Posts filed under 'transCurrents Photo Feature'
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
“I have come to bring good news to the poor,
to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18)
As the bells toll around the globe, getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, a rare event of sharing experience in Jaffna was initiated by two individuals who visited Jaffna recently. “Christmas hopes from Jaffna” was initiated by Ruki Fernando and Angelica Chandrasekaran. It was held on December 21st 2007 at the Centre for Society and Religion in Maradana.
Experiences shared by the individuals at the event are compiled below:
Ruki Fernando:
“I attended a Hindu wedding while I was in Jaffna. Someone told me at the wedding that they are married; they will have children; and they have to worry about their children not getting killed, abducted or conscripted. The people of Jaffna are worried; they just want to lead a normal life”.
Angelica Chandresekaran:
“People of Jaffna do not need anything except peace. They have learnt to lead a life with what is available. But they want long-lasting peace”.
Reverend Father Tissa Balasuriya OMI:
“Many Sinhalese do not know that they are the cause for the idea of “Tamil Eelam” to be created. Bandaranaikes, Jeyawardenas and Chelvanayagams opposed each other’s proposal. Sinhalese are mislead; and they are the reason for the division of the country”.
Reverend Rohan Silva OMI:
“There are Sinhalese who care for the Tamil brethren. The presence of Sinhalese brethren in war torn Tamil areas is essential. Voice for peace is quiet. When we met the people in Jaffna they wanted the Sinhala Catholic priests to stay with them. They felt comfortable sharing their stories with us”.
Dr. Anita Nesiah:
“The streets go deserted after 3pm in the afternoon due to curfew. I was told that a cylinder of LP gas is sold for Rs. 5,000/= in Jaffna. People of Jaffna are frightened; they are helpless and voiceless”.
Sivanandini Doraiswamy:
“Civilians who surrender themselves to the Human Rights Commission due to life threats are kept in prison along with the accused. They get contracted to contagious disease like chicken-pox in prison cells”.
Later a drama was performed by women who have been victims of war. The drama depicted despair, displacement and difficulties in a conflict situation. Most of these women who performed were unborn babies, when the conflict began three decades ago.
Prayers were said for peace and justice; songs of ‘Happy Christmas (War Is Over)’ by John Lennon, ‘Fallen Leaves’ by John Denver and ‘I want to live’ were played. An exhibition of photographs and reports from Jaffna was also held. The event of attend by Catholic priests, nuns and concerned citizens of Sri Lanka.
The participants have decided to fast on Christmas eve in solidarity with the victims of war.
Photographs and reports of Jaffna are displayed
Drama performed by the victims of war
Participants at the event
Reverend Father Tissa Balasuriya OMI sharing his views
Glimpses of life in Jaffna
Newspaper advertisements which appeared in the Colombo based newspapers during the season were displayed to compare the contrast in Colombo and Jaffna
“I have carved you on the palm of my hand” ((Isaiah 49.16)
This structure is in the compound of Fatima Church in Maradana
Banner for peace in the compound of Fatima Church in Maradana put up by CARITAS and Seth Sarana
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[HumanityAshore.com]
Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com
December 22nd, 2007
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Silavaththurai was in the news locally and internationally in August-September 2007.
I was one of the first few journalists who were on an embedded tour with the Sri Lankan Army to Silavaththurai in September 2007. We went to Naanaattan by van, from Naanaattaan to Arippu by Unicorn, crossed Arippu lagoon by boat and then finally from Arippu to Silavaththuari by tractor. We walked through jungles to witness the former territory controlled by the LTTE. The journey from Arippu to Silavaththurai on a red sandy and dry road took almost two hours, because of the condition of the road.
Civilians got displaced as fighting broke out between the Sri Lankan security forces and the LTTE. People from this area came to Murungan and stayed in welfare camps.
