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Expert Interview with Dr. Jehan Perera Civil Rights activist, Sri Lanka
Expert Interview with Dr. Jehan Perera Civil Rights activist, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Perera please share with us in graphic detail the impact of the Asian Tsunami on the Islanders in Sri Lanka… their fears, agonies, anxieties, how it manifested, how it challenged their basic life skills and every-day life / survival.
The devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004 changed the political and geographical landscape of the country. The tsunami waves that struck the north, east and south of the country on the day after Christmas left the coastal areas devastated with a death toll of 35,000, destroyed 98,000 houses and a displaced population of half a million. The ocean waves did not spare either the government-controlled or LTTE-controlled areas. But when the tsunami struck the north east coast it struck an area and a people who had already been devastated by twenty years of fierce fighting. The physical infrastructure in those areas was already debilitated and the government machinery was only semi-functional.
The devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004 changed the political and geographical landscape of the country. The tsunami waves that struck the north, east and south of the country on the day after Christmas left the coastal areas devastated with a death toll of 35,000, destroyed 98,000 houses and a displaced population of half a million. The ocean waves did not spare either the government-controlled or LTTE-controlled areas. But when the tsunami struck the north east coast it struck an area and a people who had already been devastated by twenty years of fierce fighting. The physical infrastructure in those areas was already debilitated and the government machinery was only semi-functional.
- Next please picturise for us how the three decade old ethnic conflict manifested in the mental health of ordinary Sri Lankans.
During the war people became suspicious of those from the other community. Sinhalese people in general saw Tamils as potential terrorists with a bomb hidden that they could explode. Tamils saw Sinhalese as supporters of the military effort to suppress their struggle and deny them their political and human rights. There was mistrust and hatred. These harmed the fabric of the united nation. Those who lost their loved ones due to the conflict were traumatised, and those whose family members went missing, or who were made to disappear, encountered long term trauma, which continues to this day. Although the war is over eight years, those who were victims of the war, whose loved ones are missing, who lost their lands to the military, have yet to find justice. There is progress in some areas, such as in the return of land, and provision of housing and economic infrastructure. But those who went missing continue to remain missing with negative consequences to the mental health of their families who cannot rest until they know the truth of what happened.
During the war people became suspicious of those from the other community. Sinhalese people in general saw Tamils as potential terrorists with a bomb hidden that they could explode. Tamils saw Sinhalese as supporters of the military effort to suppress their struggle and deny them their political and human rights. There was mistrust and hatred. These harmed the fabric of the united nation. Those who lost their loved ones due to the conflict were traumatised, and those whose family members went missing, or who were made to disappear, encountered long term trauma, which continues to this day. Although the war is over eight years, those who were victims of the war, whose loved ones are missing, who lost their lands to the military, have yet to find justice. There is progress in some areas, such as in the return of land, and provision of housing and economic infrastructure. But those who went missing continue to remain missing with negative consequences to the mental health of their families who cannot rest until they know the truth of what happened.
- Did the civil war / ethnic conflict create emotional anxieties in Sri Lankans? How did this manifest in ordinary citizens?
The war and terrorism and concomitant human rights violations by the military and LTTE and even civilian home-guards led to fear of people for their very lives. They feared that a bomb could explode at any minute. They feared bombs going off in trains and buses. They feared bombs being dropped on them from the sky. There was fear of armed men from both the government and LTTE sides who wielded their arms with impunity. This created a culture of fear.
The war and terrorism and concomitant human rights violations by the military and LTTE and even civilian home-guards led to fear of people for their very lives. They feared that a bomb could explode at any minute. They feared bombs going off in trains and buses. They feared bombs being dropped on them from the sky. There was fear of armed men from both the government and LTTE sides who wielded their arms with impunity. This created a culture of fear.
- Did this emotional anxiety wreck-havoc on their confidence and livelihood security / inter personal relationships, / social fabric etc? There were reports of marital discord, sexual abstinence etc throughout 2005…
The situation was particularly bad in the war zones of the North and East. In the rest of the country, there was less pressure on the lives of people. There was significant normalcy. Although there was the fear of bombs, of armed men with guns, this affected life of people outside of the war zones in a lesser degree.
The situation was particularly bad in the war zones of the North and East. In the rest of the country, there was less pressure on the lives of people. There was significant normalcy. Although there was the fear of bombs, of armed men with guns, this affected life of people outside of the war zones in a lesser degree.
