Sri Lankan Clash of Identities

As per my resolution to cover a wide breadth of topics, I’ve delved myself into the conflict in Sri Lanka. And yes, most of my reasons for doing so also have to do with my idolization of Sri Lankan-British rapper and popstar extraordinaire MIA. I suppose I’ve also been inspired to learn more by the disturbing death toll headlines that have been filling many of the major global news outlets.

The Makings of Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Strife

It is believed that the Tamils, originally from South India, appeared in the north and East of Sri Lanka some time before the 10th century. Others argue that the Tamils had no organized society until after 10th century while even more argue that they are the original inhabitants of the island of Sri Lanka. Given all the political and social strife, its easy to see how such various historical narratives become entrenched in identity politics and become such controversial issues.

The Sinhala, or “people of the lion”, are the mjaority ethnic group Sri Lanka and are predominantly Buddhist. According to Sinhalese historical narratives, the Buddha himself entrusted the Sinhala with the island as guardians of his teachings. (Spencer 3)

Although the categories “Sinhala” and “Tamil” are not colonial inventions, some of the current ethno-religious tensions have a root in colonial and post colonial reconstruction. In the Victorian era, the predominant racial theory was that the world was divided into different “kinds” of people. So in the set up of local colonial governments in Sri Lanka, groups had to prove their ethnic distinctiveness in order to gain representation. Spencer’s example is that of the Muslim Tamils who began to assert their Arab descendancy in order to gain representation that was more than just Tamil. (Spencer 8-9)   During British colonial rule, the Tamils were seen as collaborators and believed to get special treatments from the colonizers. (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)

Though the fault lines between populations in Sri Lanka during the colonial period were religious, today’s divisions are defined by language. It is no longer Catholics (yes, there are Catholics) against Hindus and Buddhists, but Tamil Catholics against Sinhala Catholics, etc. (Spencer 8 )

Civil Blood

The civil war that has been raging in Sri Lanka for decades began in the 1970’s as Tamil rebels began to push for their own state, Eelam. These rebels, the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam or Tamil Tigers, enjoyed a firm hold on the north and east regions of the island for many years. The civil war in Sri Lanka ranks as South Asia’s longest in the modern era. It his displaced thousands, left large areas uninhabitable because of landmines and explosive debris, laid waste to agricultural land, contributed to malnutrition, weakened the state’s ability to deal with natural disasters like the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and even seen the use of child soldiers as young as nine. (Sri Lanka Conflict)

History: I Owns It

Though the two sides disagree bitterly on many things, Jonathan Spencer, an anthropologist at the University of Edinburgh, finds one clear consensus: “present conflicts can only be explained by reference to the past”. (3) What has contributed to the Tamil real or imagined feelings of persecution is the single interpretation of Sri Lanka’s past according to the Buddhist Sinhalas.

“[Nationalism] is not what it seems, and above all it is not what it seems to itself. The cultures it claims to defend and revive are often its own inventions, or are modified out of all recognition” (Spencer 10)

Present Day Carnage

Although a cease-fire was declared in 2002, violence flared up again in 2005. What’s filling the headlines today is the Sinhalese government’s assault on the rebels which has given them control over those north and east regions for the first time in years. As a conventional military force, the Tamil Tigers are through with much of their leadership having been destroyed. Much of these achievements are due to the rise of President Rajapakse in 2005 and his increased focus on defense. However, this is not a victory, for either side, by far.

The conflict has now killed well in excess of 70,000 people, displaced tens of thousands more and held back the island’s growth and economic development. The death toll of civilians in 2009 overall could run into the thousands, the UN and aid agencies say…The manner in which they pursued their military victory – ignoring international calls for restraint – may have radicalised a new generation of Tamils, both on the island and in the diaspora in Europe, Asia and North America. (Q&A: Sri Lanka conflict)

As the conflict continues to fill the headlines, I will keep on top of it as best I can and bring you all unique and dynamic ideas on bringing about a resolution.

Sources

1. Jonathan Spencer, Sri Lanka: History and the Roots of Conflict, Routledge (1990)
2. Preeti Bhattacharji, “Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam“, Council on Foreign Relations (2009)
3. Reuters AlertNet, “Sri Lanka Conflict”
4. BBC News, “Q&A: Sri Lanka conflict“