Sri Lanka: Matter of convenience for politicians and actors

After objections, he subsequently cancelled his proposed visit to the island nation. 

Sri Lanka has become a subject of convenience for political parties and actors. In the Tamil Nadu election in 2016, none of the parties incorporated the Sri Lankan issue as a prominent issue in the party manifesto. The main issue of fishermen between the two countries, particularly the rights of the Tamil fishermen to fish in  the Kachatheevu area without being arrested and imprisoned by the Sri Lankan authorities did not constitute as an election issue. In the same way, speedy rehabilitation of Tamils in the places the civil war was fought and the displacement of millions did not appear prominently in the general election that was fought a year ago. The stoic silence of PWF (People’s Welfare Front), the first coalition of smaller parties other than AIADMK, DMK and PMK surprised many on this issue. The parties that contested the general election on their own like Naam Tamilar Party led by Seeman and Tamil Desiya Munnani of P Nedumaran highlighted the Sri Lankan issue. 

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) which is in session now in Geneva, passed the resolution on Sri Lanka, without a vote on  March 23, 2017. Titled “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka” the resolution gives the island nation two years to show more progress on implementing the 2015 resolution on Sri Lanka. The resolution was spearheaded by United States with three other countries and Sri Lanka as a co-sponsor. In 2015, a resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka was given an 18 - month time frame for total implementation. The government of Sri Lanka had promised to return the occupied land to its rightful civilian owners, repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, investigate acts of torture and gender based violence, especially rape. 

Now that Sri Lanka has been given two more years to fulfill its promises there is displeasure among the Tamils that the condition of internally displaced persons has not changed. The land occupied by the armed forces has not been returned. The military presence in the north-eastern states even after the end of civil war in 2009 is not fully withdrawn. The political, social and economic progress in the war affected area is slow and limping. In this context, Sri Lanka has become a matter of convenience for the politicians, actors and others. Any natural calamity and human made disasters such as civil war, once when it is over it is followed by the 3 R’s. Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reforms. In the case of Sri Lanka the Rehabilitation part is almost over and the second part of Reconstruction is taking place. This is the stage the Tamils in Sri Lanka need their houses to be rebuilt and lands to be restored. Donors are needed at this stage for building houses by their own government and other organisations. Due to the destruction of land and property since 1983 ,Tamils need  housing very badly. The period of reform is the one in which structural changes are contemplated. The most important reforms are the Constitutional protection and devolution of powers. 

Civil war disfigures the face of the nation and it hardly becomes recognisable after the war. Political parties attacking individuals and donor organisations are not doing good to the people who are ravaged by the war and rebuilding their lives. We need concerted efforts at home and abroad for the rebuilding of this Island nation whose people suffered untold misery for a quarter century.