Mannar - Tamil misery continues
By a special correspondent
Exclusive to BBC Sinhala service
The alert and watchful eyes of weary soldiers scanned every vehicle passing through the checkpoints.
Broken, torn buildings tower over the tiny UNHCR tents on the gardens and court yards. Hanging clothes, pots and pans and carry bags scattered around the land show signs of civilian life.
The alert and watchful eyes of weary soldiers scanned every vehicle passing through the checkpoints
Thirty years of war has taken a lot from the lives of the Mannar farmers and they still await a sense of security.
“Be careful and watch your mouth. The government security forces are vigilant and they do not like us talking to outsiders," my hosts warned.
The alert and watchful eyes of weary soldiers scanned every vehicle passing through the checkpoints.
They are tired but seem to be friendly. Especially after the moment they identify someone as a Sinhalese visitor from the south.
They are eager to share their war stories, explain the fighting and hardship they have undergone in the area. They see themselves still as victors.
There is nothing left on the ground for the people who return from the camps where they were interned until recently
'Tragic' civilian life
Civilian life is still a tragedy to many. There is nothing left on the ground for the people who return from the camps where they were interned until recently.
There is nothing left on the ground for the people who return from the camps where they were interned until recently
“We left with a tractor full of stuff in 2006 and came home with two shopping bags”, Mr A told me.
When the Tigers retreated, Mr A had to leave his village near Madu Church with his three children and wife and follow the orders of the LTTE.
He managed to escape to the army controlled area in 2009 just before the war ended.
“The Army sent us to Manik farm and we were there for year and two months. We got our land back but the house was razed to the ground” A said.
We left with a tractor full of stuff in 2006 and came home with two shopping bags
Broken, torn buildings tower over the tiny UNHCR tents on the gardens and court yards. Hanging clothes, pots and pans and carry bags scattered around the land show signs of civilian life
Resettled IDP
He lived in Murunkan and was brought up by a Sinhalese woman. Fluent in Sinhala Mr A worked in the south. Now he is labouring for 600 rupees a day.
“We get oil, rice, lentils, flour and sugar. We do not have money to buy vegetables. We feed our kids with a pulp made out of murunga (drums sticks) leaves and flour. Sometimes we go on hunting. We do not have guns and the jungles are full of mines. So we have to live on iguanas and other small animals”.
The story is same for many returnees. Many houses were razed to ground. Some live on tiny tents right next to their ruined houses.
They all have to begin their lives from scratch and according to them the support they need is not readily available.
'Extend the suffering'
“The Government promised us they will build our house, but still they did not do anything” Mr A told me.
According to the reports from the area the government redevelopment plan costs about 650,000 rupees per house but only 325,000 rupees is available.
Broken, torn buildings tower over the tiny UNHCR tents on the gardens and court yards. Hanging clothes, pots and pans and carry bags scattered around the land show signs of civilian life
“The aim is to build non permanent houses and extend the suffering of the Tamils” a prominent Tamil leader told me.
“There is no planning, no consultation from local communities or leaders about resettlements, this is worse than the Tsunami but no one is doing anything to ease the suffering of the people” he added.
“If the government is not able to deliver services then it should allow non governmental agencies to intervene, but the Government is not doing that because they are confiscating land and conducting a so-called resettlement plan with a view to implement colonising projects”.
Near Arippu, Muslims have been resettled and local Tamils show their displeasure saying “Kachal” meaning it is disturbing the peace in the area.
Locals say that displaced Muslims were resettled before the Tamils in the area.
Be careful and watch your mouth. The government security forces are vigilant and they do not like us talking to outsiders
In Tirukeshwaram Sinhalese constructors are busy mending roads and reconstructing the damaged temple structures.
The brilliant glossy colours of the nearby Mahathitha Vihara are an example for resurgence of Buddhist temples in the former strong hold of the LTTE, a symbol that does not sit well with local Tamils.
