DIVIDED COUNTRIES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_kysrN5Osc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5O1JAfRXew  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1UnhPq8Pio DIVIDED

CONFLICT IN MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETIES: CASE STUDY 1: Sri Lanka CASE STUDY 2: N Ireland

Why do people of different races and religions disagree? Not allowed to keep traditional way of life; forced to adopt different set of customs and traditions Language and education policies which do not consider their interests Law has been unfair to them Fight for control of power Disagreement on how the country should be ruled Job opportunities or economic resources

How do people resolve these disagreements? Tolerance Peaceful protest & marches Hunger strikes Taking up arms Diplomatic negotiations to work out a peace settlement

Conflict in Multi-ethnic Sri Lanka

First, The scenic side of Sri Lanka…

How was Sri Lanka like few years ago?

Some parts in Colombo are marred by …

Tamil woman suicide bomber killed 23, wounded 60 Friday 05, July 1996 [Source : http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/parade/nm58/suicide.htm]

SRI LANKA The setting for a violatile situation

SRI LANKANS 3 major races SINHALESE TAMILS MOORS Map 2000 SRI LANKANS 3 major races SINHALESE TAMILS MOORS

SINHALESE SPEAK SINHALA; BUDDHISTS TAMILS SPEAK TAMIL; HINDUS Sri Lankan Tamils Descendants of Tamils who have been living in Sri Lanka for centuries Indian Tamils Descendants of tea plantation workers brought in from India by the British MOORS MUSLIMS Descendants of Arab or Indian Muslim traders

SRI LANKA 1798 to 1948 4 Feb 1948 22 May 1972 British Colony Gained independence Known as Ceylon 22 May 1972 Officially became known as the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

SRI LANKA But why did conflict arise?

Resettlement of Population SRI LANKA Racial Differences Sinhalese vs Tamils Conflicts over Citizenship rights Language policy University Admission Resettlement of Population

Political decisions that led to conflict …

Citizenship rights 1948: Indian Tamils became stateless due to amendment in citizenship clauses Granted citizenship only to those who were either born in SL or those whose forefathers were born there. 1964: Indian Tamils who were stateless received help from India to become citizens of India again

In 2003, SL passed the Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Indian Origin Bill. Citizenship given to any person of Indian origin who had permanently lived in SL since 1964 or was descended from someone who had permanently stayed in SL since that date.

‘Sinhala only’ policy Under the British rule, the minority English-educated Tamils were able to occupy some fo the most powerful jobs in the government service. Eight years after independence, in 1956, Sinhala was declared as the country’s official language. Sinhala, not English, was to be used as administrative language

impact Peaceful demonstration against the Official language Act took place. Supporters of the Sinhala language disrupted the demonstration. Rioting occurred and hundreds died. - What action did the government do to appease the situation?

July 1958 Pact signed which made Tamil the language of national minority and used for administrative purposes in areas where there were Tamils Consequence protests from Sinhalese which resulted in withdrawal of pact in 1958 Violence escalated

In1978 Tamil declared national language in Sri Lankan Constitution and used mainly for administration in northern and eastern parts of the country as well as an official language. English used as medium of communication amongst the different groups.

University admission Before 1970 Based on merit Medium of instruction in exams: English Sinhalese dissatisfied that there were almost as many Tamils as Sinhalese in the university medical and engineering courses Did not reflect population proportion in the country

After 1970, the government introduced new university admission criteria. Measures taken to lessen Tamil students in university – what are these measures? Tamils had to score higher marks than the Sinhalese students to enter the same courses in university. A fixed no. of places reserved for Sinhalese Consequence: significant fall in percentage of Tamil students as opposed to rise of Sinhalese students

Resettling of Sinhalese Indian Tamils lived in highland districts Sri Lankan Tamils located mainly in Jaffna & Batticaloa Policy in 1950 to resettle poor Sinhalese peasants from densely populated central and southwestern parts to the Tamil-majority areas

