Tsunamis And Tamil Tigers

Three Years After A Tsunami Slammed Sri Lanka, Life Returns To A Kind Of Normalcy

(CBS)  By CBS News producer George Osterkamp.

---

Even during the worst of the tsunami coverage on the island of Sri Lanka three years ago, I knew I wanted to return. The sheer beauty of the nation, once known as Ceylon, and the resilience of the Sri Lankans themselves were enormously appealing even during those difficult days.

I remember January 2005 in a helicopter chartered by CBS News looking down over endless fields of green tea leaves covering Sri Lanka’s interior. We were flying from smashed villages on the East Coast across the island to even more devastation and greater life loss on the West Coast.

The tea bushes in the heartland around towns like Kandy and Nuwara Eliya were a heartening sign of normalcy as women in the fields continued to pick tea leaves and harvest this great crop.

But our assignment then was to cover the destruction caused by the tsunami, which arrived on Sri Lanka in three great waves on Dec. 26, 2004.

One of the hardest-hit beach towns on the East Coast was Unawatuna, just south of the city of Galle. There on a curving stretch of beach was a bar and restaurant named The Happy Banana. In the days after the Tsunami, lacking its roof and most walls, the Happy Banana looked particularly forlorn.

Two weeks ago I returned to Unawatuna, and I can report this stretch of beach is once again a piece of paradise. The Happy Banana is back in business. But for its hard-working owner, Janath Abeygunawardana, there remains a big problem here: Not enough visitors.

“First, they worried about another tsunami,” Mr. Abeygunawardana told me. “Now they’re worried about terrorism.” He was referring to the Tamil Tigers, a separatist movement based in northern Sri Lanka.

After years of an uneasy truce, the government of Sri Lanka let a cease-fire with the Tigers lapse in January - and there have been bombing incidents killing civilians.

Several governments, including the U.S., Canada and Australia, have issued warnings, cautioning citizens about the possibility of terror incidents in Sri Lanka. But for myself, over 11 days visiting half-a-dozen locations around the island, I never felt danger. I did notice military checkpoints at most major crossroads, but the soldiers and police there seemed to be relaxed.

Sri Lanka’s home-grown problems rarely intrude on the lives of visitors. Outside The Happy Banana, lounging on beach chairs, several bronzing Europeans seemed unconcerned.

The Happy Banana was rebuilt without government help. Janath Abeygunawardana says he reached deep into family savings and spent five million rupees (approximately $50,000) on repairs, a princely sum here. Like most other business owners on Unawatuna, he says no tsunami relief money flowed to him.

Where the relief money has gone is a subject of some dispute in Sri Lanka. With a death toll exceeding 31,000, the country was pledged $3.2 billion from foreign donors. The government says it received $1.2 billion, but can account for only half of that amount, according to Transparency International, a watchdog group.

“It has been virtually impossible to find out what happened to the cash,” says Rukshana Nanayakkara, of Transparency International, as reported by Agence France Presse. A Sri Lankan driver told me of relief officials he had chauffeured who lived a good life in the best hotels while they were supposed to be assessing local needs.

The government says the recovery effort is on track and that 100,000 new homes have been built for flood victims. On the East Coast I saw several new communities. But clearly corruption and continuing hostilities between the government and Tamil Tigers have taken a toll on relief efforts in Sri Lanka.

In Unawatuna these days there’s plenty of space at the bar or at the inn - and plenty of time to muse about what parts of the recovery could have been done better.

After the tsunami, the government told beach businesses they’d have to rebuild inland for safety - away from the water and back from the prime beach property they occupied. Officials backed down from that effort after it was pointed out that visitors looking for a great beach probably would not patronize businesses that moved inland.

And the owner of The Happy Banana says he’s noticed a new competitor down the way. A Danish woman, he says, was one of the most vigorous fund raisers after the tsunami, getting documents and authorizations which she took back to Europe to raise money. Apparently she was very successful; she returned to Sri Lanka with the money and opened her own bar and restaurant in Unawatuna. [I cannot verify the story, but I can testify to Mr. Abeygunawardana’s indignation.]

Still, for someone traveling around the island today, the visible scars from the great tsunami are few. Sri Lanka with its lush scenery, rich history, wonderful foods and welcoming people is once again a great draw. It was described by one of its more famous residents, scientist and writer Arthur C. Clarke, as the best place in the world from which to view the universe.

In February 2008, I think it still is.

