"We are having a tremendous support from the public. The great turnout of public to the Jaffna Mela showed this aspect. LTTE warned people not to come but people turned up in huge numbers. We have so many requests from public to organize such events in the future too.” (Sri Lanka Guardian Images)
_____________________
Sri Lanka Guardian Special Report
by NIlantha Illangamuwa and Udara Soysa from Jaffna
(July 21, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Guardian) As we got off the aircraft at Palali three days ago, our first impression was that we had landed in the middle of a jungle; and that we thought was rather strange. This was quite bizarre because Palali was a regional airport that used to service flights to India apart from linking Colombo, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amparai. But a totally unjustified civil war has changed all that and a High Security Zone around it to a radius of some ten or twelve miles from the airport has forced people outside from the airport’s surrounding villages and townships, and the land has become neglected and overgrown.
There were also obvious signs of ruined houses, schools and public buildings within this zone.
As if this was not enough, it is believed some rapidly growing Ipil Ipil seeds from the Hawaiian species had been widely sowed and have now grown into big trees. This we heard was done by the Indian Peace Keeping Force; may be they needed instant fodder for the thousands of goats they brought from India to meet their food needs.
What a tragedy to behold this stark reality? The area around the airport is rich agricultural land that included a good part of the red soil region. It produced Jaffna’s luscious fruits, a wide variety of vegetables and yams. All these have been lost for the last two decades or even more.
The High Security Zone also contains the towns of Kankesanturai and its port and Tellipallai which has two of the country’s leading schools, the Union and Mahajana Colleges. It was in Tellipallai the American missionaries launched their work in 1816. Keerimalai is another township famed for its spa, the beach at Sendankulam and the historical Naguleswaran Temple, one of the Easwarams of Sri Lanka, the others being Konneswaram, Tondeeswaram, Muneshwaram and Thiruketheeswaram.
We had the chance of limited movement in the peninsula and the furthest we went were Mirusuvil, the City of Jaffna and the Jaffna University in Tinnevely. Wherever we went, we had the feeling of a province under siege and the people we talked to shared their feelings and emotions with us but at first guardedly and then they were more at ease with us.
“We want to be liberated,” said an English-speaking 60s gentleman who had worked in the Government Service. His comment surprised us somewhat and we wondered whether he referred to the Armed Forces. “No” he told us, “from the boys who are terrorizing us. They have taken many of our boys and girls by force and we don’t know whether they are alive or not.”
We were strongly advised about asking questions so we gestured sympathetically towards him which he appreciated very much. Later we spoke to a teacher who said that they are satisfied with the security situation in Jaffna. “We are peaceful people and we want peace,” he said with a sigh.
A trader who spoke to us was more emphatic. “"We definitely do not want an Eelam. We just need to live. That’s our only aspiration. We however hope the war will end and peace will come back and prevail. This way, the economy will improve in our country," he said.
When we spoke to a mother of two her concern was about the high cost of living. “The cost of living is high because the land routes are closed. We also hear that LTTE is putting up illegal taxes on traders. We don’t know the truth in this. But we hope the costs would come down."
"We do not have problems with the Army,” commented a three-wheel driver. “We know they are doing their jobs. We are happy with things but only problem is the cost of living. But we heard it is same in Colombo also."
We had the opportunity to meet some services people. Among them one was Major General Mark, Commanding Officer, 51 Division who oversees several regions in the peninsula. He said: "We are having a tremendous support from the public. The great turnout of public to the Jaffna Mela showed this aspect. LTTE warned people not to come but people turned up in huge numbers. We have so many requests from public to organize such events in the future too,”
He added: “There had not been any real serious incidents in Jaffna in 2008. This is a very positive development. I can feel that the people have rejected the LTTE.” Major General Chandrasiri, he said was giving a wonderful support and he had personally organized these events. “We are extremely happy with his vision for Jaffna.”
We were reminded that there has been a Sri Lanka Naval Base at Karainagar for many decades and the naval personnel have total acceptance in the community. In times of drought which is quite common on the island off the west coast of the peninsula and connected by a causeway, the navy freely supplies water to the people.
On our return to Colombo we contacted a friend in England whose family has lived for generations in Jaffna. We raised many questions with him and shared our impressions on Jaffna and his people. He said that sadly for these people, meaning the Diaspora and the urban elite, who want war in Sri Lanka, it matters nothing for them because it is not their children but others’ that are affected. “Their own children are well educated and doing well either in Sri Lanka or in the west.”
He stressed: “The children of the poor have to die for the mistakes of both Tamil and Sinhala nationalists and people who make money out of the war. There is no point in criticizing the LTTE for this is war and all parties have to be condemned for allowing this to last so long.”
He added: “The LTTE should stop all civilian killings. The Sri Lanka Government should do the same. As for Pillayan he should be kicked out of his post if he wants to carry arms. He should also be taken to court for the atrocities he has committed.”
He said further: “At the end of the day they are all terrorists. If the Sinhala leaders can be bold enough to bring a real solution there will be no LTTE or Prabhakaran.”
Jaffna, despite the tension prevailing there is a wonderful place for one to make his home and raise his family. The people are warm, simple and friendly and made us feel very comfortable among them. We had the chance to visit Mirusuvil and was taken up by the beauty of the environment and the natural candour of the people. It was, we thought, village life at its best. If only the A9 was open and the LTTE is defeated, life in Jaffna will get back to what the people of Jaffna are known for and that is stable and settled life in this dry zone region of Sri Lanka.
