Crimes Against Conscience

By Chandi Sinnathurai

(March 04, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) In 1948, the American historian and jurist Raphael Lemkin (of Polish-Jewish extraction), felt strongly that new kinds of international law was essential, to restrain or prevent genocide. Lemkin in 1944 coined the term genocide - he viewed genocide, like homicide, is a recurring phenomenon, in the way in which human groups treat each other.

Loss of any one society and culture through genocide, Lemkin believed, is a loss to all humanity. The methods and techniques and historical backgrounds of Genocide could be categorised as follows: physical, biological and cultural. The Enlightenment tragically ended in the horror of Holocaust. Furthermore, it did not deter humans to engage in future genocides. The ending of the 20th century was marred with a dialogue of the dead: Genocides of Cambodia, the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Not forgetting the genocide of both the indigenous Palestinians and the Eelam Tamils.

As the annihilation of the Tamils are progressing undeterred under the demented slogan of "War Against Terror" the world powers are continuing to make noises like "a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal". Vats of ink are spilled, inch columns are filled with opinions and expositions on the war on Tamils. But sadly, the Sri Lankan state is yet to see the folly of mass killings unarmed, helpless, Tamil civilians.

The State propaganda machine is churning out half-truths and hard-boiled lies. They have not captured a single top-level Tiger. All what they have so far done is to "capture" empty territory, either a Tiger hide out here, or a bunker there, only after the Tigers have retreated. The recent Tiger air raid must have dented the propaganda. That being said, Tigers have indeed incurred great loss - both in terms of territory and cadres. But no one is in the know, as to what is happening in the deep jungles. The questions is can the Sri Lankan Forces handle jungle warfare?

A London-based Tamil scholar has rightly discerned that the international community is "waiting" while making some noises to pacify the Tamil diaspora. Why? They are waiting for the Tamil resistance to be completely neutralised by the Sinhala Armed Forces. Only then will they be willing to engage in so-called humanitarian intervention. Not just for conflict resolution, the Tamil scholar points out, but certainly for conflict transformation, he cryptically underscores.

It is overwhelmingly true that the Powers know the truth of what is really happening to the Tamils. The "Human shield" argument has subsided. The Government had no concrete evidence that the Tigers are engaged in such a despicable act. However, the world governments are beginning to be embarrassed by their inaction while Tamils are being decimated.

There are some Western scholars who are beginning to wonder as to why Tamils have become suicidal. It is, one might suggest, when caught in a towering inferno, what are you expected to do? But the counter argument is: What is the rationale of self-immolation in Western capitals? Then again, it is no doubt an extreme, and grotesque way of protesting - is it to prick the conscience of the West or is it the dialogue of desperation?

In any event, the writing is on the wall for all the communities in Sri Lanka. It is time to wage not war, but honourable peace for all.

And it is urgent. -Sri Lanka Guardian