[oneside1]

I am very sad to see this author only went to government controlled area and writing a one sided storey. In Sri Lanka Tamil people never get their funding or any other aids from the western countries. What really happening in srilanka is a freedom struggle. Government of srilanka using the word terrorism to kill innocent people. Even UN is not allowed by the government to investigate the killing of Tamils. The government backed away from the cease fire and Declared War. Please take a moment to read the Human write violations by the Government forces.

[tntamil]

The Sri Lankan armed forces have been killing Tamils Mugabe/Saddam style for several decades. See this Time magazine article:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,966886-2,00.html

A military problem even more serious than lack of manpower is absence of discipline: bloody transgressions by government forces have sorely aggravated tensions. The International Commission of Jurists reported early this year that in response to Tiger attacks, the army often "went berserk and resorted to arbitrary shootings and killings of Tamils." Last December, for example, after a soldier was killed in the northern Mannar district, his comrades went on a rampage, shooting anyone in sight and leaving more than 100 Tamil civilians dead. Tamil women have been raped, Hindu temples put to the torch.

[surendiran-2009]

When credible organisation like CBS, ignoring their social and moral responsibilities to publish such a one sided and misleading article is to say the least disappointing and incredibly frustrating! Reporter implies that every thing in SL is hunky dory! Further implies as if the ''Other Sri Lanka'' where HRs are violated, prevalence of impunity for those abusing HRs, State terrorism - aerial indiscriminate bombing of innocent civilians, systematic government sponsored genocide are continuing. Tsunami is an unfortunate natural disaster that struck SL and the majority of life was lost in the N.East and East of the country where predominantly Tamils live. I wonder whether the reporter was even interested to find out how much of that $1.2bn (ok, half went to the corrupt Government Officials and Politicians) was spent in those worst affected areas. None! is what the answer would have been. Instead of reporting what really matters to decent readers, the reporter instead tries to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Caring public will be flabbergasted by the lack of social responsibility that has been shown and the damage that has been done to a reputable organisation like CBS in the eyes of a caring public.I strongly recommend that Mr.Osterkamp read the most recent reports of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Media Watch, World Organisation of News Papers, ICRC and UN High Commissioner''s statement post her recent visit to SL etc. before writing his next report.

[seba_raj]

The writer has given a correct picture of how western Tsunamin relief agencies wasted money by sending their executives who lived in expensive hotels and drove large cars. Another misapproipriation of funds occurred when Tsunami help in the North had to be done only through the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) agencies. Tigers diverted most of the aid to their war effort - building materials, food, medicine, money, you name it. No accounts are available. Any Tamil like myself arriving in Sri Lanka has to pay a poll Tax to the Tigers, proportional to the time I have lived abroad, and this is pure extortion and nothing else. If you don''t pay, you and your loved ones can face severe consequences. At least in the south, Tamils and Muslims and Sinhalese and foreign visitors mingle peacefully. NOT so in the areas controlled by the Tigers. Even the Nordic Monitors were told by the Taigers that their saftey cannot be guranteed, and no
agency can go their unless they play the tune of the tigers.

Sebastian Rasalingam

[seba_raj]

The writer has given a correct picture of how western Tsunamin relief agencies wasted money by sending their executives who lived in expensive hotels and drove large cars. Another misapproipriation of funds occurred when Tsunami help in the North had to be done only through the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) agencies. Tigers diverted most of the aid to their war effort - building materials, food, medicine, money, you name it. No accounts are available. Any Tamil like myself arriving in Sri Lanka has to pay a poll Tax to the Tigers, proportional to the time I have lived abroad, and this is pure extortion and nothing else. If you don''t pay, you and your loved ones can face severe consequences. At least in the south, Tamils and Muslims and Sinhalese and foreign visitors mingle peacefully. NOT so in the areas controlled by the Tigers. Even the Nordic Monitors were told by the Taigers that their saftey cannot be guranteed, and no
agency can go their unless they play the tune of the tigers.

