Black July 1983: Dedicate ourselves not to repeat the mistakes of the past
by National Peace Council
On July 23, 1983 an anti-Tamil pogrom took place in various parts of the country in which innocent Tamil persons, their homes and businesses were attacked and destroyed. This violence, over a period of a week, took place with the participation of sections of the then government in retaliation for the killing of the 13 soldiers who were caught up in a land mine blast. Many innocent Tamils who lived in Colombo and elsewhere faced terrible atrocities. This violence escalated by stages into full scale war.
In the past several years, the week of Black July was acknowledged and commemorated by civil society, and sometimes even by the government. But this year it has received very little attention. The readiness of society to put behind the events of July 1983 would be appropriate if reconciliation in the country after the war were truly taking place. Sadly no reconciliation between the two communities has taken place yet. Reconciliation can take place only by acknowledging the truth and the reality of the past and present.
The need to remember the innocent victims is all the more necessary because so far there has been no progress at all on finding a political solution to the issues that gave rise to Tamil militancy and war, no transparency where it concerns detained LTTE suspects, no transparency in the take over of lands in the North for military purposes, renewed police registration of Tamil persons in Colombo, new restrictions placed on NGO work in the North and inadequate resources for the resettlement of the displaced in the North in their original habitations where most of them earned a living as farmers or fishermen.
Over a year has now passed since the end of that war. During the past year, there have been many beneficial effects of the end of war. Most roads have been reopened and there is free access to nearly all parts of the country to ordinary citizens. Economic life has revived with the return of some agricultural lands and seas to productive activities. Many members of the diaspora have been able to return and visit their relatives or engage in economic activities. However, the failures of the present cannot and must not be glossed over. Reflecting on the failures of the past can be useful in living better in the future.
We all like to forget the unpleasant but it will be difficult for the victims to forget. There have been similar pogroms committed by the LTTE against members of other communities, Sinhalese and Muslim. We should dedicate ourselves not to repeat such actions in the future. The National Peace Council would like to propose a memorial or remembrance service for all innocent victims who suffered and a common day of remembrance for the innocent victims of all communities who suffered death as a result of the ethnic conflict in its various manifestations
7 Comments
It is very surprising to read what NPC is limiting the atrocities performed by Sinhalease or Sinhala armed forces to July 23rd communal violence.
Tamils is SriLanka experienced violence in greater magnitude in the hands of Srilnkan Armed forces, Muslim home-guards and Sinhala Goons/thugs. Unfortunately ( or conveniently either it was forgotten or hidden to outside world).
Tamils remember July as a symbol of the gross violence committed against them not as a single crime.
It is appropriate that we remember this day as a day of shame and repugnance similiar to holucast memorial day in Europe. The memory of this day needs to be kept alive so that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Those who do not learn from history are destined to doom and gloom.
The Sinhalese do not have the correct mindset to learn from history because their racism and ego centrism superceeds correct thinking. Past 60 years is a proof of it.
Dont you worry. July 23 will be made to happen again by the Stupid Sinhalese by their political inaction to grant independence to Tamil Eelam
It is very surprising to read what NPC is limiting the atrocities performed by
Tamils remember July as a symbol of the gross violence committed against them not as a single crime.
Posted by: Ravi | July 26, 2010 01:27 PM
Ravi:
What day of the year should the 'sinhalese' use to celebrate the violence carried out by 'tamils' since independence because they feel special to have a piece of their own land in this nation? The day the maligawa was bombed? The day the central bank was bombed? Arantalawa massacre day? Or one of the days many of the innocent villagers were killed in the middle of the night with knives and swords? Take your pick!
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It is appropriate that we remember this day as a day of shame and repugnance similiar to holucast memorial day in Europe.***
To compare this to the Nazi Holocaust is an INSULT to the 6 Million Jews who perished.... there were only about 1000 Tamils killed in a set of Riots that took place over a couple of days before the government got the situation under control. The PATHETIC and VISCOUS PROPAGANDISTS of the TAMIL DIASPORA have tried to draw parallels of the July 23rd Riots to the Nazi Holocaust to try and give substance and HYPE to a relatively insignificant event when put in comparison.
When put in comparison to the DEATH and DESTRUCTION caused by the LTTE, the July 23rd riots are INSIGNIFICANT.... and when put in comparison to the DEATH and DESTRUCTION of what happened in the 6 years of World War II... the Black July Riots are a NON EVENT....
Quote http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/1545
Black July 83 saw over 4000 Tamils and a few Muslims mistaken for Tamils being killed. Thousands were injured. Some of the injured were killed in hospitals. There were over 200,000 displaced persons as a result. 130,000 were housed in makeshift refugee camps. More than 2500 business enterprises ranging from factories to petty boutiques were damaged or destroyed. The number of houses and dwellings damaged or destroyed is not fullyestimated.
This compares also with the genocide of Sebrenica where 8000 muslims were killed. It is not the numbers but the principle of a state involving at the highest levels in organising the killing of its own people which should be condemned.
Why do some readers here compare the killings by the tigers with killings organised and supported by the Government?
Tigers were fighting for their cause,(whether justified or not), were not
given any mandate to protect all citizens, unlike the elected governments.