War celebrations and a question on trust

Sri Lankan lady reads names on a memorial for fallen soldiers during the National War Heroes Day in Colombo on May 19, 2019 (AFP)

But Tamils still remain marginalised and view visits by Indian lawmakers in the country, including their prime ministers, with much hope

The GoSL maintains that death certificates would be issued to those missing after proper investigations are carried out. The regime also promises such families help

The regime proposes the idea that the missing should be considered dead. But the Tamil community refuses to accept the missing as dead

When the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) celebrated 12 years after winning the civil war on Tuesday (May 18) the battered Tamil community had a lot to ponder on.

More than any form of physical harassment at present the Tamils in the country are trying hard to cure mental wounds. They lost their loved ones, land in the north and now have to put up with the fact that a good number of their loves ones are missing from the civil war. 

The then president at the time the government forces finished the war promised to create a country where all communities can live in harmony. But Tamils still remain marginalised and view visits by Indian lawmakers to the country, including their prime ministers, with much hope. 

One of the biggest issues plaguing the Tamil community is the issue concerning missing individuals who have left property and money in banks to be inherited by loved ones. But death certificates have not been issued regarding many of these missing people. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during a meeting with UN resident coordinator some time back said that thousands of people reported missing will be considered dead. The President also referred those missing people to LTTE’s forced recruitments. The GoSL maintains that death certificates would be issued to those missing after proper investigations are carried out. The regime also promises such families help. 
The GoSL making heroic speeches regarding the government troops securing victory in the civil war must now be done away with. Such talk and celebrations keep the old bloody war in the news; phycologists affirm this is akin to rubbing salt on wounds that have open cuts. 

The GoSL making heroic speeches regarding the government troops securing victory in the civil war must now be done away with. Such talk and celebrations keep the old bloody war in the news; phycologists affirm this is akin to rubbing salt on wounds that have open cuts

For the record former President and Present Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Tuesday in parliament that the government will not betray the victory secured at the civil war which was gained by sacrificing thousands of lives. 
Twelve years after the war the majority Sinhalese governments and minority Tamils are at loggerheads as to whether war crimes took place during the civil war. How can a country move forward when two communities are engaged in constant disputes? The GoSL has denied these war crime claims. 

At present the Geneva based rights council has given UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachete a mandate to collect evidence of crimes during Sri Lanka’s civil war. Bachete has been given new staff, power and US $ 2.8 million budget for the probe on the Sri Lankan civil war. 

The GoSL probably didn’t have an option, but to see the war reach an end and face the consequences later. Prime Minister Rajapaksa on Tuesday said, “war heroes sacrificed their lives to create peace in the country and grant independence to you. Whatever the challenges we have to face them”

Give the situation it’s unwise to antagonise the UN and its strong member states because sanctions can be imposed on Sri Lanka. The probe on Sri Lanka is initiated by the UN with the view of future prosecution. Already travel bans to certain countries have been imposed on at least two individuals who served the Army at the time the war concluded in 2009. 

The GoSL is quite helpless because it fought a ruthless terrorist outfit which disregarded values of ethics and even used Tamils as human shields during the final stages of the conflict. The GoSL probably didn’t have an option, but to see the war reach an end and face the consequences later. Prime Minister Rajapaksa on Tuesday said, “war heroes sacrificed their lives to create peace in the country and grant independence to you. Whatever the challenges we have to face them”. 

The present government came into power with an overwhelming majority. But from giving a presidential pardon to an Army Staff Sergeant convicted of many killings and heavily militarising state institutes has left people wondering whether the regime will do justice to all races of the community. The UN expressing alarm at the present deteriorating human rights situation in the country has not helped the GoSL either. 

Sri Lankans throwing their weight behind the minority black community in the United States regarding the ‘Black lives issue’ and the islanders showing solidarity with the Palestinians in the history of their conflict with Israel only exposes the issue of the battered minority Tamil community. The present GoSL is however yet to make a worthwhile statement regarding the genocide taking place within Palestine due to the areal bombing carried out by the Israelis. 

Many books have been penned regarding the civil war and enough documentaries and films have been produced by filmmakers.   But set aside the truth these productions have failed to unite a divided community. 

The regime proposes the idea that the missing should be considered dead. But the Tamil community refuses to accept the missing as dead. 

Sometimes there can be insufficient evidence to believe a loved one is dead. How can one section of the community be forced to believe someone is dead when trust is absent between two communities?