Sebastian Rasalingam

[shamen2004]

Well I Wonder how you see this as one sided story? I know LTTE propaganda does not like to see the true picture of Sri lanka. They dont want to talk about how govenrment take care of innocent displaced tamils, muslims and sinhalese.
How come LTTE terrorism is called freedom strugle when more tamils(their own people who opposed to their terrorism)has been killed by LTTE than governemnt. This is the truth.
It is govenrment responsibility to protect the country and people when they are attacked. Sometimes its true that innocent poeple are get killed at the war. There are some isolated incidents. But unlike LTTE , government does not kill innocent civilians intentioanaly. LTTE purposely target civilians consistenly.
If govenrment kill Tamils, How come 2/3 rd of Tamil people live in govenrment control areas( even excluding north and east)?
Also we still remember how LTTE genocided innocent Sinhalese and Muslims who lived in North and east. They did systamatic ethnic cleansing to claim that land as their homeland.
Finally I''m glad that CBS news reporter has correctly shown the true picture of Sri lanka.

[ruwan2-2009]

Dear Writer,
Once again you forget the helpless people. You see and write your favorite tourist place and their well wishes. You also believe that is your world. You did not bother the poor people who suffered due to the tsunami and have been suffering from this State Terrorism.
When are you open your other sight to see the balance view?
Please do not hurt the Journalism profession by doing partition reporting.
Please do not encourage the State Terrorism.

[shamen2004]

Once again I''m thankful to CBS NEWS PRODUCER for giving helping hand for sri lankas tourism industry. Because of LTTE Terrorist''s false propaganda, sri lankas trourism industry is being badly affected. Thousands of poor people loose their jobs.
Thanks again Gorge

[velautha]

The problem in Sri Lanka is clearly state terrorism. Sri Lankan governments that dominate Sinhala majority have been using state terrorism to terrorize Tamils since 1948. The LTTE born only 30 years ago. Tsunami is another example that shows how the Sinhala state terrorist refuse to allow even emergency rehabilitation funds to Tamils. P-TOM which is signed between LTTE and Sri Lankan state terrorist were abandoned by the SL government. It is the Sri Lankan state terror government that refuses to accept federal solution for long standing Tamil struggle. The real sad fact is that Sinhala state terrorist use the word "terrorism" in order to execute the genocide war.

What Eelam Tamils want is a federal solution and it was proposed in 1960s. Instead of solving the political problem, Sri Lankan government chose to wage the war against Tamils. Now, the genocidal war is underway and almost 40% of the Tamil population is eliminated from Tamil homeland. This is the reality.

[velautha]

The problem in Sri Lanka is clearly state terrorism. Sri Lankan governments that dominate Sinhala majority have been using state terrorism to terrorize Tamils since 1948. The LTTE born only 30 years ago. Tsunami is another example that shows how the Sinhala state terrorist refuse to allow even emergency rehabilitation funds to Tamils. P-TOM which is signed between LTTE and Sri Lankan state terrorist were abandoned by the SL government. It is the Sri Lankan state terror government that refuses to accept federal solution for long standing Tamil struggle. The real sad fact is that Sinhala state terrorist use the word "terrorism" in order to execute the genocide war.

What Eelam Tamils want is a federal solution and it was proposed in 1960s. Instead of solving the political problem, Sri Lankan government chose to wage the war against Tamils. Now, the genocidal war is underway and almost 40% of the Tamil population is eliminated from Tamil homeland. This is the reality.

[velautha]

The problem in Sri Lanka is clearly state terrorism. Sri Lankan governments that dominate Sinhala majority have been using state terrorism to terrorize Tamils since 1948. The LTTE born only 30 years ago. Tsunami is another example that shows how the Sinhala state terrorist refuse to allow even emergency rehabilitation funds to Tamils. P-TOM which is signed between LTTE and Sri Lankan state terrorist were abandoned by the SL government. It is the Sri Lankan state terror government that refuses to accept federal solution for long standing Tamil struggle. The real sad fact is that Sinhala state terrorist use the word "terrorism" in order to execute the genocide war.

[saradiyal-2009]

I think the details on the report are correct but there are many more things happened as far as the tsunami funds are concerned. corruption is everywhere from government to LTTE and NGOs and INGOs. For eample tsunami fund raising match in Australia collected more than 11.o million USD and gave it to Worldvision, what have they done in effected countries. government officials and politicians also robbed and so was the LTTE who used the funds to purchase arms and ammunitions. these have been proved in investigation around the world from australia to US. many of the rich countries pledged aid but never delevered. but people themselves got together and coming out of what happened.

