The Sri Lankan Civil War is an ongoing conflict on the island-nation of Sri Lanka. Since the year 1983, there has been on-and-off civil war, predominantly between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers), a separatist militant organization who fight for the creation of an independent state named Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island. It is estimated that 68,000 people have died in the war since 1983 and it has caused significant harm to the population and economy of the country, as well as leading to the ban of the LTTE as a terrorist organization in 32 countries including the United States, Australia, the countries of the European Union, and Canada.
The possibility of a lasting peace were raised when a cease-fire was declared in December 2001, and a ceasefire agreement was signed with international mediation in 2002.However hostilities renewed in late 2005 and the conflict has continued to escalate, resulting in the deaths of over 4,000 people since November 2005.The government has launched a number of military offensives against the LTTE since July 2006, and driven the LTTE out of the entire Eastern province of the island, and on the fifth anniversary of the signing of the agreement the LTTE declared they would "resume their freedom struggle to achieve statehood".The government's forces also claimed recently to have destroyed all the large arms smuggling vessels that belonged to the LTTE. Just after the government's military commanders expressed their hope to win the war in the near future, on January 2, 2008 the government formally announced withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement. The Government further alleged that the LTTE violated the agreement over 10,000 times.
As a result of fighting since April 2006, there are more than 200,000 internally displaced persons in the country. Deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians (including killings during aerial bombardment, shelling and claymore mine attacks) are taking place in violation of international humanitarian law. On December 7, 2007 the Human Rights Watch and the Amnesty International in a joint letter asked the UN Human Rights Council to take urgent action in order to end abuses in Sri Lanka, both by the government and the LTTE.
Monday, April 14, 2008
the history...
A long-standing rivalry between Tamil and Sinhalese inhabitants of Sri Lanka has ensured an extremely volatile relationship between the two groups. The combination of religious and ethnic differences continues to create violent conflicts between the parties although they have shared Sri Lanka for innumerable centuries.
The Tamil minority originated from India, immigrating to Sri Lanka between the 3rd century B.C. and the 13th century A.D. Making up a small portion of the population, Tamils constitute almost the entire Hindu population of the land. In the 5th century B.C., Indo-Aryan emigration from India created the Sinhalese population in Sri Lanka. It still holds the majority today and thus, much political power. The greater part of the Sinhalese populace considers itself to be Buddhist. Religious tension intensifies the struggle for supremacy between Tamils and Sinhalese.
Prior to colonial occupation, Tamils controlled the northern part of Ceylon (renamed Sri Lanka in 1972), while the Sinhalese ruled the southern regions of the land. In 1505, the Portuguese took control of the country and began its history as a colonial settlement. Throughout its relationship with the west, Sri Lanka has been dominated by world powers that have their prevented self-rule. Finally, in 1948 Sri Lanka gained independence and thus, sovereignty over its lands. Prior to this momentous occasion, Tamil and Sinhalese forces combined to fight for their common freedom. However, this alliance did not last long.
The Sinhalese have retained power throughout most of Sri Lanka's history because of its size compared to the Tamil population, the second largest group in the country. With unquestioned economic and political power, the Sinhalese inhabitants face the anger and bitterness of the minority Tamils, who must struggle to have their voice heard. Conflict between the Tamil and Sinhalese rose to a new degree in 1956 as Solomon Bandaranaike was instated as Prime Minster and declared Sinhala the official language of what was then Ceylon. The Tamil minority was outraged by this act and opposition to the Sinhalese dominated government grew as the state backed Buddhism on an official level. Bandaranaike was later assassinated and proceeded by his wife who became Prime Minister in 1960. In 1983 civil unrest could no longer be contained and the country broke out into civil war.
adapted form: http://www.postcolonialweb.org/southasia/srilanka/history/palamkunnel1.html
The Tamil minority originated from India, immigrating to Sri Lanka between the 3rd century B.C. and the 13th century A.D. Making up a small portion of the population, Tamils constitute almost the entire Hindu population of the land. In the 5th century B.C., Indo-Aryan emigration from India created the Sinhalese population in Sri Lanka. It still holds the majority today and thus, much political power. The greater part of the Sinhalese populace considers itself to be Buddhist. Religious tension intensifies the struggle for supremacy between Tamils and Sinhalese.
Prior to colonial occupation, Tamils controlled the northern part of Ceylon (renamed Sri Lanka in 1972), while the Sinhalese ruled the southern regions of the land. In 1505, the Portuguese took control of the country and began its history as a colonial settlement. Throughout its relationship with the west, Sri Lanka has been dominated by world powers that have their prevented self-rule. Finally, in 1948 Sri Lanka gained independence and thus, sovereignty over its lands. Prior to this momentous occasion, Tamil and Sinhalese forces combined to fight for their common freedom. However, this alliance did not last long.
The Sinhalese have retained power throughout most of Sri Lanka's history because of its size compared to the Tamil population, the second largest group in the country. With unquestioned economic and political power, the Sinhalese inhabitants face the anger and bitterness of the minority Tamils, who must struggle to have their voice heard. Conflict between the Tamil and Sinhalese rose to a new degree in 1956 as Solomon Bandaranaike was instated as Prime Minster and declared Sinhala the official language of what was then Ceylon. The Tamil minority was outraged by this act and opposition to the Sinhalese dominated government grew as the state backed Buddhism on an official level. Bandaranaike was later assassinated and proceeded by his wife who became Prime Minister in 1960. In 1983 civil unrest could no longer be contained and the country broke out into civil war.
adapted form: http://www.postcolonialweb.org/southasia/srilanka/history/palamkunnel1.html
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