Peace: Let us remember we belong to each other

In Sri Lanka, racism and racial riots have often created crises. The first riots against the Tamil-speaking people took place in 1958 and thereafter several times, the worst being in 1983. This led to a full-scale 30-year war in which hundreds of thousands of people were killed, injured or displaced while the material cost is not calculable.

This may be one of the reasons for the recent public uprising against the  ongoing socio-economic and political crises. That is why it is vitally important to restore racial unity and harmony. Perhaps President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal for an all-party Government could be the first step towards racial unity and opposition parties especially need to consider this proposal seriously and reach a compromise through a dialogue of goodwill. In conflict resolution, we need to be aware that our understanding is always relative and never absolute. Therefore we need to be open to the ideas of others and put the country’s interests before the parties’ or personal interests and also take strong legal action against politicians who are alleged to be involved in big-time bribery or corruption and wheeler-dealing amounting to billions of rupees. It was the people’s money that was plundered and those convicted of this grave crime should be in jail and not in Parliament or other local councils.

It is in such a situation that we join the United Nations in marking the International Day of Peace with the theme being “End racism. Build peace.” In a statement, the UN says each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. 

But achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms.  It requires the building of societies where all people feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.

The UN says that as conflicts continue to erupt across the globe, causing people to flee, we have seen race-based discrimination at borders. As COVID-19 keeps attacking our communities, we have seen how certain racial groups have been hit much harder than others. As economies suffer, we have seen hate speech and violence directed at racial minorities. We all have a role to play in fostering peace. And tackling racism is a crucial way to contribute. We can work to dismantle the structures that entrench racism in our midst. We can support movements for equality and human rights everywhere. We can speak out against hate speech – both offline and online. We can promote anti-racism through education and restorative justice.

The UN has invited all countries to join the efforts as its work towards a world free of racism and racial discrimination. A world where compassion and empathy overcome suspicion and hatred. A world that we can truly be proud of.

According to the UN, racism, xenophobia and related discrimination and intolerance exist in all societies, everywhere. Racism harms not just the lives of those who endure it, but also society as a whole. We all lose in a society characterized by discrimination, division, distrust, intolerance, and hate. The fight against racism is everyone’s fight. We all have a part to play in building a world beyond racism.

Today is the feast day of St. Teresa better known and loved as mother Teresa who has set up homes for poor and displaced people in many countries. She says if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.