UNISCI - Universidad Complutense de Madrid

More documents

Recommendations

Info

UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (Octubre / October 2013) ISSN 1696-2206displacements, the destruction of homes, livelihood and infrastructure, the death anddisappearance of loved ones –require affirmative processes for restoration and reparation,together with mechanisms for accountability and the protection of human rights that take fullaccount of the special nature of their grievances. 12110. The Muslim CommunityThe Muslims, though not direct protagonists in the armed conflict between the LTTE and theSri Lankan State, have undergone considerable suffering during the years of fighting in theNorth and East. The forcible eviction of the entire Muslim community from theNorthern Province by the LTTE, the massacre of around two hundred Muslims whileworshipping in mosques in Kattankudy and Eravur , the takeover of lands belonging to theMuslims in the Eastern Province, the deprivation of the livelihoods of Muslims in the conflictareas and the lack of adequate security to the Muslims were a few of the phenomena thatcontributed greatly to the sense of insecurity and unease that Muslims faced because of theconflict.Unlike the Tamil community which challenged State structures as a means ofaddressing grievances, the Muslims took a separate political path and preferred to engage withthe State and work within the mainstream of Sri Lankan politics. This created a great dealof misunderstanding between the Tamil and Muslim communities and caused a strain intheir relationship. There are also perceptions that lands are being taken over for occupationby the security forces without due consultation or process. 12211. Inter-Ethnic ConflictDiscrimination against the Tamil population which is seen to lie at the root of the threedecadeconflict has been attributed to the struggle between a majority community anda minority community, where the latter seeks space to operate within a larger polity.The notion of democracy dictates that a balance must be achieved for this in a manner thatis not at the expense of any community. 123The balance to be found must be premised upon the common need for nationalintegration and peaceful coexistence. In negotiating such a balance, trust is a prerequisite.There currently exists a trust deficit which has contributed to the view that, as theminority moves towards advocating geographical separation, any concession by the State will121 Ibid.122 Abdul Rauff, Salithamby: "Sri Lanka Muslim Congress: A Failed Leadership Of A Hapless Community",Colombo Telegraph, 4 May 2013, at http://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sri-lanka-muslim-congress-afailed-leadership-of-a-hapless-community/;Yusuf, Javid: "Developing a strong sense of nationhood: A Muslimperspective", The Sunday Times, 8 January 2012, at http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120108/News/nws_23.html.123"Sweeping Reforms including Senate for Reconciliation", The Sunday Times, 11 March 2012, athttp://www.sundaytimes.lk/120311/News/nws_04.html; "National Policy on Reconciliation, Final Draft", Peacein Sri Lanka, August 2012, at http://www.peaceinsrilanka.lk/human-rights/national-policy-on-reconciliationfinal-draft-august-2012.206
UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (Octubre / October 2013) ISSN 1696-2206be detrimental to the majority community. Conversely, the Tamil minority lacks confidenceand trust as a result of failed aspirations and expectations. 12412. Challenges and OpportunitiesAs a result of the long-standing strife and struggle, two key challenges remain to be addressedso as to propel the country towards enduring and sustainable peace and prosperity. First, theroot causes of the conflict need solutions that are satisfactory to all the communities andpeoples of Sri Lanka. Second, there is a need to dispel suspicions and weld all communitiesinto and within the fabric of one nation.Sri Lanka is faced with a unique opportunity to foster sustainable peace, unity andnational reconciliation. The present Government wields the broad support of the majority ofthe country and possesses the capacity to present a political solution that is acceptable toall peoples and communities. The present popularity of the President, in particular mustbe treated as an asset, which can be used to convince the majority community of theurgent need for national reconciliation whereby all communities could live in peace, dignityand equality.A further opportunity has arisen in respect of the political representation of Tamilinterests. With the demise of the LTTE, a moderate Tamil voice has been permitted toemerge and flourish. The present representatives of the Tamil people have expressedstrong commitment to a political solution within a united Sri Lanka. This opportunity mustbe swiftly seized, as extremism within the Island and among the Diaspora can only bedealt with by empowering moderate and reasonable voices.Finally, the end of the armed conflict has opened up space to address the task ofnation building unhindered by preoccupation with a debilitating armed struggle, which was adrain on the nation's resources. 125 With the Sri Lankan Government’s efforts to ensure largeinfrastructure development in the past two years, healthy growth rates have been achieved.There remains a need to take further steps so that economic achievements may be translatedinto meaningful and equitable benefits that will impact on the life of every Sri Lankan. In thiscontext, there remains a need for political reforms that entrench empowerment and awillingness to bring closure for the suffering of individuals and communities as a whole.13. The ContextThe engagement of the Government and the Tamil National Alliance in talks aimed at apolitical settlement began with considerable interest following the end of the war in 2009,thereby awakening hope in the nation for a new era of peace. However, as it now stands, thetalks have reached a stalemate. There is a need for the casting aside of political rivalries onboth sides, to ensure that a framework of peace and understanding for both the majoritySinhalese community and the Tamil and Muslim minorities are arrived at and guaranteedthrough the early resumption of talks.124 Ibid.125 Ibid.207
Page 1 and 2:
ISSN 1696-2206 Nº 33 Octubre /Octo
Page 3 and 4:
Juan Emilio CheyreDirector, Center
Page 5 and 6:
UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (O
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
Page 153 and 154:
Page 155 and 156: UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (O
Page 205: UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (O
show all

UNISCI - Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?