[dharmalover]

It is good that much of Sri Lanka is rebuilt after the tsunami. Even if the process was imperfect and filled with corruption, it is better that some money got through to some of those in need. Surely, though, CBS could do more than send a producer back to SL to see how his favorite beach resort was doing. Sri Lanka is in crisis. There is a brutal war going on, the most terrifying effects of which are felt in the north and east, but which also affects the rest of SL: political killings from all sides; LTTE bus bombings throughout the country; hundreds of people (mostly Tamils) "disappeared" by the government; fundamental rights -- including the right of the media to report freely -- denied in the name of the war on terrorism; patriotism used by politicians to cover up massive theft of public funds. All this is happening _throughout_ SL. A serious journalist would have taken a bit of time to read some of the recent writing on SL -- by Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group, the University Teachers for Human Rights (www.uthr.org) %u2013 to give the full picture of SL today. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country. It''s not all death and despair. But to write about it as merely a sunny paradise in need of a few more tourists is irresponsible at a time when people are suffering so much THROUGHOUT the island. Perhaps another trip by a REAL journalist on your staff would be in order.

[maheswaran-2009]

dear writer how come you puplished only one side,if you go north or east of srilanka you will
see who is terrorist,the stete terrorim use forign tsunami relife found to kill tamil people, olso
tsunami killed more tamils than sinhalese.but more aids use in galle rest of them buy arms,to kill
tamils. reach tamil civilians in north or east(go without arm arm forces)you will get the real news.
do you know how many tamil civilience killed by srilanken army. international states and medias
close there eyes.incd canada and cbc.srilanka state terror nevar aloved media in tamil(ltte) controle area why?do you know how media fredom in srilanka
please bring real story(news) from srilnka.
thanks.

[sinha1]

Thank you CBS New producer for giving this wonderful description of that beautiful island. Hope it will boost the turism in Sri Lanka, instaed of Terrorism as most outsiders do. Thank you shamen2004 to raise a voice against the LTTE terrorist propaganda network.
By looking at the comments on this article, one can see how powerful is the LTTE FALSE popaganda in United States. No matter how hard they try to spread false propaganda TRUTH WILL PREVAIL and trrorism will be eradicated and SRI LANKA WILL HAVE A LASTING PEACE soon.

[jeyan-2009]

Those who support a government that UNILATERALLY scrapped a 6 year internationally backed Ceasefire Agreement; a government whose president conspired and assisted in issuing a false diplomatic passport to a paramilitary, who did their dirty work, and smuggled him into the UK; a government who has repeatedly called several UN officials and EU diplomats as "White Tigers" or "terrorists" are either naive or evil to put it bluntly. THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT IS A RACIST SINHALA STATE THAT HAS SUPPRESSED ETHNIC TAMILS FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS SINCE OPPRESSION. IT HAS ZERO CREDIBILITY. No matter how much aid and funds are pumped into it, it is never going to change its racist attitude and Sinhala agenda of wiping out the ethnic Tamils. The UK, Canada, USA, EU and India have lambasted the Sri Lankan state for unilaterally withdrawing from the Ceasefire Agreement with the Tamil Tigers and they have said that there is NO military solution. HOWEVER the Powerful Racist Sinhala Sate of Sri Lanka believes otherwise.

PLEASE STOP VISITING SRI LANKA AND FLYING SRI LANKAN AIRLINES. It''s BLOOD MONEY!!!!!

DEAR AMERICAN,
Based on your founding fathers principles and declaration of 1776, PLEASE HELP THE TAMILS OF SRI LANKA to exercise their RIGHT to Self Determination on similar lines. DON''T LET GEORGE WASHINGTON TURN IN HIS GRAVE!!!!

[nev12341]

Dear George,
Thanks for very effectively highlighting the positive aspects of beutiful Sri Lanka and its good people. No matter what the ehnically motivated and highly organized supporters of LTTE say it is one of the most brutal terrorist organizations in the world. Their goal is nothing but separatism by using killing and destruction. They have vitually no world support and are getting gradually eradicated.LTTE is funded by killings, narcotics trade, extortion and funding by misguided expatriate tamils. After 25 years of terrorism they are yet to show even one percent of benefit for the tamil people.
True the government is focussed on destroying the terrorists but has always been on the side of the peace loving tamils. Most such people have chosen to live amidst the majority Sinhalese. Where is the Genocide? Where is the injustice? LTTE supporters have perfected the art of bombarding the media with disinformation.
Thanks again

[seelan_aiya]