Abandoned LTTE camp in Silavaththurai
A medical camp of the LTTE
Sri Lankan Army solider looking at a Johnny mine
Bombed LTTE sea tiger base in Silavaththurai
Civilians abandoned their boats in Arippu due to fighting and displacement
Soldiers in Arippu
Abandoned bullock cart in Arippu
LTTE bunker in Silavaththurai
Sri Lankan Army soldier walks pass a bunker in Silavaththurai
Houses are sealed to protect the belongings from looting
Soldiers in Arippu
Boats abandoned by the civilians are being recovered by the soldiers and taken for a safe place, and will be handed over to the owners
Another camp used by the LTTE in the jungle of Silavaththurai
Desserted Arippu
Photojournalist of the Sunday Times Saman Kariyavasam taking photos in Arippu
Destroyed monument in Arippu
Divisional Secretariat of Musali
Another bunker used by the LTTE in Silavaththurai
Roman Catholic Vidyalayam in Arippu
Recovered weapons are displayed at the Thallady camp
LTTE flag is displayed at Thallady camp
Portraits of martyrs are displaced among the recovered items
Cut-out among the displayed
Main street in Mannar town
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[Source: HumanityAshore.com]
Email: dushi.pillai@gmail.com
November 30th, 2007
By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Late Kethesh Loganathan was a man of action. He showed his humanity. Kethesh was a committed human rights activist. He campaigned for the rights of the Tamils within the framework of an united Sri Lanka. He cared; and was killed.
Kethesh Loganathan was assassinated on August 12th 2006 in his house at night.
A modest event paying tribute to Kethesh Loganathan was organized by Point Pedro Development Institute in association of Bhawani Loganathan on August 12 th 2007 at Ramakrishna Mission Hall at dusk.
An anthology of articles written and published by Kethesh Loganathan entitled “Truthfully Speaking: War, Peace and Human Rights was launched at the end of the event. The event was attended by the peace activists, human rights activists and civil society members.
Dr. Pakiasothy Saravanamuthu the Executive Director of Center for Policy Alternatives delivered the commemoration oration. Bhawani Loganathan garlanded his photo and lit the traditional oil lamp. Deshabandu Jezima Ismail, Vice Chancellor of the South Eastern University and Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Consultant of the Centre for Policy Alternatives shared their personal thoughts.
A minute of silence was observed at the beginning to pay tribute to Late Kethesh Loganathan.
Mirak Raheem, Senior Researcher of Center for Policy Alternatives welcomed the gathering
Speakers paid tribute to the Life of the slain human rights activist.
Dr. Pakiasothy Saravanamuthu the Executive Director of Centre for Policy Alternatives:
“Kethesh was showed love and salutation for Tamils. He showed his stubbornness on humanity and commitment to human rights. He had an unwavering love for people. He was a nationalist. He loved his people, from which he came.
He had the space to pursue of the plight and distress of people. He was an excellent colleague, not because he was an easy one, but because a tough one. He had the moral hope. Kethesh was very determined to human rights, which should be safeguarded.
The Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) was signed between Ranil Wickremasinghe and the LTTE in 2001. We formed a Peace Support Group. Human rights were too dangerous for peace process. Kethesh was a key mover. We produced the first public document. An open letter to the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Norwegians, and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). A return of sanity was insisted, where everyone would be a stakeholder. There is a ground for it. There will be a consensus in a peace process. All Party Representative Committee is in progress.
The Centre for Policy Alternative (CPA) took the case of eviction of Tamils to the courts, and there was an interim order issued by the courts. The eviction of the Tamils was a slap on the face. Kethesh would have been with us on eviction case. In the context of Sri Lankan politics, long hard struggle gets punctured. Kethesh worked tirelessly to change the orthodox. They killed him, above all he cared. How many do care? How many are willing to care to make a little bit of difference?
Kethesh believed in caring. He was killed because; he cared about the Tamil people, within the unity of the country. He worked hard to provide space for its entire people. He despaired; terribly depressed; very angry to do something for the people. Do we care as he did?”