It is a territory that is waiting to be liberated from its current ills and unfortunately it is only the Armed Forces that can ensure this and the Government of Sri Lanka must wake up to the reality that the Tamils are citizens of Sri Lanka too and have equal rights as the majority Sinhalese.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
Sri Lanka Guardian Special Report
by NIlantha Illangamuwa and Udara Soysa from Jaffna
(July 21, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Guardian) As we got off the aircraft at Palali three days ago, our first impression was that we had landed in the middle of a jungle; and that we thought was rather strange. This was quite bizarre because Palali was a regional airport that used to service flights to India apart from linking Colombo, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amparai. But a totally unjustified civil war has changed all that and a High Security Zone around it to a radius of some ten or twelve miles from the airport has forced people outside from the airport’s surrounding villages and townships, and the land has become neglected and overgrown.
There were also obvious signs of ruined houses, schools and public buildings within this zone.
As if this was not enough, it is believed some rapidly growing Ipil Ipil seeds from the Hawaiian species had been widely sowed and have now grown into big trees. This we heard was done by the Indian Peace Keeping Force; may be they needed instant fodder for the thousands of goats they brought from India to meet their food needs.
What a tragedy to behold this stark reality? The area around the airport is rich agricultural land that included a good part of the red soil region. It produced Jaffna’s luscious fruits, a wide variety of vegetables and yams. All these have been lost for the last two decades or even more.The High Security Zone also contains the towns of Kankesanturai and its port and Tellipallai which has two of the country’s leading schools, the Union and Mahajana Colleges. It was in Tellipallai the American missionaries launched their work in 1816. Keerimalai is another township famed for its spa, the beach at Sendankulam and the historical Naguleswaran Temple, one of the Easwarams of Sri Lanka, the others being Konneswaram, Tondeeswaram, Muneshwaram and Thiruketheeswaram.
We had the chance of limited movement in the peninsula and the furthest we went were Mirusuvil, the City of Jaffna and the Jaffna University in Tinnevely. Wherever we went, we had the feeling of a province under siege and the people we talked to shared their feelings and emotions with us but at first guardedly and then they were more at ease with us.“We want to be liberated,” said an English-speaking 60s gentleman who had worked in the Government Service. His comment surprised us somewhat and we wondered whether he referred to the Armed Forces. “No” he told us, “from the boys who are terrorizing us. They have taken many of our boys and girls by force and we don’t know whether they are alive or not.”
We were strongly advised about asking questions so we gestured sympathetically towards him which he appreciated very much. Later we spoke to a teacher who said that they are satisfied with the security situation in Jaffna. “We are peaceful people and we want peace,” he said with a sigh.
A trader who spoke to us was more emphatic. “"We definitely do not want an Eelam. We just need to live. That’s our only aspiration. We however hope the war will end and peace will come back and prevail. This way, the economy will improve in our country," he said.When we spoke to a mother of two her concern was about the high cost of living. “The cost of living is high because the land routes are closed. We also hear that LTTE is putting up illegal taxes on traders. We don’t know the truth in this. But we hope the costs would come down."
"We do not have problems with the Army,” commented a three-wheel driver. “We know they are doing their jobs. We are happy with things but only problem is the cost of living. But we heard it is same in Colombo also."We had the opportunity to meet some services people. Among them one was Major General Mark, Commanding Officer, 51 Division who oversees several regions in the peninsula. He said: "We are having a tremendous support from the public. The great turnout of public to the Jaffna Mela showed this aspect. LTTE warned people not to come but people turned up in huge numbers. We have so many requests from public to organize such events in the future too,”
He added: “There had not been any real serious incidents in Jaffna in 2008. This is a very positive development. I can feel that the people have rejected the LTTE.” Major General Chandrasiri, he said was giving a wonderful support and he had personally organized these events. “We are extremely happy with his vision for Jaffna.”
We were reminded that there has been a Sri Lanka Naval Base at Karainagar for many decades and the naval personnel have total acceptance in the community. In times of drought which is quite common on the island off the west coast of the peninsula and connected by a causeway, the navy freely supplies water to the people.
On our return to Colombo we contacted a friend in England whose family has lived for generations in Jaffna. We raised many questions with him and shared our impressions on Jaffna and his people. He said that sadly for these people, meaning the Diaspora and the urban elite, who want war in Sri Lanka, it matters nothing for them because it is not their children but others’ that are affected. “Their own children are well educated and doing well either in Sri Lanka or in the west.”
He stressed: “The children of the poor have to die for the mistakes of both Tamil and Sinhala nationalists and people who make money out of the war. There is no point in criticizing the LTTE for this is war and all parties have to be condemned for allowing this to last so long.”
He added: “The LTTE should stop all civilian killings. The Sri Lanka Government should do the same. As for Pillayan he should be kicked out of his post if he wants to carry arms. He should also be taken to court for the atrocities he has committed.”
He said further: “At the end of the day they are all terrorists. If the Sinhala leaders can be bold enough to bring a real solution there will be no LTTE or Prabhakaran.”
Jaffna, despite the tension prevailing there is a wonderful place for one to make his home and raise his family. The people are warm, simple and friendly and made us feel very comfortable among them. We had the chance to visit Mirusuvil and was taken up by the beauty of the environment and the natural candour of the people. It was, we thought, village life at its best. If only the A9 was open and the LTTE is defeated, life in Jaffna will get back to what the people of Jaffna are known for and that is stable and settled life in this dry zone region of Sri Lanka.
It is a territory that is waiting to be liberated from its current ills and unfortunately it is only the Armed Forces that can ensure this and the Government of Sri Lanka must wake up to the reality that the Tamils are citizens of Sri Lanka too and have equal rights as the majority Sinhalese.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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