Constructed and maintained by the military Mahathitha Vihara has two resident monks. According to security service personnel, the former leader of the Hela Urumaya, archaeologist Ellawala Medhananda Thero, has confirmed the historical existence of Mahathitha Vihara.
“Now the Tirukeshwaram Temple is challenging the claim as they say we have built the temple in their land” says a member of the military who is stationed in the temple.
Sinhala road names
The propagation of Buddhist shrines is evident throughout roads I followed to Jaffna. Not only that streets and roads were named after heroic Sri Lankan servicemen.
I saw a road named after Gamini Kularathne – Hasalaka Viraya in Vedithalative. Despite the local civilian population being Tamil, the signs of the road were in Sinhala only.
“The army and navy confiscated lands on the grounds of security and they are trying to wipe out our culture and heritage from the area” a person who wants to remain anonymous told me.
The defeat of the LTTE is bringing more miseries to the already wounded Tamils. Local residents who almost lost everything do not have any energy, political organisation or civil movements to oppose such moves.
“People lack basic goods to sustain their day to day life so they cannot bother about the politics” a leading clergyman in the area told me.
It is apparent that Tamils are forced to accept what the Colombo administration wants but the strong resentment to such impositions inevitably delay the prospects of peace in Sri Lanka.
The government is reconstructing the roads and improving the infrastructure. It is widening the roads and building the bridges to link the South.
Yet bunkers located every 500 meters and the continuous presence of the military give an air of a military state without any bridges to link the communities.
I felt that the watchful eyes of the security personnel and the weary manner of the civilians both ask the same question of how long the guns will remain silent. - Courtesy: BBC - Sandeshaya -
12 Comments
If peace, unity and reconciliation are to be realised
there must be rapid change of the Status Quo here.
"Despite the civil population being Tamil the sign boards to the road are in Sinhala" exposes the ground reality loud and clear. It only costs a few rupees to erect/paint road names in Sinhala, Tamil and English as the law requires. Why is this not enforced here? Double-speak must give way to reason, justice and compliance with established law.
ISS
It is irksome to read the high handed language of of correspondents naming Sri Lankans as Tamil and Sinhalese just as it would be if one were to call Tamils as Wellala Jaffna Tamil Hindu, Methodist Karayar Jaffna Methodist, Govi Jaffna Sinhalese, Shop keeping Jaffna Muslim etc. Population of Mannar has changed over centuries, from Chola times, Sankili massacres, Portuugese settlements, massacres, Indians coming in to settle and fight for LTTE and so on.
Was this not the the area contain famous landing points for migration inand out in the 35 year Guerilla war making the North ungovernable from 1950s, though the leaders were holding comfortable positions in Colombo.
Perhaps Mannar folks being mostly Catholics did not share the education Bounty in the University places, that was reserved for the Jffna elite even in the 50s and 60s.
Nor is there a mention of the long period of rule by LTTE when the local government servants and schhol teachers were concripted or forced to move as the LTTE body armour.
First of all, I must say that I pity for for those that suffer for being homeless regardless their race or creed.
Now, since this writer's emphasis has being a section of Tamils (Mannar Tamils), I insist that estate Tamils of Sri Lanka suffer much more under worst circumstances and much longer. Often, two or more generations live in one roomed line houses. At many instances more than six people crammed in to one room. We must ask how often BBC did something to rectify such plight. Instead BBC cover up such misery for British raj were the root cause for it. British raj brought them to Sri Lanka and made use of their sweat to prosper. Now that they have discovered human rights, etc and etc at least now, they should start building them decent houses for free, not out of symphathy but as a sheer gratitude.
As has been always, it is obvious that the sole aim of the BBC is to discredit the government that saved a hoard of Tamil people that were not just unfortunate but misguided. This correspondent, obviously a separatist or a symphathyser for that cause wanted to make a bonfire out of a cooking fire. We can ask few question ourselves: Does BBC reported on the plight of Iraqi children when Iraq was banned to import medicine. What about the plight of the Afghans that were killed or maimed and made homeless by US drone attacks etc right now. How many millions of Vietnamese might have been made homeless after the US fell more bombs for no valid reason than they dropped during the WW11. Where was BBC?