Dear George
I guess you weren''t allowed to go to Tamil area in 2004 and even now. so you can see there is something that government is hiding. whole world gave so much money to Srilankan government, but they have used those money to buy vapens to kill Tamils. You could see that Gale area is build again because of the tourist area,so government build that area. People who is living in South and West they don''t know how people are suffering by Srilankan Government terrirism. They only know that Tamil Tigers are Terrist. But that is not true. Tamil people in North and East are suffering by shelling and bombind. I am Tamil who is living in Canada, but if go to Srilanka i don''t think that i could be coming back. Srialankan government might put me in Jail or kill me. This is the situation. Srilankan government is killing Tamil MP''s and some opposition Singala MP''s too. So how can you travel country that is wipe out Tamil people. There is no proof that Tamils kill the singales. Those bombing also could be setup by the government. because they need more Army to kill the Tamils. This is the way they can joint in militery.
If you can visist Tamil area which is under war by Srilankan government, you could see how Srilankan government is genociding Tamils. Srilankan government withdraw from CFA.

[seelan_aiya]

Dear George
I guess you weren''t allowed to go to Tamil area in 2004 and even now. so you can see there is something that government is hiding. whole world gave so much money to Srilankan government, but they have used those money to buy vapens to kill Tamils. You could see that Gale area is build again because of the tourist area,so government build that area. People who is living in South and West they don''t know how people are suffering by Srilankan Government terrirism. They only know that Tamil Tigers are Terrist. But that is not true. Tamil people in North and East are suffering by shelling and bombind. I am Tamil who is living in Canada, but if go to Srilanka i don''t think that i could be coming back. Srialankan government might put me in Jail or kill me. This is the situation. Srilankan government is killing Tamil MP''s and some opposition Singala MP''s too. So how can you travel country that is wipe out Tamil people. There is no proof that Tamils kill the singales. Those bombing also could be setup by the government. because they need more Army to kill the Tamils. This is the way they can joint in militery.
If you can visist Tamil area which is under war by Srilankan government, you could see how Srilankan government is genociding Tamils. Srilankan government withdraw from CFA.

[seelan_aiya]

Dear George
I guess you weren''t allowed to go to Tamil area in 2004 and even now. so you can see there is something that government is hiding. whole world gave so much money to Srilankan government, but they have used those money to buy vapens to kill Tamils. You could see that Gale area is build again because of the tourist area,so government build that area. People who is living in South and West they don''t know how people are suffering by Srilankan Government terrirism. They only know that Tamil Tigers are Terrist. But that is not true. Tamil people in North and East are suffering by shelling and bombind. I am Tamil who is living in Canada, but if go to Srilanka i don''t think that i could be coming back. Srialankan government might put me in Jail or kill me. This is the situation. Srilankan government is killing Tamil MP''s and some opposition Singala MP''s too. So how can you travel country that is wipe out Tamil people. There is no proof that Tamils kill the singales. Those bombing also could be setup by the government. because they need more Army to kill the Tamils. This is the way they can joint in militery.
If you can visist Tamil area which is under war by Srilankan government, you could see how Srilankan government is genociding Tamils. Srilankan government withdraw from CFA.

[oaky77]

The most menacing problem facing Sri Lanka today, even far worse than the 2004 tsunami, is LTTE Terrorism. It robs lives, resources and the future of our younger generation. It has been hard to defeat LTTE terrorism in Sri Lanka partly due to LTTE agents in the west having perfected the art of false propaganda. Yes there were injustices in the past towards tamils, but they have been rectified. We need international reporters like you Mr. Osterkamp, to tell the world how Sinhala, Tamils and Muslims are living peacefully in the south, to counter the lies spread by LTTE agents around the world. The LTTE kills their own people to create a rascist, ethnically pure Eelam where they can be king.

[acy11]

It was wonderful to read of Mr. Osterkamp''s enjoyable visit to this beautiful island full of friendly, hospitable, unaggressive people. I am a Canadian who has made several visits to the south of Sri Lanka, to Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala and such idyllic beach towns and the author has superbly captured the local atmosphere. The prices of the local hotels are amazing; North Americans should perforce visit the island when they come to Southeast Asia, to Thailand and Vietnam, because Sri Lanka will reward you with a totally different experience.