Population Resettlement Consequence: Tamils who felt that the Sinhalese were ‘intruders in their territories’- Sinhalese peasants Buddhist monks Soldiers who were mainly Sinhalese Whole villages were driven out by the Sri Lankan army to be occupied by Sinhalese settlers The new settlers were also provided protection by the army

impact Unhappiness amongst Tamils felt marginalized and rejected by the large-scale government resettlement schemes into these traditional areas of Tamils

Consequences of conflict..

consequences Political Economic Social

Political consequences of the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict

Tamils embarked on armed conflict Peaceful demands made initially 1950: Federal party requested for recognition of federation of Tamil areas in the country. 1976: Tamil United Liberation Front formed to fight for independent state for the Tamils Separate state to be known as Tamil Eelam

Rejection by government to the demands In 1976, the militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or Tamil Tigers was formed to pressure the government to give in to their demands Sinhalese also showed hostility towards Tamils through violence. Between 1981-1983, anti-Tamil riots broke out

During the 1983 riots, 13 Sinhalese soldiers were killed by the Tamil Tigers The riots sparked a long armed conflict between government forces and Tamil Tigers in the struggle for self rule in the north and east of the country. The internal war has been on-going for 20 years, and cost more than 60,000 lives.

Intervention from India Initially played the role of mediator in response to 1983 riots Mediator: neutral party who acts as peacemaker to resolve conflicts However, peace talks between Sinhalese and Tamils (initiated by India) FAILED In June 1987, Indian government decided to send food supplies and petroleum to help the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka

Map of Sri Lanka

BUT Sri Lankan navy turned them away Indian Air Force decided to send their supplies through air, resulting in violation of Sri Lankan airspace

July 1987: to resolve conflict with India over the abovementioned incident, peace accord was signed. It included: Ceasefire between Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan forces Tamil Tigers to surrender all their arms to Indian peacekeeping troops Merging of northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka where Tamils are dominant group

Impact of India’s intervention: Sri Lanka lost the sovereignty to govern itself. People lose confidence in government More instability in country Hostility and distrust among people

Peacekeeping: successful? NO! Why? Tamil Tigers failed to abide to the agreement to surrender their weapons Indian troops took over Tamil-dominated Jaffna Confrontations are between Indian troops and Tamil Tigers from then onwards

Economic consequences of the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict

Unemployment Riots of July 1983 left many factory workers, plantation and self-employed jobless E.g. destroying their workplaces by vandalism or burning them down crime rate in the country rose as a large number of Sinhalese took part in vandalism, looting and burning of their places of work occurred ,

Investment loss from other countries Investments play a vital role in the economic growth of Sri Lanka However, riots in the country led to fall in investments due to the instability

Fall in tourism Tourism is another major component of the economy in Sri Lanka Riots=>loss of jobs=> fall of economy Fall in tourism which resulted in loss of jobs and decline in the economy

Social consequences of the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict

Sri Lankan Tamils driven out of their homeland Large-scale displacement of Tamils (in July 1983, many Tamils fled to Tamil Nadu) In 1990s, High Security Zones (HSZ) were set up by Sri Lankan army to contain LTTE

In 1995, many Tamils fled their homes when the Sri Lankan army moved into Jaffna to take on the LTTE. Today, many Tamils still live in overcrowded conditions in refugee camps or with relatives and friends

2005 Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadingamar, a Tamil, was assassinated 2005 Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadingamar, a Tamil, was assassinated. His campaign against a separate Tamil state angered LTTE, a setback to peace A string of attacks ensued Tamil Tigers vowed to use available resources to obtain independence Peace talks to commence in 2006

Women and children massacred by LTTE in Kotiyagala in Monaragala District in Sri Lanka, Dec 1995

Is peace possible? 2002 Peace talks on ceasefire pact LTTE dissatisfied First Suicide bomb since 2001 Devastation was large - 30,000 Foreign aid not given to both

Was the formation of the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) a help or hindrance to the Tamil cause?