Everyone knows that LTTE had scattered millions of bombs all over the North. It was unsafe for anyone to roam around without such mines being removed. That had been a prime reason for the IDPs to remain in camps. The other being; there were ten thousand LTTE cadres among the IDPs. Among them were trained suicide cadres. if wrong people lay their hands on them, they would be potential time bombs. Isn't it a good progress that the government managed to separate LTTE cadres from the ordinary backers and over two hundred and fifty thousand were settled in their homes. Take it from me, our IDPs are lucky to go back with two plastic bags full of stuff for in Afganistan and Pakistan, they go back swinging their arms after US attacks.
Tamil Diaspora is said to have contributed three hundred million dollars per year for LTTE coffers for decades. But BBC had never heard about such extotion. Even when such extorted money was known to have used to train human bombs such as the one that killed Rajeeve Ghandhi BBC continue to catogorise LTTE as freedom fighter. I say; BBC is nothing but a hypocrite. Many other jounalists say; LTTE rumps are collecting large sums for a fight that they hope to ignite soon. I presume BBC reporters look forward to file their reports on a renewed terrorist campaign on Sri Lankan soil with a glee.
True, Sinhala soldiers are vigilant all over the North and East. And what's wrong with that? Did not the allies do the same after winning the WW11. Had they not hunted down the Nazis afterwards for decades. Is it not a fact that they have banned them even todate. In short, allies had not handed over Germany to Nazi sympathysers. Take the case of Iraq as a recent example: the US invaded Iraq illegally. Had they allowed the Bathist party to contest so-called free elections in Iraq even todate. So, this reporter is naive if he expect the Sri Lanka government to hand over the North and East to the terrorist backers, TNA in a plater.
This writer talks about as if the government is all out to distroy the Tamil culture and heritage. I wonder whether he is dumb to the fact that the Sinhalese are craming to all kinds of Hindu Kovils (temples) to make offering and get the blessing from Tamil kurukals (priests). Is he blind to the fact that there are very many famous Tamil Hundu Kovils such as Munneswaran in the south and they were not only not harmed but patronised by Sinhalese even at the time LTTE had blasted the famous Temple of Tooth in Kandy.
Finally, I would like to ask the people with a mindset like this writer to tell us the benifits they expect to get these unfortunate and misguided people from such write-ups.
What is that kidnapper of Our Lady of Madhu, Rayappu Joseph the one time busome buddy of barber tamilchelvam doing ?
has he lost his clout after the barber perished or have the people realised Rayappu has hoodwinked them.
Where are those diassporas who funded the LTTE?
Where is that richest organisation the catholic Church ? rayappu is in hiding ?
Where is that Caritas ??
Soooooooo................ Mr.A wants a tractor full of stuff he had to be donated by the GOSL ?
Now they expect the GOSL to provide vegetables too.............
Did not Rayappu preach, " blessed are those poor in spirit as the kingdom of heaven is theres" while he lives in Bishop's house in lap of luxury with carrying extra pounds around his waste line after indulging in luxuries.
If he has lost weight, then understandable as Barber Chelvan is no more for him to have extravaganzas in his rat hole in K'nochchi.
Tissa Wije , You have no real idea of what is happning in Sl here ,you are very mischievous and following your racist agenda.
In the 80ties, I been insulted and even beaten for not answering a soldier in Sinhala in a check point in Batticaloa. There were, I born as Tamil and was not able to talk in Sinhala. Though I was able to communicate in English. But the soldier did not understand either Tamil or English and got angry. Result was few punches on my face and stomach.
So I think the Sinhalese road signs are nothing and much more worse things to repeat in the history of Sinhalese domination… It is a never ending slavery for Tamils. So Get used to it…
Good Grief.. More "Tamil Misery". Seems it will only end when they get on a boat and turn up in CANADA !!!
