On the path of reconciliation in Sri Lanka
Featured image courtesy Afriel Youth Network
SHAKTHI DE SILVA on 05/27/2016
Politics has played a significant role in the Sri Lankan conflict which some consider to be an “ethnic” conflict, some as a “civil” war while others as a “state versus terrorist” war. Moving aside from the semantics and syntax, the conflict itself caused significant pain and turmoil in the hearts and minds of people across the island and even among communities abroad.
In this article I hope to focus on a key issue that runs through our country – division. I argue that the current negative “attitude” towards dialogue and exchanges in inter-ethnic communities are fueling existing divisions among them, i.e. that conversations with supposed/alleged “extremists” (often grouped as a set of individuals not entirely in the same frame of mind as most, belonging mainly to the minority ethnic communities) is not conducive to peace. Reconciling this ‘two-sided’ division and coming to a consensus is key to solving the issues that has plagued our country since the time of independence.
To look back at the quote I wrote above, many reiterate that knowledge is power; but this relationship can be inverted. For example if one has “power”, say in terms of legislative power or executive power, then that individual has power over the knowledge of the other. Thereby the person who possesses “power” has the ability to regulate and decide what sort of knowledge becomes disseminated among the people of the country.
One of the key issues in the discourse between the varied communities of the country during the last few years has been reinterpreting versus revisiting the past. The historical analogies as against the historic differences between the communities have been a topic that many learned intellectuals have commented on in the past and present. The fact that, each “ethnic” side promulgates its own unique and ‘independent existence’ in relation to the other, is by nature divisive and is not conducive in leading to societal assimilation and/or political accommodation among the different communities of the country. This sometimes violent contention that has divided society in the past and continues to do so at present must be stopped and increased dialogue through a holistic framework must be promoted.
While our diplomats-since independence-led the way in the diplomatic problem solving of contentious issues, Sri Lanka has not been effective in diplomatically solving its “ethnic” grievances and its power sharing methods. Both in 1972 and 1977, the constitution(s) were hailed as “great” from one side and vehemently condemned by the other. More often than not, the media (mainly newspapers) played into the hands of the side in power resulting in the diminishing of criticism regarding the frailties and weaknesses of the constitution(s). Moreover when such news items were relayed to the people they, more often than not, showed the ‘Sinhalese’ (often the opposition party to the government) condemning the actions of the ruling party; principally due to party politics. The ideas of the minorities were rarely expressed in many media outlets and unfortunately that seems to be the case even at present.
Read More