I am sad to see the usual suspects dissing the poor country in the posts above. Tamil Tiger supporters must troll websites to heap opprobrium on the country. My own research has shown that Tamils are treated very well in Sri Lanka and have always been. Tamils were about the same percentage of the island nation''s population as African Americans are in the USA in 1983 when the Tigers commenced their war by slaughtering 13 policemen. Despite their population being roughly 13% of Sri Lanka''s in 1981, 35% of Sri Lanka''s physicians and surgeons, 25% of dentists, 39 % of veterenarians, 35% of engineers, and 16% of government managers were ethnic Tamils (1981 Census figures). And so on and so forth. Frankly, for the life of me, I cannot figure out what case could be made for the horrific toll the Tamil Tigers have taken on the people and economy of this beautiful country.

[tntamil]

A previous poster says: Despite their population being roughly 13% of Sri Lanka''''s in 1981, 35% of Sri Lanka''''s physicians and surgeons, 25% of dentists, 39 % of veterenarians, 35% of engineers, and 16% of government managers were ethnic Tamils (1981 Census figures).

What about the ethnic composition of the armed forces of SL? http://www.photius.com/countries/sri_lanka/national_security/sri_lanka_national_security_ethnic_composition_o~456.html

"The Sinhalization of the armed forces continued under the United National Party government of President Jayewardene. The retirement of the British-educated cadre of Tamil and Burgher officers gradually depleted the ranks of minority members. At the same time, the growing ethnic divisions in the country and the deployment of the armed forces against the Tamil population in the Northern Province tended to discourage young Tamil males from pursuing a career in the military. By 1985 almost all enlisted personnel in the armed services were Sinhalese."

The SL Government has primed its armed forces to implement its plan of smart genocide against the Tamils. This is not a dumb government like Robert Mugabe or a oil rich power like Saddam to go for aopen genocide. They know they have to play to the International Community and have implemented this smart genocide and the LTTE is the only force on the ground preventing the SL genocide from progressing at a faster rate.

[acy11]

It is significant that ''tntamil'' does not repudiate the facts presented in my post that prove that the whole tale of ''discrimination'' that the Tamil Tigers have strenuously fabricated over the years is pure bunkum. The West was softened up by a Tiger strategy to plant thousands of supporters in Western democracies, all claiming ''discrimination''. These Tamils in countries such as the US, Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Norway, Germany, and Switzerland are milked by Tiger operatives, mostly through thuggery and threats, to raise money for death and destruction in Sri Lanka. Very clever! Organizations such as al-Qaeda are watching...

As for the armed forces, I must say that I have not investigated the situation but now that it has come up, I will. Suffice to say that the armed forces (the squaddies, anyway) generally represent the poor (no different in the US). And, according to what I see when I visit Sri Lanka, the poor are mostly Sinhalese. And, tnttamil, please don''t use emotive words such as ''genocide''. You are trying to exploit the tug of that word on us Westerners when we think of what happened to the Jews. Isn''t it true that way more non-combatant Tamils have been killed by the Tamil Tigers than by any other force? So is that ''genocide''?

[rajash-2009]

I think this guy must have
written this after having free arrack and free devilled prawns at The Happy Banana.

[tntamil]

-------------
It is significant that ''''tntamil'''' does not repudiate the facts presented in my post that prove that the whole tale of ''''discrimination'''' that the Tamil Tigers have strenuously fabricated over the years is pure bunkum.

--------------

I did not dispute the numbers you had provided about the positions Tamils held at that point of time. What you are missing out is that the Tamils (and other minorities) were doing well under the British and the Sinhala governments of Independent Sri Lanka implemented several measures including unleashing violence on the minorities to take over the country.

See this Time magazine article from 1961 (14 years before the LTTE was formed)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,897670,00.html

"The widow has unquestionably shattered the harmony of her island nation by her attacks on the Catholic and Tamil minorities, but her insistence that Ceylon belongs to the Singhalese is vastly popular with the vast majority."

[tntamil]

---------------------
The West was softened up by a Tiger strategy to plant thousands of supporters in Western democracies, all claiming ''''discrimination''''. These Tamils in countries such as the US, Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Norway, Germany, and Switzerland are milked by Tiger operatives, mostly through thuggery and threats, to raise money for death and destruction in Sri Lanka. Very clever! Organizations such as al-Qaeda are watching...

--------------------

What Tiger strategy? The problem predates the Tigers by decades (unless you count the Time Reporter as a Tiger). Tigers are a plain old resistance movement to the military aggression of the Sinhala armed forces. Ever heard of rebels, resistance fighters etc. They have been renamed to ''terrorists'' to get support from western governments. Al Qaida is a terrorist oragnization, the Tamil Tigers are not - The west has been misled to believe that all non state actors are Terorists.

