from recrimination to reconciliation the path to peace in sri lanka

7/28/2019 From recrimination to reconciliation the path to peace in SriLanka

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From recrimination to reconciliation: the path

to peace in Sri Lanka

11 June 2013

Sri Lanka is at a crossroads. After the end of a long civil war, the country has an historic

opportunity to draw on its strengths and riches to create a unified, prosperous and just

society.

But it is also faced with complex problems, mostly arising from its recent history. In

Australia, we only see the influx of Sri Lankan refugees. But this is merely a symptom,

hinting at the larger problem of post-war reconciliation at home.

Sri Lanka is beginning to exorcise its ghosts, but Australia and the international

community need to help it on its path to peace.

What is needed now

Reconstruction and reconciliation in post-conflict settings have to occur together. The

top-down provision of resources by governments or international agencies needs to be

combined with the process of bringing communities together to heal old wounds and

where appropriate, to find ways to resume communication with old enemies.

This process of reconciliation is painstaking and can be difficult. Without reconciliation,

facts can take on lives of their own, acquiring perverse meanings. The building of roads

can be seen as an act of colonisation. The construction of schools and the provision of

learning materials can be seen as brainwashing. Even the provision of food and medical

care can be interpreted as tools for enforcing and entrenching dependence.
http://theconversation.com/from-recrimination-to-reconciliation-the-path-to-peace-in-sri-lanka-14848http://theconversation.com/from-recrimination-to-reconciliation-the-path-to-peace-in-sri-lanka-14848http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96737/Analysis-Sri-Lanka-s-long-road-to-reconciliationhttps://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/2132690691/twitter_normal.pnghttp://www.irinnews.org/Report/96737/Analysis-Sri-Lanka-s-long-road-to-reconciliationhttp://theconversation.com/from-recrimination-to-reconciliation-the-path-to-peace-in-sri-lanka-14848http://theconversation.com/from-recrimination-to-reconciliation-the-path-to-peace-in-sri-lanka-14848


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In Sri Lanka, reconciliation and healing has to be undertaken at the level of civil society

and encompass all ethnicities, religions and communities. The role of the government is

not unimportant but should not be overestimated: in fact, there are things here that

governments simply cannot do.

Much of the work can only be undertaken by non-government actors working within

communities at the face-to-face, village-to-village level, building relationships and

overcoming old hatreds. Ultimately renewal can only be accomplished within and by the

communities themselves.

Making progress

Although commonly not acknowledged in the West, there are signs that real progress

towards reconciliation is occurring. Anecdotal reports suggest that the mood of

demoralisation and despair among communities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces

might be changing. There also seems to be a growing confidence among some civil

society actors to express their views, including sometimes criticisms of government.

A few examples, recently highlighted at a conference in Colombo, shows some inspiring

work being done. They include a cricket competition for a Harmony Cup, a journey

down the Kalani River by young people committed to preserving the environment, a

camp for future leaders to work together in community projects to learn the value of co-

operative work, and the establishment of community houses where former child victims

of the war come together to play sport or music to facilitate their reintegration into

society. In other projects people from different faith communities are actively engaging

with each other in an atmosphere of respect and forgiveness.

Alongside the ferment in civil society there are signs from the government itself that

previously hard-line stances are being softened. Actual policy pronouncements are

difficult to come by, but in Sri Lanka it is sometimes the more subtle indications that

count most.

A prominent member of the government, Rajiva Wijisinha, has gone on record stating

that the amnesty for former Tamil Tigers will be extended to include all former combatants

and associates, with only the top leadership of the LTTE exempt. This is an important

gesture towards reconciliation with the Tamil community, among whom support for the
http://globalreconciliation.org.s130692.gridserver.com/projects/ancient-cultures-new-futures-sri-lankans-moving-forward-together/workshop-2012/http://rajivawijesinha.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/reconciliation-how-the-armed-forces-can-do-more-and-why-they-should/#more-5241http://globalreconciliation.org.s130692.gridserver.com/projects/ancient-cultures-new-futures-sri-lankans-moving-forward-together/workshop-2012/http://rajivawijesinha.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/reconciliation-how-the-armed-forces-can-do-more-and-why-they-should/#more-5241


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Tigers remained strong until the end, despite its repressive and sometimes brutal tactics.

There is also an ongoing discussion involving civil society groups and government in

search of a formula the so-called one text initiative that will recognise and

acknowledge the depth and intensity of the mutual loss and pain.

Most importantly, there is acknowledgement on the part of some advisers and members

of the government still mostly in private, behind closed doors that economic

recovery is not sufficient to restore hope. They are beginning to recognise that

community action is needed.

The international response

The international community is also at a cross-roads. Those looking in from the outside

are faced with an opportunity to recognise and nurture the signs of progress as

tentative as they may be.

There may only be a narrow time-frame within which to accomplish this task of

reconstructing not just the physical infrastructure but also the structures of meaning and

value that were dissipated by the terrible years of war.

For Australia, there is also an urgent need to shift the focus to the reasons why people

are taking flight, to address the asylum seeker problem at its source. This is not only apractical possibility: it is also likely to be relatively inexpensive.

For a modest investment a tiny fraction of that currently being spent on border

protection support could be provided to the many groups and individuals committed to

the tasks of rebuilding their communities, providing education and healthcare, and

overcoming the despair that is presently pushing people into leaky boats. In fact, as

mentioned above, there are numerous projects already underway in urgent need of

support.

A good place to start would be the work being undertaken to address the psychological

trauma that is one of the grim legacies of the conflict, especially as it affects child

victims.

Just as Australia did after the 2004 tsunami, we should respond to the needs of those who
http://www.onetext.org/http://www.smh.com.au/news/Asia-Tsunami/Australians-9-dead-7-missing-27-in-hospital/2004/12/29/1103996614206.htmlhttp://www.onetext.org/http://www.smh.com.au/news/Asia-Tsunami/Australians-9-dead-7-missing-27-in-hospital/2004/12/29/1103996614206.html


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have suffered and assist them in overcoming the challenges themselves. The role of the

Australian government, and of other concerned governments, should be concentrated

on supporting civil society activity rather than on direct governmental action.

Sri Lankas next steps

Its time for Sri Lanka to shed the burden of bitterness and division and to take on the

complex but optimistic process of reconciliation. This process has to occur at the level of

ordinary people and cannot be controlled by government. The government itself must be

encouraged to recognise this and to allow the civil society groups to complete the work

they have already initiated.

The Australian community can and should believe that its actions towards a

reconciliation process in Sri Lanka will help. It is only through a multi-layered

engagement, political at one end and maybe more importantly community at the

other, that a real,lasting peace for Sri Lankawill emerge.

Part one of this article looks at the specific reasons why Australia is seeing an influx of Sri

Lankan refugees.
http://globalreconciliation.org.s130692.gridserver.com/projects/ancient-cultures-new-futures-sri-lankans-moving-forward-together/https://theconversation.com/after-the-war-why-sri-lankan-refugees-continue-to-come-to-australia-14638https://theconversation.com/after-the-war-why-sri-lankan-refugees-continue-to-come-to-australia-14638http://globalreconciliation.org.s130692.gridserver.com/projects/ancient-cultures-new-futures-sri-lankans-moving-forward-together/https://theconversation.com/after-the-war-why-sri-lankan-refugees-continue-to-come-to-australia-14638https://theconversation.com/after-the-war-why-sri-lankan-refugees-continue-to-come-to-australia-14638

from recrimination to reconciliation the path to peace in sri lanka

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