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Special Report |
LAST UPDATE July 12, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| June 15, 2005 |
Proposals toward Reconciliation in Sri Lanka – International Students from Sri Lanka |
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| Sri Lankan international students (IS) and Peace Boat participants share a picture |
Born into a generation of civil war and strife, six international students (IS) from Sri Lanka came aboard Peace Boat to study about reconciliation as well as to talk about the delicate peace process in their country. The six students, along with a coordinator and two lecturers, come from different backgrounds (Sinhalese Buddhist, Sinhalese Christian, Muslim, and Bharatha Catholic), reflecting the diversity of Sri Lanka. Currently the law students perform research with Judge C.G. Weeremantry on a part-time basis at The Weeramantry International Centre for Peace Education and Research. The Centre was established in 2001 by Judge Weeremantry, the Sri Lanka-born former vice-president of the International Criminal Court at The Hague, to promote peace education as a way to “save the world from violence and war” rooted in “misunderstanding and cross-cultural ignorance.” Aboard Peace Boat for one week from Sri Lanka to Jordan, the six students worked together to create proposals towards the achievement of stability and peace in Sri Lanka. |
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| Anusha, Janneth, Gayani and Mario (from left to right) at the first lecture |
Mario Gomez, a human rights lawyer and lecturer, provided an overview of the peace process in Sri Lanka. The country experienced 20 years of ethnic-based civil war, beginning in 1983 when tensions erupted between the Sinhalese majority and minority Tamil separatist groups, primarily the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Human rights abuses were carried out by both sides including the massacre of civilians and the destruction of sacred places. A ceasefire was formally brokered by Norway in February 2002, marking a path towards peace negotiations. During the peace process two significant events occurred. One: 350,000 dislocated people to return to their homes. Two: an agreement was made to look at the possibility of a federal solution within a united Sri Lanka. Although some parts of northern and eastern Sri Lanka are still essentially governed by the LTTE rather than the Sinhalese-dominated government of Sri Lanka, the possibility of unity for Sri Lanka has become a tangible possibility. |
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| Enjoying a moment with Peace Boat participants |
The situation in Sri Lanka at the moment is that of no war yet no peace. There are a number of views within Sri Lanka about how to resolve the conflict and move forward. At the extreme, some still argue for the acceptance of two states, and the resumption of open war to achieve this end. Moderate views aim to give autonomy to some regions while maintaining a federal union. In the midst of negotiations is the issue of past and current human rights abuses, and how these should be dealt with. Should one forget all the violations and put them in the past? Or should every single violator be put on trial? Or should peace and reconciliation be balanced with accountability and responsibility for past violations? |
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| Dilruksai (left) and Gayani take part in the Costume Fundraising Event |
In addition to pressing issues concerning the peace process, Sri Lanka must also rebuild after the tsunami of 2004. The recent tsunami crisis in large part helped promote understanding and peace among people in Sri Lanka. The outpouring of help as well as interaction between ethno-religious groups was apparent during and after the crisis, giving rise to the possibility of positive interethnic relations and harmony. “Empathy, not sympathy, is the first step in trying to understand each other even though we disagree,” stated Mario. “Although we have had violent conflicts for over 25 years, we still have many positive experiences of interethnic relations, and in times of crisis, like the tsunami, communities have helped irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or caste.” Keeping this in mind, the IS discussed different avenues and proposals for reconciliation and peace in their studies every morning. Their main concern was to preserve the ceasefire agreement and end violations against it while progressing towards peace. |
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| Anusha (left) and Neshan introduce peace initiatives among youths in Sri Lanka |
Both Neshan Gunasekera and Anusha Jayatillake were born into a generation of war, accustomed to the sound of bombs going off and the sight of people dying on a weekly basis. After the second ceasefire in 2004, the two students were able to visit Jaffna in the LTTE-controlled north to participate in a student exchange. Having lost loved ones during the civil war, they admitted holding a bias view against the Tamil people but changed their perspective upon visiting Jaffna and meeting their Tamil counterparts. “The visit to Jaffna, where we saw the realities of a conflict zone, gave us a different perspective on the lives of the Tamil people,” said Neshan. “[The Tamil] side of the story was different from what I read in the newspapers in the south,” added Anusha. After the exchange, both students realized student exchange programs as well as sport exchange programs could be used to advocate reconciliation. The programs allow students from different backgrounds to interact and communicate across ethnic, religious and caste lines. “Prior to the peace process, there was no chance for youth across Sri Lanka to interact and find out that at the end of the day we are all human beings with the same needs,” noted Neshan. |
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| The Sri Lankan IS participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony |
Gayani Hewawasan, an IS student, continued to speak about her generation’s role in the peace process. “Youth have a major role to play in helping to regain trust among the different ethnicities, and their role can be enhanced by incorporating peace studies in the school curriculum to promote the rights of ethnic groups living in harmony within one nation,” she explained. The IS contend their generation has a strong will to advocate and teach core values of peace in order for future generations to continue support towards lasting peace, with a feeling of pride in Sri Lanka as a secure nation.
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| In anticipation of summer, IS students, including Thisya (second from right), enjoy the Peace Boat Summer Festival |
Although the conflict is primarily between the Sinhalese government and LTTE, minorities including the Muslim community are often neglected in peace negotiations. IS student Janneth Macan Markar spoke on behalf of the Muslim community, which makes up 9% of the population, about their role in the peace process. A large Muslim community once resided in LTTE-dominated northern Sri Lanka until 1990 when they were displaced to the eastern and southern areas of the country by a the LTTE. The LTTE forced the 100,000 Muslim inhabitants to leave their homes within 24 hours, because it was believed they favored the Sri Lankan government. At the same time, the Sri Lankan government suspected the Muslim community of favoring the LTTE, since both groups speak the Tamil language. Although the ceasefire largely concerns the Sri Lankan government and LTTE, Janneth pressed for the representation of other minorities in peace talks. |
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| Apart from their studies, IS students also took part in activities such as salsa dancing |
Most noticeable about the peace talks in Sri Lanka is the importance of religion. In Sri Lanka it is not uncommon to state one’s ethnicity and religion in the same breath, as one’s name. Thisya Weragoda, IS student, and Dilruksai Dias Willicramasinghe, lawyer and lecturer, discussed how religion can be used as a tool towards achieving peace. “In all religions one of the core principles in common is that of peace and harmony,” said Diloruksai. “When human needs are satisfied through social and political rights, peace in the world is achievable since it depends on peace, mindness and goodwill of the people in the community.” Regarding the many religions practiced in Sri Lanka, Thisya emphasized the importance of recognizing their common elements. He hopes practitioners of the various religions live in unity just as “Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, Islamic mosques and Christian churches in Sri Lanka are often built side by side.” |
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| The Sri Lankan IS and Iraqi guests exchanged ideas during their time aboard Peace Boat |
The IS students concluded their presentation by describing their time aboard Peace Boat. Shalini Samarakkody and Janneth gave an overview of their activities including their eye-opening interaction with the Iraqi guests. “We realized the Iraqi people think of themselves as Iraqi first and this is a very important lesson for Sri Lankans, because there is tendency to see religion or ethnicity first which makes it difficult to join together as united Sri Lankans,” said Janneth. As a final message, the IS appealed for the protection of Article 9 in Japan’s constitution “because we have engaged in war [in Sri Lanka] and we know how terrible it is” and cautioned that under war “people cannot have their dreams and hopes met”. With this in mind, the IS advocated going forward in peace for Sri Lanka and for the world. |
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