Besides I am not from Sri Lanka, but from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

[tntamil]

As for the armed forces, I must say that I have not investigated the situation but now that it has come up, I will. Suffice to say that the armed forces (the squaddies, anyway) generally represent the poor (no different in the US).

-------------------

Now, that''s a John Kerry like statement without much research. Please do your research and you will understand that though the Sinhalese are only about 73% of the SL population, they form 99% (plus) of the armed forces and poverty is nowhere in the picture to explain this anomaly. Image an Iraqi armed force with only Shias.

[tntamil]

And, according to what I see when I visit Sri Lanka, the poor are mostly Sinhalese. And, tnttamil, please don''''t use emotive words such as ''''genocide''''. You are trying to exploit the tug of that word on us Westerners when we think of what happened to the Jews. Isn''''t it true that way more non-combatant Tamils have been killed by the Tamil Tigers than by any other force? So is that ''''genocide''''?
--------------------

The SL government is responsible for a majority of the deaths in this struggle. I would say they caused more than 80 % of the Tamil casualties so far in this war. I am trying to compile a detailed list of killings done by the Sl government/IPKF and Tamil Tigers to account for the 800000 plus lives lost in this war and will post it on the net after I am done. The SL government is the only government to have aerially bombarded its own citizens for 22 years (they started in 1986). Coupled with all the blockades and injustices meted out to the Tamils, it is indeed "smart genocide"

[tntamil]

I meant to say 80000 lives and not 800000 lives in my previous post.

[acy11]

I see that ''tntamil'' has now resorted to ad hominem attack; pity, it shows the shallowness of the barrels that he(?) is plumbing. Ok, if you want to play that game...

My point was that there was no justification whatsoever for this war. The people of Sri Lanka do not deserve it. Former smuggler Prabhakaran got on board the Tamil nationalist cause and then made good because he would kill without compunction. Tamil politicians who did not pay him obeisance were the first to go. His rivals in other Tamil militant movements were similarly snuffed out.

Yes, the policy declaring Sinhalese as the official language was dumb, dumb, dumb and I believe that Sri Lanka''s political elites have repudiated this stupidity. I recall travelling to the Sinhalese ''heartland'' in Buttala en route from the hills to the south and being very pleased to see government buildings being identified in Sinhalese, Tamil, and English. It is also gratifying to note that everywhere in the island, except in the Tamil Tiger-controlled north where Tamil ethnic purity appears to be a requirement, all races get along amicably.

[acy11]

I abbreviated my last post because of space limitations but I must respond to a couple of ''tntamil''s'' explosive assertions.

1. The SL Army is responsible for the majority of deaths in this struggle. Well, that may be true if you take into account the number of Tamil Tiger cadres eliminated over the years but I was talking about Tamil civilians slaughtered by the Tigers. Civilians, got it? And you confidently assert an 80% figure while simultaneously saying that you have no idea. Huh?

2. Owing to Tamil outmigration to the West, the (northern) Tamil population is now only 3.9% of the population according to 2007 figures. This includes the Tamil population of eastern Sri Lanka that has firmly rejected Prabhakaran''s claim as overlord. Your figures of 73% Sinhalese is very out-of-date.

How this modern day Pol Pot can claim 40% of Sri Lanka and 60% of its coastline while CLAIMING (bah!) to represent way less than 4% of its people is something I fail to comprehend.

[maravan-2009]

It is ridiculous to see that "ACY11" is living in his own fantasy world created by SL government''s lies.

Since 1958, Tamils peacefully requested SL government to fulfill Tamils aspirations but all the time they were cheated and beaten back by Sinhala thugs. "ACY11" please do some research before making a public comment. Do not try to spread lies!
Even now, it is not too late, if Tamil''s rights were given then this war would not started.

"ACY11", you said that you have seen all three-language posts in schools. Please go to NE hospitals or police station and see government official%u2019s paper work. Not even a single word written in Tamil. Is that equal language policy? Law enforce people cannot understand local people''s language. I can list the issues more then hounded thousands words.
Basically, Srilankan is a failed state and it is forces in a mission to genocide Tamils.

[acy11]

''maravan'' charges that I live in a fantasy world created by Sri Lankan govt. ''lies''. No, I am just going by census figures and my own observations when I travel in that beautiful island.