Deshabandu Jezima Ismail, Vice Chancellor of the South Eastern University shared her thoughts:
“Kethesh was so accessible for the inner-seekers. I met him at a symposium for the nuns and widows on conflict transformation, which was held at St. Bridget’s Convent. There, I saw the humanitarian side of Kethesh. We spent about five hours as resource persons of the symposium. He had an expression of enough is enough. Kethesh was independent and passionately committed. It bothered me, when he was appointed as the Deputy Secretary General of SCOPP (Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process). Because he was a man who cared for the people.
I was in complete despair, after Tsunami. I was disappointed to see how the Muslim community was treated in post-Tsunami. I was becoming communal, which I did not want. Kethesh, who stretched his hands out, and told me this is natural to feel likewise after a disaster in which a community suffers the most. He was sympathetic at the same time understood the problem of the Muslim community. This was an instant incident. It’s an integral part to talk to the people.
Kethesh was loud, when the Muslim community was excluded from the peace process. He mentioned that the Muslim community is an integral part pf the process. Compassion and feelings for the other community has to come form the heart.
The dove seems tired and fatigue. The landscape of violence is on the increase. How does one rebuild the nation even after negotiations? The need is at the moment is security and certainty. The people in the Eastern province are suffering, and their absolute sufferings are unheard. The civil societies have to mobilize its activities. Imply the death; some light on the path we may have to take. Peace means dignity, self- confidence of every being.”
She recited a poem, which was written by Dr. Jinna Sheriffdeen. The poem was dedicated to Late Kethesh Loganathan in Tamil.
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Consultant of the Centre for Policy Alternatives:
“Kethesh and I first met in the home of his cousin who had been one of my closest friends since our days together at the Colombo Campus. At that time I had completed my Masters in Development Economics at Sussex, and he was contemplating enrolling in that course. I had gained much from Sussex, and it transpired from our conversation that Kethesh too would find that course most rewarding. For those interested in Development Studies there was no institution more exciting to be in at that time tan the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex. Kethesh enrolled there and completed his course work, undoubtedly with distinction, but opted to defer formulating and submitting his dissertation till he had relevant work experience in Sri Lanka.
On his return, Kethesh joined the Marga Institute, the at its prime, and was soon deeply immersed in research and analysis of public policies. He got married to Bhawani in 1978. But that did not stop his gradual drift into left wing political activism.- a long standing family tradition. In due course he joined the EPRLF (Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front). Given his inclination towards total commitment to whatever task he undertook or cause he espoused, it is not surprising that his attention progressively diverted from completing his Sussex Masters dissertation. With his intellectual and writing skills, had he taken a month off from his other commitments, that could have been done, but securing a prestigious personal academic milestone was not his priority. He seems to have lost his enthusiasm for the Sussex course but another academic challenge superseded. He did take a year off to enter the Institute of social Studies in Hague, and completed a Masters in Development Studies in 1985 with distinction.
The romantic idealism that took Kethesh into political activism eventually led him to breaking out of the shackles of political institutional affiliation. In due curse he joined the Centre for Policy Alternatives, and contributed much to the growth and prestige of that young institution. Three years ago, when I was looking for an NGO base that would be compatible with my interests and priorities, Kethesh, then Head of the Peace and Conflict Unit of CPA, invited me to join as Consultant. I readily accepted, and was assigned a special responsibility to contribute to a project on Ethnic Violence in Cities as well as other ad hoc assignments. I have very much enjoyed working with Kethesh, who took over as the Deputy Secretary General of the Government Peace Secretariat (SCOPP) with effect from April 1 st 2006.
Kethesh was frequently in the midst of controversy. Among the most controversial of his acts was to join SCOPP. No one better qualified to serve on it, but from the vantage perspective of hindsight, he joined it at the wrong time, If it was some years earlier, he could have made a critical contribution to the peace process. In the event, he joined SCOPP when the peace process had all but died. His hopes of rescuing it did not materialize. The net impact appears to be that his voice was stilled, his civil society activities stopped, the flow of his political journalism dried up, and he became even more vulnerable to assassination. If he lived, the peace process restarted and he was suitably empowered, he undoubtedly had the capacity to make a major contribution, but sadly that is not to be.
