SRI LANKA GENOCIDAL ACTIVITIES
Sri Lanka = Hell News Update
December 03, 1996
1) Killings of innocent civilians by Sinhala Sri Lankan soldiers continue:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SriLankan Sinhala soldiers yesterday went on a rampage in army-occupied Kiran(Batticaloa district) killing two Tamil civilians and a Muslim. Four otherTamils were injured in the incident in which the soldiers also looted shopsand set fire to a number of Tamil homes. Although the government claimsto be fighting only the LTTE, the incidence of Sinhala soldiers randomlyattacking the Tamil population is disturbingly on the rise. The murderedcivilians are: Kandiah Pathmanathan (45), Mohideen Bawa Thaheer (22) andS.Chellathamby (60). At the same time arbitrary arrests of Tamils in Colomboare continuing unabated. Sri Lankan government has been condemned for itshorrendous human rights record but still continue to enjoy a good relationshipwith USA because of its committment to give its land for US Naval and otherlogistical support facilities.
2) Sri Lankan government hopes to continue the war with deserters: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sri Lankan Government has offered amnesty to thousands of deserters whowould return to the army. These deserters have in the last year been responsiblefor numerous thefts and killings in the Sinhala south. It is now becomingevident that the Sri Lankan government would do anything to keep the wargoing. At this point in time it is also becoming clear that there won'tbe any other presidential enquiries on army men accused of gross human rightsviolations.
3) Documentary on the Tamils ' sufferings : ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The documentary titled "Trial by Fire" was telecasted don TBS(Turner Broadcasting services) amidst continuous protests from the sri Lankanembassy and other Sri Lanka interest groups. This half an hour documentaryfocussed on how the Tamils are suffering under the Sri Lankan military andgovernment and how they are looking for help at the gods and goddesses.The documentary brings to light how the Tamils are suffering. For more informationsee attached below a copy of the Press release of Colorodo State Universtiy.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\\/\/\/\\/\/\
A copy of the University of Colorado, Office of Public Relations' pressrelease is attached herewith. Patricia Lawrence, also has been interviewedby the local TV stations for publicizing to the local audience, the airingof the National Geographic Special.
Trial by Fire will premiere on TBS at 9pm (MST) or 11 pm (EST) on Dec. 1and will be repeated at 3.05am MST Dec.2 and 12.05pm MST Dec.7
Research by a University of Colorado at Boulder doctoral student onthe plight and religious life of Tamil people seeking solace within SriLanka's war zone will be featured in a National Geographic Explorer TV specialDec. 1.
Anthropology doctoral student Patricia Lawrence has been studying how theTamil people have turned to local religious practices to cope with"disappearances"and unnatural death during civil war in eastern Sri Lanka.
"Fear is palpable inside the war zone," said Lawrence, who livedwithmany Tamil families during her trips to the east coast of the island. TheTamil struggle is not a case of religious nationalism. Tamils' grievancesare based on a history of discrimination in language, education, employmentand land tenure. "Religious practices at Hindu temples provide familieswith an avenue for overcoming the silences imposed on desperate human circumstances-- moments to express unresolved grief in a world altered by violence,"she said.
Lawrence's research documents how some local religious practices help peoplecome to terms with executions, torture, abductions, and arrests by the governmentmilitary forces. Hindu goddesses once called upon to bestow health and prosperity,and to bring the rain, "are now asked to intercede in violent eventsand to provide information about arbitrary arrests and disappearances,"she said.
In the continuing Sri Lankan conflict marked by atrocities on both sides,"families face violation and death as part of their everyday existence,"she said. "Suicides are also extremely common in the war zone. Suicideis becoming more common among the elderly, which is unusual in any society."
The emergency rule in Sri Lanka allows the government military to arbitrarilyarrest and detain thousands of Tamils, said Lawrence, there have been casesin which civilians have been held for five years by the government withouta court order or charge being filed against them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Abimanyu singam
Email address: asingam@chat.carleton.ca
AmericanCivil Rights Review -- A Fabulous Link!