- There were allegations that the Sri Lankan Government blocked food aid to the North and East after the Tsunami. How did this manifest emotionally for the Islanders? An anecdotal account would be interesting. Is it true that there was starvation because food aid blockage?
In the aftermath of the tsunami there was considerable goodwill and sympathy for all who had been victims. The shock of the tsunami also brought about a temporary change in the political environment. For six weeks the tsunami brought an almost total halt to the internecine killings. One of the most beautiful pictures to emerge out of the tragedy of the tsunami was one of President Chandrika Kumaratunga shaking hands with a young woman LTTE cadre. There were accounts also of how military and LTTE cadre saved each other from death in the swirling seas. At the ground level human decency seemed to prevail in the relationship between the government and LTTE.
In the aftermath of the tsunami there was considerable goodwill and sympathy for all who had been victims. The shock of the tsunami also brought about a temporary change in the political environment. For six weeks the tsunami brought an almost total halt to the internecine killings. One of the most beautiful pictures to emerge out of the tragedy of the tsunami was one of President Chandrika Kumaratunga shaking hands with a young woman LTTE cadre. There were accounts also of how military and LTTE cadre saved each other from death in the swirling seas. At the ground level human decency seemed to prevail in the relationship between the government and LTTE.
The wave of destruction and death was also followed by a great wave of compassion, generosity and solidarity from around the world. Massive inflows of aid were pledged by the international community towards the reconstruction of the tsunami affected regions. But the inability of the government and LTTE to reach an agreement on accessing those funds led to many of those pledges remaining unrealised. At the end of 2005, out of USD 2.2 billion that had been pledged, only 0.6 billion had been delivered. The failure to restart the peace process also led to a continued downward spiral, in which trust between the two sides got reduced, and the resort to violence became more pronounced.
The wave of destruction and death was also followed by a great wave of compassion, generosity and solidarity from around the world. Massive inflows of aid were pledged by the international community towards the reconstruction of the tsunami affected regions. But the inability of the government and LTTE to reach an agreement on accessing those funds led to many of those pledges remaining unrealised. At the end of 2005, out of USD 2.2 billion that had been pledged, only 0.6 billion had been delivered. The failure to restart the peace process also led to a continued downward spiral, in which trust between the two sides got reduced, and the resort to violence became more pronounced.
Unfortunately, the tsunami was an opportunity for the government and the LTTE to push their politico-military strategies. The LTTE criticised the government for ignoring the humanitarian needs in the northeast and the Sri Lankan Army for creating obstacles for the relief efforts of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) in government-controlled areas. On the other hand, there was evidence that some of the relief operations are being exploited for illicit ends. The Government tightened its regulations on customs clearance for most NGOs, including the TRO, after many unwanted goods and even sensitive communication equipment, arms and helicopter and plane parts were found in containers purportedly carrying relief goods.
Unfortunately, the tsunami was an opportunity for the government and the LTTE to push their politico-military strategies. The LTTE criticised the government for ignoring the humanitarian needs in the northeast and the Sri Lankan Army for creating obstacles for the relief efforts of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) in government-controlled areas. On the other hand, there was evidence that some of the relief operations are being exploited for illicit ends. The Government tightened its regulations on customs clearance for most NGOs, including the TRO, after many unwanted goods and even sensitive communication equipment, arms and helicopter and plane parts were found in containers purportedly carrying relief goods.
Therefore, the tsunami accentuated rather than ameliorated the conflict dynamics. Instead of creating spaces to re-energize the peace process, it had the opposite effect of deepening the political divide. It re-awakened enmities and created new contours of conflict.
Therefore, the tsunami accentuated rather than ameliorated the conflict dynamics. Instead of creating spaces to re-energize the peace process, it had the opposite effect of deepening the political divide. It re-awakened enmities and created new contours of conflict.
- UN reports after the Tsunami mentioned that fisherfolk feared putting out to the sea after the Tsunami. Can you share some anecdotes about this if possible please?
Sorry I did not interview fisherfolk.
Sorry I did not interview fisherfolk.
- Did you encounter or meet fisherfolk who spoke of Tsunami ghosts…? This question is just to quantify the fear factor.
People are superstitious and no doubt there were many such reported incidents. But I didn’t meet such people.
People are superstitious and no doubt there were many such reported incidents. But I didn’t meet such people.
Interviewed by Malini Shankar
Interviewed by Malini Shankar
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