This is not the forum to assess the varied achievements of Kethesh in public life as an academic, a civil society leader, a journalist and writer and a political activist. I will not seek to make such an assessment. However, like many others, I would identify the Thimpu Principles, which emerged under his leadership as a Tamil political consensus and which he presented on August 17 th 1985 in Thimpu, as one of his enduring legacies.
Hurriedly drafted in the inhospitable environment of an acrimonious conference, the formulation of those principles contains test of time, and two decades on, retain their political legitimacy and potency. To the best of my knowledge none of the organizations listed by Kethesh ever disclaimed those principles; neither did Kethesh. The fill statement was reproduced in his book of December 1996 tilted ” Sri Lanka: Lost Opportunities”.
Some refinements in his wordings of the Thimpu Principles are clearly warranted, example to underline the reference to self-determination as referring to internal self-determination and not secession, and to explicitly recognize the multi-ethnic composition of the Tamil speaking people. In fact the Oslo Statement did just that-presented the essence of the Thimpu Principles subject to such refinement. Perhaps it is a tragedy that Kethesh was not in a vantage position in SCOPP at that time-December 2002 to help to build on the foundation laid by the Oslo Statement. In the event it became yet another lost opportunity”.
Audience at the commemoration oration
Mrs. Dhanapala with Bhawani Loganathan
Bhawani Loganathan with Dr. Devanesan Nesiah
[Courtesy: HumanityAshore]
Email: dushi.pillai@gmail.com
August 13th, 2007
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Jagath Weerasinghe is an Artist and Archaeologist. He is a Senior Lecturer at the Post-Graduate Institute of Archeology of the University of Kelaniya.
Very few artists bring out creations on the prevailing socio-political climate of the country. For Jagath Weerasinghe, the imagery of the infamous photograph of a Tamil youth stripped naked at Borella bus stand and killed in July 1983 focuses his work on these issues . This particular photograph has haunted Jagath Weerasinghe for almost a decade. The image came to dominate his paintings. Later he drew a painting similar to the photograph.
“1983 was a turning point. Most Sinhalese do not want to talk about it seriously, and want to be very silent about it. This is like a major stigma in your background. And nobody wants to see deep into it why and how it could happen in front of our eyes” said Jagath Weerasinghe.
He further said that, “I arrived at the Pettah main bus stand from Dambulla while the riots started to erupt in the city. There were seeds of racism within me, so that I could be manipulated. I wasn’t totally innocent, because, these seeds of racism were within me for a moment, although I never took part in any act of violence. My family protected Tamils in 1983″.
He also queries about how many tears have been wiped out by the peace process. Jagath says that, peace process is not all about stopping the fight, but about looking at each other’s suffering and sharing and changing the social relations.
His recent works were displayed at the Red Dot gallery in Pittakotte for three days-August 4 th, 5th and 6th 2007. Red Dot Gallery is contemporary-artist- run gallery, and first of its kind in Sri Lanka.
His paintings speak for humanity. Correct colours are used according to the circumstances. Saffron is often used to depict the Buddhist nationalism. There was pin drop silence in the gallery to view and absorb the paintings. The paintings made to realize the violence deepens daily, and we accept it as another daily routine.
He was commissioned by the then Sri Lankan government to design the monument of a ‘Monument for Democracy-Shrine for the Innocents’ as a remembrance for the innocent victims of the ruthless violence that the Southern part of the country experienced in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was completed in 1999. This monument was dedicated to the victims of political violence and human rights abuses in late 1980s and early 1990s which happened in Southern Sri Lanka.
