nature of ethnic strife
DESCRIPTION
Nature of Ethnic Strife. Tamils in Northeast (yellow) Sinhalese in Central & South (gray) Population: 20 million 20% Tamils (Hindus & Christians) 72% Sinhalese (Buddhists & Christians) 8% Mixed (Muslims). Needs to be cleaned up. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Nature of Ethnic StrifeTamils in Northeast (yellow)Sinhalese in Central & South (gray)
Population: 20 million
20% Tamils (Hindus & Christians)
• 72% Sinhalese (Buddhists & Christians)
• 8% Mixed (Muslims)1
2
Needs to be cleaned up
Tyranny of the Majority(60 yrs of SLG’s Oppressive Rule Against Tamils)
► Institutional discrimination against Tamils Forced colonization Sinhala as only National Language Discrimination in education and employment Recurrent Government sponsored pogroms Constitution written to protect majority rights only Elected Tamil leaders’ voiced for minority rights Crushed with
Violence Tamils Rights and Rights to self determination never
delivered Oppressive measures and deprivation of rights eventually
lead to Tamil youths into arm struggle Govt attacked Own Tamil citizens indiscriminately to crush
rebels In 2002 International Community (lead by US) assisted
ceasefire. Abrogation of PTOMs by Supreme Court 3
Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka
1. Current Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Northeast Sri Lanka
2. Urgent Actions Required
3. Long Term Political Solutions
4
Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka
(Life in Peril) Over 300,000 people facing devastating
humanitarian crisis► cornered into 20 sq.km area► without access to food, medicine and water► living under trees and makeshift camps – mostly under
bunkers
Over 3,000 people killed in “so-called” safe zone within last 3 months
Over 7,000 people severely injured5
Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka
(Daily Bombing of Safe Zone) Daily indiscriminate shelling & aerial bombing
by Sri Lankan Government (SLG) on designated safe zone►Some days 5,000 shells are fired by SLG
SLG uses banned cluster bombs & phosphorus fire bombs
Hospitals and food storages are deliberately targeted►SLG said, “Hospitals are legitimate targets”
6
Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka
(War without Witness) All NGOs ordered out by SLG last year
Journalists are forbidden from the region
►SLG publically threatened to chase out international media
►Local journalists killed and intimidated►TV stations bombed
Remaining healthcare workers were ordered out by SLG or face dire consequences►Only 7 doctors and few hundred healthcare workers
serving 300,000 7
Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka
(Food and Medicine as Weapons of War) Medicine
►No medical supply ►Complete collapse of health system►Mass casualty of civilian war victims ►Lack of even basic medications – amputation, child
deaths►Infectious diseases
Foods►No food convey was allowed for a long time►Lack of food and water►Deaths due to starvation 8
Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka
(Indefinite Internment)► “Internment Camps”
Military & paramilitary run camps People moved away from conflict zones put in internment camp
run by SLG No free movement inside or outside the camp Families are separated and relatives are not allowed to visit Parents are not allowed to stay with severely injured children in
hospital (HRW Report) Lack of adequate food and basic health care No free access for NGOs and Journalists Disappearances and sexual assaults inside the camps.
Screaming inside the camps in nights. (HRW eye witness report).
SLG plans to hold people inside the camps for unspecified time.
ALL of the Above ACTIONS HIGHLIGHT GENOCIDAL INTEND OF SLG 9
Urgent Actions►Bring immediate ceasefire
►Allow food and medicine
►Allow international observers and media into conflict zone & internment camps
►Free movement of people
►No forced evacuation10
WORLD CAN HELP! Appoint special envoy for the crisis
Stop financial aids from IMF, ADB and World Bank
Trade embargo or sanction against SLG
Declare Sri Lanka as a terror nation
Support genocidal indictment against SLG Leaders
Bring this crisis to UN security council11
Long Term Political Solutions►Two Nations at peace is better than one
nation at war
► Recognize Tamil homeland and the right to self govern
► There is no military solution to the conflict
12
Long Term Political Solution►Who can represent of Tamils ?
Representation should include combination of TNA, LTTE and Tamil Diaspora.
Internationally monitored Referendum
13