The slow genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka

The slow genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka

US State Dept Report on Sri Lanka (by Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor, March 11, 2008)

Organized Killing of Tamils. This US State Department report notes that while ethnic Tamils comprise approximately 16 percent of the overall population of Sri Lanka, the overwhelming majority of victims of human rights violations, such as killings and disappearances, were young male Tamils. The report states “Credible reports cited unlawful killings by government agents, assassinations by unknown perpetrators, politically motivated killings, child soldier recruitment by paramilitary forces associated with the government, disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, poor prison conditions, denial of fair public trial, government corruption and lack of transparency, infringement of religious freedom, infringement of freedom of movement, and discrimination against minorities. There were numerous reports that the army, police, and pro-government paramilitary groups participated in armed attacks against civilians and practiced torture, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and extortion with impunity.” The State Department report continued: “The situation deteriorated particularly in the government-controlled Jaffna peninsula. By year's end extra-judicial killings occurred in Jaffna nearly on a daily basis and were allegedly perpetrated by military intelligence units or associated paramilitaries.”

Land grabbing from Tamils. Land grabbing has been done by ”Mass displacement of minorities,” forced Removal of Tamils from Tamil areas, and their replacement with Singhalese settlers. The government has used security zone to effect forced removals.

Genocidal war.

An Australian publication cites the “’Genocidal war’ against the Tamils” and says that it “has resulted in 75,000 civilians being killed and 400,000 made refugees. Since the commencement of the “cease-fire” in February 2002, 7000 people had been killed — including 1200 children — up to November 2005. The Sri Lankan air force had bombed 52 schools, 1607 Hindu temples, 32 hospitals and the public library of Jaffna, the repository of much Tamil cultural history.”

Discrimination against Tamils by Sri Lankan Singhalese majority. The government has made a declaration that Singhalese is the official language of Sri Lanka and that Sri Lankan Buddhism is the state religion. Of course, Tamils have their own ancient culture and language. Most of the majority Singhalese are Buddhist, while minority Tamils are Hindu, Christian, or of other religions.

Continuous refusal of a political solution by Sri Lankan Singhalese leaders since independence from Britain (1947). Tamils want devolution of power to the Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka where the Tamils live. This has been rejected by Singhalese rulers, who seek an ethnically and religiously pure Buddhist nation. The leaders who have rejected devolution include Mr. Bandaranaike, JR Jayewardene, Ms. Kumaratunga, and Mr. Rajapaksa.

No Religious freedom. Singhalese Buddhists show no tolerance for Hindus, Christians, Muslims, or any other non-Buddhist faith. Recently, the Sri Lankan army shelled the Madu church and forced the church’s priest to take the statue of the Virgin Mary to shelter. The statue has been an object of veneration for more than 400 years.

Cancellation of the Cease Fire Agreement. This agreement, which was initiated by the international community (including the U.S.) and supervised by the Scandinavian countries, was unilaterally cancelled by the Sri Lankan Singhalese leader, Mr. Rajapaksa, in January 2008. The SLMM (Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission) left the island, and allowed the Sri Lankan government to continue their ethnic cleansing free of international observers. Cancellation of the Cease Fire Agreement was condemned by the U.S., by the UN, and by other international authorities.

Iranian money and weapons. After canceling the CFA (Cease Fire Agreement), the Sri Lankan leader, Mr. Rajapaksa, went to Iran to borrow 1.9 billion dollars. This money was used to buy more weapon and ammunition, which are being used to destroy the Tamil areas of the island of Sri Lanka.

President. Rajapaksa shaking hands with Iranian President Mahmoud. Ahmedinejad. The meeting was a success, as Sri Lanka came away with 1.9 billion dollars in weapons and ammunition to carry on their viscous civil war.

NGO disappearances. People from NGOs that help Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka regularly disappear or are murdered. These NGOs include the Red Cross, UNOPS, the Danish Deming Organization, Action Contre la Faim, and many more. The killings, when they can be traced, are usually traced to the Sri Lankan armed forces.

Rape as a tool of oppression. The Sri Lankan armed forces use rape as well as murder to terrorize innocents. They have been doing it to Tamils in Sri Lanka for years. As their behavior in Haiti has shown, this appears to be their habit even when they are not in Sri Lanka.

Media suppression. Tamil journalists who work with Tamil-language daily newspapers and Tamil web bloggers have been targeted by the Sri Lankan government and their surrogates, with the aim of suppressing news about Sri Lankan atrocities in Tamil areas. Tamil journalists have been killed, and the killings were condemned by Reporters without Borders and by former US ambassador to Sri Lanka Ms. Teresita Schaffer. Recently, a Sri Lankan Journalists group said that 14 journalists and media workers have been killed in Sri Lanka in the past two years; eight others have been abducted, and four others imprisoned. The group says licenses for some radio stations have been revoked by the government. CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists) issues an alert whenever the Sri Lankan government suppresses the Tamil Media for war reporting that is not favorable to the Sri Lankan government.

Refusal of UN watch group. The recent downgrading of Sri Lanka’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by an international committee highlights the need for independent international monitoring of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, Human Rights Watch said. Human Rights Watch also said that a UN human rights monitor was urgently needed to stem violations in Sri Lanka. However, Sri Lanka refused to allow UN human rights monitoring. An international advisory panel said it was resigning over Sri Lanka's refusal to properly investigate alleged human rights abuses, and a new report blamed the government for the abductions of hundreds of people and other violations of Sri Lanka’s obligations under international law.

Impunity for Violators. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights found Sri Lanka’s weak rule of law and impunity for the violators alarming. Authorities conducted no searches for criminal offenders against Tamils, especially against Tamil youths, Tamil journalists, Tamil elected members of parliament, and human rights advocates.

Religious Intolerance. The radical Jathika Hela Urumaya party rose to power in Sri Lanka after a wave of church burnings across Sri Lanka in 2004. The party both exploited and fostered this explosive environment. They campaigned on a platform of Buddhist supremacy and on promises to criminalize religious conversions.