“I was overthrown about hearing that, the Tamils in lodges have been evicted, and started to draw a series called “Eviction of Tamils” said Jagath Weerasinghe
A journey of a vagabond
His recent works were drawn in 2007
Dances of Shiva is devotional. But at the same time it can be used for religious violence according to Jagath Weerasinghe
Celestial Violence:Mics and Knives from Heaven
“His paintings show the current situation under which we all are living. The paintings speaks the truth,” said Artist Lalith Manage
A series of “Who are you soldier?”
Jagath Weerasinghe discusses about art with the students from Institute of Aesthetic Studies
Series of armoury
Violence is institutionalised according to Jagath Weerasinghe
Art lovers said that, very few artists bring out creations on the prevailing socio-political climate of the country
Political violence takes cover in religions
The public had a chance to meet and talk with the artist
Pin drop silence was maintained in the gallery
There is an urgent need to show signs of humanity
[Courtesy: HumanityAshore]
Email: dushi.pillai@gmail.com
August 6th, 2007
By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
The second public meeting for “Expression of grief of the families and friends of the disappeared” was held on August 1st 2007 at Brighten Rest in Colombo 12. It was organized by the Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC).
The lights in the hall were dim. The loved ones of the missing men and women looked worried. The atmosphere was sorrowful. They tearfully demanded the captors to release their loved ones unharmed.Men ,women and children were holding portraits of their missing loved ones-fathers, brothers, husbands, fiances and friends who have disappeared, grieved and requested for their safe return home. Women wailed, children cried, men mourned in silence. The hall was packed with more than 300 people who wanted to show their support for the families in pain. Almost everybody was in tears, when women started to wail while explaining their hardships. “Help us to find our loved ones”, “Release our missing men”, “Let us go and find our missing members of the families”, “Spread the message to the world to help us find our loved ones”, and “How long can we go through this trauma?” were often used by the relatives, while some wailed in public.
The meeting was attended by human rights activists, peace activists, diplomats and politicians. Leader of Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe, Convener of the Civil Monitoring Commission Mano Ganesan , Chairman of the Civil Monitoring Commission Sirithunga Jayasooriya United National Party’s Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake , and United National Party’s Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella and Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene participated in the public meeting.
The tragedy continues for the family members whose loved ones are still missing
Mohamed Riyaz was abducted on January 22nd 2007 from his travel agent office in Messenger Street, Colombo 12. His wife Farzana Riyaz (on extreme right) from Slave Island in Colombo says that she has not received any information about her husband’s whereabouts while holding her husband’s portrait along with her Mother-In-Law Sithy Thajudeen.
“I plead the people who have abducted my husband, and two sons to release them. They are innocents.They have not harmed anyone. Our family was never divided, but now our family is torn apart. I cannot speak Sinhala,somebody please help me to find my missing loved ones” pleaded Sipporal Theivayanai Yogarajan she shook with emotions and fainted on the floor.
Her husand Emmanuel, and her two sons-David and Daniel have been missing since March 2nd 2007 from Negombo. Her husband is a Pentecostal minister.Her husband alongwith her two sons went to Colombo to get passports to go to India to live, as the situation was deteriorating
Family members hold portraits of their missing loved ones
Many of their questions are unanswered
Officials from the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka
“I was informed that my son is missing, and I travelled from Jaffna to Colombo on May 19th 2007.My son Kirubalan (23) is a final year Civil Engineering student at the Technical College in Kokkuvil, while working as a field officer for ASB.
He came to Colombo to seek visa to go to Cyprus for employment. He had been residing at the Ramakrishna Mission in Wellawatte, when he went missing.
I was told he had bread and left at 2pm on April 28th 2007, but never returned. I have lodged an entry at the Mutwal Police Station on arrival. I went to Boosa Detention Camp on May 25th 2007. The officials told me that my son is being held there, but I did not see him.Later they told me that, my son has been released. he never returned.