Quick !! GOSL,You must immediately build 5-star hotels for these folk and put them up free of charge. Forget that their so-called "Liberator" and their now-weeping diaspora-supporters who helped put them in this situation.
Don't forget to reserve the best suite for these "Special Correspondents" whose description of events seem to clash with those non-special correspondents who don't work for a news organization but put their impressions up on websites like Transcurrents.
Leaving apart the fact that tamils are suffering the BBC story lacks credibility.
Who is the reporter, who is that Mr A. When did the visit happen. Did the reporter speak only to one person Mr A.
Can one person view be taken as truth. Why not the view of the govt side obtained.
What about the details of who caused the misery.
Mannar people though faced the war the suffering was less than what happened in Wanni. Even the clergy ran away with the sacred statue of madu matha into rebel areas. why not the other side.
The diaspora who fed and fuelled the war, what have they done for the people who were displaced and affected by war.
which report says that one house costs 650,000 rupees. Does BBC have a copy of that report?
Pl be objective and report the truth.
I have posted previous comment in haste and found few errors. Here is that comment again.
There are still many Tsunami survivors without houses even though NGOs and charities were allowed. We know GOSL's corrupt officials benefited from Tsunami money but SO AS THE Charities and NGOs. What makes this correspondent to think it will be different NGOs this time. KP now started a NGO and why not support that? Why they always want "their NGOs". We know what RED Bhana did. No way again those to be allowed. And what makes him to think within one year all the houses were rebuilt etc etc. I was in Mannar 10-15 years back and they were very backward then as well. many governments ignored them. At least now something is happening. Roads, schools are been developed. Development will come. Give it some time. No one can do miracles within a year.
And biggest lie is this:
“Be careful and watch your mouth. The government security forces are vigilant and they do not like us talking to outsiders," my hosts warned.
- THIS sentence inserted twice in this article to show there is a control by forces and freedom to talk even curtailed. Dear BBC Sinhala guys and world service's Chrales Haviland, Priyath Liyanage, Saroj, Stephan Sackur and the rest: I challenge you this is a direct lie. No body is watching and least of all soldiers. This is a misleading BBC propaganda to justify this article.
Tamil Language is an official language of Sri Lanka. It is nice to hear but a Tamil guy need a translator in Jaffna to complain to the Police.
If the Laws and provisions in the Laws are not implemented with good heart, no use of those Laws.
Change is permanent One can’t stop the change (evolution)
In Srilanka (Ceylon) The plight of Tamils has not changed
Ramanathan brothers tried to change failed
GG Ponnambalam tried to change and failed
SJV Chelvanayagam tried to change and failed and given the task to the Gods
Appapillai Amirthalingam tried to change and failed also
Velupillal Pirabaharan tried to change in his own different way and failed.
Now Kumaran Pathmanathan, and Visuvanathan Ruthrakumaran are are trying to change. Will they succeed????????? The constant and unchangeable seems Mahavamsa Supremacist Mindset of Srilankan majority and ruling elite.
Diaspora, Idps, TNA, Douglas,Karuna, Pillian,and other minians( including India, China, IC ) have no roll in this other than illusion or deception.
Change (evolution) is happening within diasporas (Tamil & Sinhala) in education, finance, influence, diversity, political maturity will this change in future strong enough to change the unchangeable in Srilanka ???
i am rather pained by the report and the comments made by some who are obviously sinhalese .their contention that civlian population supported tigers hence they need to suffer only reinforces the fact that sinhalese cant be changed.tamils asked for equal rights in non violent manner they did not get it hence they had to take up violence out of compulsion now that war is over what srilanka needs peace and reconociliation not recrimination tamils dont need 5 star hotels they need a roof over the top and bare necessities.they never asked pastas or spaghettis.to be honest i have never come across a society as racist as sinhala society.i still wonder what is so supreme about sinhalese society how many nobel prize laureates or billionaires has it produced.rather it has produced only blood thirsty tyrants like jayawardene,rajapakshe.