:
11. The provision of the cash grant has made a significant contribution to the welfare of IDPs in the initial post-return phase, enabling them to meet basic needs and (to a lesser degree) supporting modest investments in shelter, mobility and livelihoods. It constituted a flexible means of support which has provided IDPs with a degree of autonomy in determining and (to the extent possible) addressing priority needs, something which was not available to them in the closed camps. The grant has been particularly valuable in view of the extensive loss of assets experienced by IDPs during the course of displacement.
12. Crucially, the shelter grant has also constituted an important protection tool. In addition to its immediate value in cushioning the impact of return, it has enabled UNHCR to monitor the return process and to identify and, where possible, respond to the needs of those returnees requiring further support, including separated and unaccompanied children and those with separated family members. This was nevertheless a major challenge given the heavy demands on field teams, particularly in the early phase of the return movement.
13. The grant is also perceived as having made a positive contribution to the revival of the local economy in the Vanni, which was completely depopulated during the last phase of fighting. While some degree of price inflation was discernible for the most sought-after items, this was not widespread or significant, and returnees generally reported being able to find the items they needed in local markets."
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
written by eureka, 16 May 2010
Banking on Solutions, A real-time evaluation of UNHCR’s shelter grant programme for returning
displaced people in Northern Sri Lanka, March 2010:
''....The extent of shelter destruction appears to have been underestimated .... The presence of
international NGOs in return areas would make an important contribution to addressing such
gaps. .... Movement along the A9 is also still restricted for international NGOs and UN agencies.''
No funds to meet needs of nearly 200,000 Northern IDPs due to govt refusal to endorse 2010 action plan, 13 March 2010:
''The funding crisis follows the government’s refusal to endorse the 2010 Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP), authoritative sources said. Produced annually through a collaboration of all major humanitarian assistance groups in the country (including UN agencies), the CHAP is a document listing out priority areas for donor funding along with estimates.''
1.9 lakh Tamils resettled in Lanka, yet no relief in sight, Sutirtho Patranobis, Hindustan Times, 29 March 2010:
‘’... the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Sri Lanka has suspended the distribution of shelter cash grants to displaced returnees due to shortfalls in funding ..... The funding was suspended from March 8 .... the remaining refugees and the resettled were complaining that food and other donations had been cut.’’
written by eureka, 16 May 2010
written by eureka, 16 May 2010
written by eureka, 16 May 2010
written by Adi, 16 May 2010
Congratulations, you did much worse this time. The LTTE is not an organization, by the way.
Get to your acts together by yourself or listen to the International community and make a sincere effort to lasting peace. Prabaharan is not the only leader to emerge among Ealam Tamils, by the way!
written by Pongal Pretender, 16 May 2010
Pongal thambi, a sinhalese pretending to be a tamil and being so concerned about tamils.
So long Mr Racist Pongal!
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
This is a weird sort of internment where the people leave at will. And the people living with the option to live at the IDP camps is 73,000 not 100,000.
Shame that Red Cross, the UN, and other NGOS working in the camps can't provide proper healthcare or sanitation. Would better healthcare be the maternal package of the LTTE? (blow yourself up killing as much people up)
I love how you avoid mentioning anything about the LTTE and what they did. The army just happened to bomb the North, no? There was of course no rebel group in the North that had established an authoritarian undemocratic state to constantly assault the people in the South.
written by PongalThambi, 16 May 2010
On 18th June 2010, has been declared a public holiday by the government. Many Sri Lankans, especially Sinhalese from the South are expected to respond enthusiastically to the government’s elaborate plans to celebrating the war victory over the LTTE. For several days, citizens in Colombo had to put up with closed roads in preparation. How much of our – citizens – tax payer’s money will be spent for this celebration is something I don’t know and dare not think.
ome media had highlighted on the fact that the General who led the war victory is likely to be in detention and not invited to celebrate the victory he led.
What seems to be forgotten, and what I do know for sure is that tens or hundreds of thousands of Tamils, particularly in the North, will not be celebrating this victory. Many of them infact, will be grieving and mourning for family members and friends killed, injured, missing and detained in during the course of the war, particularly the final months of the war.
However, now, even grieving and mourning appears to be criminalized in the newly “liberated” North.
On 17th May, amidst heavy showers and floods in Colombo (which had compelled the government to postpone the victory celebrations), I was with a group of friends, at an ecumenical (Christian) event to commemorate those killed in the war. As we were starting the event, I got a call from a good friend, a Catholic priest in Jaffna, who told me that he had got several threatening calls asking him to cancel a religious event he had organized in Jaffna to commemorate civilians killed in the war.
In addition to the telephone calls, senior army officers had visited his office threatened them and forced them to cancel the event. He was in a dilemma – he was personally not keen to cancel the event, but was concerned about the safety of his staff and families due to participate in the event.
Later, I came to know that this was not an isolated incident and several other friends were subjected to similar threats.
Later, I came to know that this was not an isolated incident and several other friends were subjected to similar threats.
On the same day, 17th May, Nallur Temple area in Jaffna, where an inter-religious event was being held to remember those killed in the war was held, was surrounded by the police and the army. The people who came to participate were threatened and told to go away. Those who insisted on going in they were asked to register their names and other details with the police. Many went away in fear and only few had participated. Later on, the army had questioned and threatened a priest who was involved in organizing the event. The priest was even summoned to Palaly military headquarters in Jaffna for interrogation .
summoned to Palaly military headquarters in Jaffna for questioning.
In Vanni, an army officer had told a villager that he will shoot a parish priest and drag him behind his jeep, because he (the priest) was organizing prayer services for those killed in the war. Another priest was prevented from celebrating a holy mass to pray for those killed in the war on 19th May in the Vanni.
So, it is clear the army doesn’t want Tamils to mourn and grieve for their loved ones killed during the war.