Therefore I went to the Boosa Detention Camp on June 23rd 2007 for the second time, and was told again that, he is not being held there.Money had been withdrawn from my son’s account for six times from ATMs.The first withdrawal was made from an ATM in Keyzer Street for a sum of Rs.20,005/=,the second withdrawal was made for a sum of Rs.2,005/=,the third withdrawal was made for a sum of Rs.5005/=, and the fourth withdrawal was made for a sum of Rs.1,005/=.The fifth withdrawal was made for a sum of Rs.10,005/= and the sixth withdrawal was made for a sum of Rs.2,005/= from an ATM in Mutwal.I cannot return to Jaffna without seeing my son” said Sivagnanasundarai Balasubramaniam of Thirunelvely (51) in Jaffna
They grieved together and comforted each other
“My son Jegatheeban (27) has been missing for more than one year. He is a trishaw driver.Two men got into his trishaw on July 4th 2006 according to witnesses. He has been missing since July 4th 2006. I have been to all offices in Batticaloa and Colombo to lodge complain. I rush to the spot, when I hear a news of an unknown dead body found in Batticaloa.I always pray that it should not be my son’s body, whenever I rush to such spot. Recently I was told that my son was killed by an armed group. I will not believe it until I see by son’s body and his belongings” said Rani Thevarajah of Batticaloa
Breadwinners of the families are missing
Two minutes silence was observed to late Nadarajah Raviraj, who was an active mebre of Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC)
“My son Pushpathas is a lodge owner. He went missing from the office in July 2006. I got a call from his mobile after he went missing and demanded to pay Rs.10 million to release him. I paid Rs.400,000/= to particular persons. I am unable to pay the balance, and I do not know the situation of my son” said Mary Regina Ariyadas
Elin Mathew went missing in February 2007 from his room in Colombo, where he was residing.Elin Mathew’s (34) wife, mother-in-law and son live in Trincomalee expecting Elin to return home one day
Many waiting for miracles to happen
Thailanpillai Kunjupillai shows his missing son Svakanthan’s photo to the Leader of The Opposition Ranil Wickremasinghe
Manoranjan Prasad (21) went missing on December 19th 2004 from Kochchikade. He was managing a telecommunication centre in Kochchikade. He and his Tamil friend who had come form Jaffna left for Wellawatte at 10 am by a trishaw.His mother Gnanasitham Vasanthi is afraid to send her two sons out after her other son went missing
Mathivathany Logendrarajah’s daughter Komathi Logendrarajah went missing on August 22nd 2006.She used to work as a Director at Aerolanka.Komathi Logendrarajah’s cousin and her husband are still missing along with her
“My son Karunakaran Rajkumar has undergone a kidney surgery recently before he went missing. Please show humanity and release him” pleaded Mariyamm Karunakarn of Kandy
Three year-old Sanjuka Subramaniam holds a portrait of her father who is missing for almost a year
Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe, Convener of the Civil Monitoring Commission Mano Ganesan at the second public meeting for ” Expression of grief of the families and friends of the disappeared”
Rasamany Subramaniam travelled from Jaffna to find out the whereabouts of her missing son.He hails from Jaffna, but has been living in Kochcikade for two years and was working in a mobile telephone repair shop, and a month long bridegroom when he went missing. He has been missing since January 28th 2007.She says that, I need to see my son dead or alive
Their tears were left alone on their cheeks to dry
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe is having a conversation with Niroshan Varatharasa and his mother Bathra Varatharasa.Vairamuthu Varatharasa, who is a driver from Grandpass went missing on January 4th 2007
Indragandhi Goodwin said that she has paid Rs.4,600,000/= as ransom to a particular person to release her husband, but he is still missing
A list of information about the missing persons (133) is being handed over to the Leader of Oppostion Ranil Wickremasinghe by Convener of the Civil Monitoring Commission Mano Ganesan
People gathered in hundreds to extend their moral support to the families in pain
[Courtesy: HumanityAshore]
Email: dushi.pillai@gmail.com
August 1st, 2007