I am not saying that Sri Lanka is a paradise. Physically it is but its human relationships can improve. But I can say that about my country, Canada. We have all types of problems here but we strive to resolve them peacefully. Sometimes it takes decades but, except for a killing by the FLQ in Quebec (which was forcefully crushed by then PM Pierre Trudeau) and occasional killings of aboriginal activists, mayhem and murder are kept in check. We do not have a psychopath like Tiger leader Prabhakaran to mislead the weak and explode IEDs. And thank heavens for that.

[tntamil]

Looks like ACY11 recommends the Buddhist Taliban method of bombing their own citizens to settle a separatist/freedom struggle as opposed to a Quebec like civilized approach. Irony that he claims to be from Canada.

[tntamil]

How this modern day Pol Pot can claim 40% of Sri Lanka and 60% of its coastline while CLAIMING (bah!) to represent way less than 4% of its people is something I fail to comprehend.
------------------

Do you know that the Tamil Resistance wants an UN administered referendum on separation in the North East of Lanka? Now, why would they want that if they are only 4% of the people? And more importantly, why would the SL government oppose a Quebec like referendum and that too with UN troops?

[samath6]

brilliant article. Loved it.

[maravan-2009]

Hello ACY11

Just want to point out that Prabakaran did not create this ethnic war. Successive Srilankan government created it.
FYI, check out this video by moderate Tamils:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T4nQljK90o

[maravan-2009]

This piece of writing is fully biased and misleading article.
The author is referring Unawatuna as East Coast repeatedly but actually, Unawatuna is located in Southern coast of Sri lanka.

[shamen2004]

It is the truth that 2/3rd of Tamils live out side of North and East. If Sri Lankan government discriminate them, this is not possible. I remember when I studied at Moratuwa universitfy, 25% of students are tamils(only in my batch). Considerign the facts that there are other universities in north and east and how many sinhalese students can go there and study?
In fact, can we(sinhalse)go to North freely?
Who really descriminate against whoom?

[joelpravin]

Having grown up in America, I find it quite amusing to see CBS providing an insight into Sri Lanka as a ''Tourist Haven''. The sad fact is the tsunamai, which devastated the lives of thousands of people in the country, provided an ideal opportunity for reporters to rush in and pick up a good scoop. Mr.Osterkamp''s was one of these, rushing in to document and detail a truly catastrophic event for the American public. By chance he was able to bump into some tourist resorts, and was able to empathise with the people he met. Unfortunately the Sri Lanka he has seen is far from the real Sri Lanka. (continued)

[joelpravin]

Sri Lanka, which once was asserted to become a stronger country than Singapore (by Lee Kuan Yew himself), has fallen into an unending abyss. Mistakes committed when independence occurred fostered a culture of mistrust between the majority Sinhalese and Tamils, which were exacerbated in the 70%u2019s and 80%u2019s into deep-rooted resentment. It is so sad to see this, seeing the potential of its people and the country. The nature of the conflict with its Sinhalese, Buddhist majority and Tamil, Hindu minority unfortunately provide few commonalities and even less opportunity to empathise and constructively negotiate with the others. The generation living today, especially in the North and East, are the by product of years of fighting, and many have joined the LTTE having seen first-hand rapes, and killings of loved ones. With the lack of opportunity and hope in the North and East, and the constant threat of kidnappings, beatings and death by the Sri Lanka Army a recruiting ground conducive for the LTTE is created. Real journalism would see people try to understand this, and push for more suitable actions to help address this. (continued 2/3)

[joelpravin]

As a Sri Lankan Tamil, I wish to see a lasting just peace in the country, and better opportunities for its people as a whole. Unfortunately, the current mindset that military might can resolve this situation will see the country devastated. It would have been better if Mr.Osterkamp had analysed this in more detail, and tried to convey what he had found to the public. This may have spurned others into action, and created a more realistic illustration of the country. Unfortunately he did not, and as Gandhi said %u2013 %u2018an eye for an eye will only make the world blind%u2019 seems to be the adage of current day Sri Lanka. At this time, only God can save Sri Lanka.

Joel Pravin (3/3)

[shamen2004]

JoelPravin..I appriciate your wish for a long lasting peace in Sri Lanka as a true sri lanka..Like any other genuine Sri Lankans, It is the my wish too.
But also I must say, how LTTE recruit innocent tamil children. Its not a secret that LTTE recrutis them forcibly. Those children are brained washed. Especially children who live in LTTE control areas, hear only what LLTE says. Those children are entitled for proper education instead of taking arms. They should have been part of countries development process.