May 2012 marked a solemn reminder of three years that have passed since the end of decades-long violence in Sri Lanka.
While some celebrated with triumphalism the victory of the army, for many Sri Lankan Tamils, including those in New Zealand, the month marked a sense of irrevocable grief.
UN and Amnesty International reports estimated that 40,000 people were killed in the last few months of the war in Puttamatalan (North East Sri Lanka).
A majority of the victims were innocent Tamil civilians trapped between the warring Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) and the government army.
While some were mercilessly used as human shields by the LTTE, other Tamils were said to have perished under indiscriminate shelling by the army in no-fire zones, hospitals and in the vicinity of food distribution centres.
Educative Seminar
Former Green Party MP Dr Keith Locke chaired a seminar titled, ‘Lasting Reconciliation’ at the Fickling Centre in Auckland’s Three Kings on May 26.
In the light of the Sri Lankan government’s implementation of ‘Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission,’ Dr Locke (recipient of ‘Human Rights Defender of the Year’ honour by Amnesty International) stressed the paramount role of justice and accountability in fostering long-term peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
He spoke of his solidarity with Tamils, who were of the sentiment that many of their concerns were still largely unaddressed by the Sri Lankan Government.
He also spoke of the lack of accountability and justice on the part of the Government for the innocent civilian lives lost as the war drew to it bloody end.
Objective Perspectives
Labour MP Phil Goff said it was vital to see that crimes against people should not go unpunished by a ruling government.
For many attendees, the Seminar offered a chance to hear objective perspectives of Kiwi experts from various fields such as International Law, Human Rights and Women’s Rights, with international experience in dealing with human rights crises in myriad forms and degrees.
Beverly Turner of ‘Pacific Women’s Watch New Zealand,’ expressed grave concern over the breach of human rights of women affected during and after the war. The integral link between women’s rights, war, peace and reconciliation is well-documented and proven, she said.
In a post-war situation as in Sri Lanka, women and girls are still largely vulnerable, having to fend for themselves after losing male family members in the conflict. They are at significant risk of exploitation and abuse.
To ensure that the Tamil community is supported through this fragile time, substantial efforts are necessary to protect these vulnerable women as a part of genuine reconciliation.
Transitional Justice
Human Rights law expert, Chris Mahoney of the University of Auckland (Faculty of Law), who has had experience working on ‘Witness Protection Framework,’ referred to the transitional justice processes in Rwanda and Sierra Leone.
Emphasising the importance of guaranteeing witness safety, he said that members of the Tamil community should be able to securely testify for victims or against perpetrators of the horrific war crimes they committed in 2009.
He said these people should have an opportunity to speak out, and that freedom of speech was paramount in progressing toward reconciliation and fostering a sense of solidarity between communities.
Mr Mahoney asked the audience to consider the following questions:
“Is it of any real benefit to the healing of Tamil sentiments to go through the process of justice and prosecution of people who committed war crimes?”
“How many will be prosecuted, who will be prosecuted and how will that decision be reached?”
“Will that truly solve the deep-rooted concerns of the Tamil population that continue to persist?”
Amnesty International Advocacy Manager Amanda Brydon spoke of the organisation’s extensive research in Sri Lanka and the continuing heavy presence of military that undermined efforts toward true and lasting reconciliation.
Barrister Colin Henry spoke about link between justice and reconciliation.
Other speakers spoke of the dire need for more media freedom in Sri Lanka to aid this reconciliation process by delving deeper into Tamil and Sinhalese communities to tell stories from grass-root level of post-war tribulations.
Kadambari Gladding is a TV Presenter and Reporter based in Auckland. The above is an edited version of her original text.
