1. MANNAR
A GLIMPSE

2. THIS REPORT MOSTLY BASED ON OUR OWN OBSERVATIONS
A NOTE
THIS REPORT MOSTLY BASED ON OUR OWN OBSERVATIONS
WE COULD NOT GET INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE BECAUSE THEY SEEMED AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT WAR TIME AND OTHER RELATED ISSUES

3. A GLIMPSE ABOUT MANNAR IT IS AN ISLAND IN NORTH-WEST OF SRI LANKA
MOST OF PEOPLE LIVE THERE ARE TAMIL (ONE OF TAMIL AREA IN SRI LANKA)
MOST OF THEM ARE CATHOLIC (CHRISTIAN)

4. WAR CONDITION
MANNAR CONSISTS OF 5 DIVISIONS, 3 OF WHICH WERE AFFECTED BY THE WAR (THE PEOPLE DISPLACED)
FORMER BISHOP SUPPORT GOVERNMENT
SOME PRIESTS SUPORT LTTE
VATICAN WELCOMED THE PRESIDENT OF SRI LANKA AND DIDN’T ASK TO STOP THE WAR

5. PRESENT CONDITION NO WAR, NO GUN SHOT THE PEOPLE ARE RESETTLING
NGOs HELP THE PEOPLE TO RESETTLE
GOVERNMENT DIDNT GIVE ANYTHING TO RESETTLE THE PEOPLE, BUT THEY GIVE RULES TO NGOs AND GET MONEY FROM THEM

6. LEGACIES OF THE WAR THAT HINDER THE ATTAINMENT OF THE PEACEFUL LIVING OF THE PEOPLE IN MANNAR
MILITARIZATION - THE PRESENCE OF ARMED MILITARY MEN AND THEIR “MUSHROOM” MILITARY CAMPS IN ALMOST EVERY CORNER OF THE SAID DISTRICT AS THE PART OF THE CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF EMERGENCY LAW AND ANTI-TEROTISM LAW
UNSETTLED INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLES (IDP’s)
MASS DISAPPEREANCES ISSUE
LAND DISPUTE (E.G. LAND GRABBING)
IDLE RESPONSE OF THE GOVERNMENT ON MANY UNSOLVED ISSUES (E.G. CONCERNING HUMAN RIGHTS)

7. Continuation…
“THE SINHALESE GOVERNMENT WINS AND SO THE MARGINALITATION OF TAMILS WILL WORSEN” AS PERCEIVED BY SOME CONSTITUENTS. SOME PERCEIVES THAT THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT IS THE GOVERNMENT SOLELY OF THE SINHALESE PEOPLE
EXTREME UNEMPLOYMENT
CLEANLINESS AND HEALTH CARE ISSUES
THE EXTREME ISOLATION OF THE PLACE AS A RESULT OF HIGHLY CENTRALIZED FORM OF GOVERNMENT

8. Continuation…
VERY SLOW RESTORATION AND REBUILDING OF THE PUBLIC FACILITIES DEVASTATED BY THE WAR (E.G. VERY POOR ROAD SYSTEM, ELECTRIC FACILITIES, ETC) THAT WILL HELP IN ADVANCING THE PROGRESS OF THE WELL BEING OF THE DISTRICT AND ITS CONSTITUENTS
EXTREME POVERTY – “BELOW POVERTY LINE” (E.G. EXISTENCE OF MANY BEGGARS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE)

9. PROBLEM LAND DISPUTE: RELIGION ISSUE DAILY LIFE
HINDU AND MUSLIM COME, TAKE PUBLIC PLACE TO BUILD THEIR PRAYER PLACE
GOVERNMENT GIVE LANDS TO CHINESSE
RELIGION ISSUE
GOVERNMENT PUT BUDDHA STATUES AND TEMPLES EVERYWHERE THEY WANT AND OPEN BUDDHIST SCHOOL
DAILY LIFE
INDIA AND MIGRANT FISHERMEN COME TO MANNAR AND FISHING IN MANNAR AREA, AND GOVERNMENT DOES NOTHING

10. FEAR TAMIL PEOPLE WILL BE MORE MARGINALIZED
IF PRESENT CONDITION CONTINUES, THERE WILL BE WAR AGAIN

11. OTHER CONDITION DISAPPEARED PEOPLE
THE 20TH COMMEMORATION OF THE DISAPPEARED PEOPLEA ARE THE FIRST TIME TAMIL INVITED
THEY REALIZE THAT SINHALA PEOPLE ALSO LOST THEIR FAMILY
THEY BELIEVE THAT THEIR FAMILY STILL ALIVE
THERE ARE 68 REPORTED CASES IN MANNAR

12. OTHER CONDITION DISAPPEARED PEOPLE
FOLLOW UPS
MEET THE PRESIDENT
HOLD A COMEMMORATION: 10TH DECEMBER (HUMAN RIGHTS DAY)
WEB PAGE

13. WHAT WE CAN SAY
THIS POST-WAR PERIOD IN MANNAR IS A VERY TIMELY FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS TO DO MAXIMIZE THEIR EFFORTS IN TOTALLY MINIMIZING (IF NOT ERADICATING) THE CONFLICT
THEY SHOULD PROVIDE A PLACE FOR TRUTH AND MERCY; WHERE CONCERN FOR EXPOSING WHAT HAPPENED AND LETTING GO IN FAVOR OF A RENEWED RELATIONSHIP AND EMBRACED.
THEY SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO GIVE TIME AND PLACE TO PEACE AND JUSTICE, WHERE REDRESSING THE WRONG IS HELD TOGETHER WITH THE VISION OF A COMMON, CONNECTED FUTURE.

14. OTHER CHURCH CONTRIBUTION
THE CHURCH IS HAVING A PROGRAM FOR THE DISABLED PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LEGS AND HAND, AND ALSO THE WIDOWS WHO LOST THEIR HUSBAND DURING THE WAR.
THEY ARE ALSO TAKING PART IN HUMAN RIGHT AND SO FAR 4 PRIEST HAVE BEEN KILLED AND 2 ARE MISSING.

15. OTHER YMCA OF MANNAR CONSIST OF 20 YOUTH MEMBERS YOUTH PROGRAMS: SPORT
PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN: STUDY IN YMCA EVERY MONDAY-FRIDAY ( )