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Peace Quest

Jaffna begins to pick up the pieces

by Louise Baxter in Jaffna

' Jaffna’s refugee children

At a memorial day service in Jaffna last week, Prabhakaran made a speech stating that the LTTE would be seeking self-determination within a united Sri Lanka and would therefore not want to create a separate state of Tamil Eelam. This is undoubtedly a very welcome sign, particularly for the people of this part of the island, many of whom have only known a time of war.

"The grassroots of peace lie within the ordinary people, the common people", said Father Joseph Jayaselan of Jaffna at a Remembrance Day ceremony held on November 27th, in Jaffna. For me, the pain and suffering of these ordinary people was clearly visible. There were some 4,500 people buried in this graveyard, all of whom had lost their lives during the conflict. Here, there had been no burials since 1995, however despite the fact that some seven years had passed since these souls had been laid to rest, the grief was overwhelming. Some had even come as far as Trincomalee to visit the graves of their loved ones.

It was blatant for all to see that we were in a graveyard for the war-dead, by the rows upon rows of identical graves. Many families gathered around each grave and lay flowers or lit candles, to remember those whom they had lost and to add a small personal touch to an otherwise undistinguished grave lying amongst many thousands. A small plaque is engraved on each headstone, which gives the name and date when that person lost his life. For both staff and patients at the Tellipalai District Hospital in Jaffna, it is a daily battle against the elements, as many of the buildings have been bombed out and they have to make the best with what they have.

During my visit there, I encountered some very personal and touchings stories. One woman had lost her left leg and was visibly upset and traumatised by what had happened to her. She was unable to speak properly and was delusional. A different woman sat quietly on a bench staring vacantly into space and was quite unmoved and perhaps even unaware of our presence. One patient, although a farmer by profession, had been arrested and subsequently tortured. The consequences of that trauma had left him requiring a hospital stay and urgently needing medical treatment.

There are approximately 200 outpatients, attached to the Tellipalai District hospital. They all are victims of war and suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, as a consequence of what they have lived through and seen. The youngest of these patients is just ten years old.

Refugees

At a refugee village in Thelypalai, there are 200 families, all of whom have been displaced by the war. When the village was first erected some twelve years ago, there were 60 families there. However, since the road has opened up, a further 140 families have arrived.

The houses are makeshift and consist of tin and palm leaves, however they are immaculately kept. The facilities are poor and are by no means sufficient for that number of people. Nonetheless, the villagers have been able to set up their own montessori school for the youngest children and the older ones are able to use the local schools. Typically, the men of the house sell dried fish to make ends meet, whilst the women look after the children and keep the house.

For these people, the threat of being displaced again, is constantly hanging over them. Even now that peace looks more likely than it has ever been since the conflict began, the people of this refugee village simply have no idea what will happen to them or where they will go.

It is the poorest of the poor who have been most badly affected by this civil conflict. They are all fishermen who rely on the fruits of the sea to support their families. However, their livelihood has been seriously threatened for the last twenty years as it is the coastal areas, which have been mostly targetted by bombs. In one small village, nearly 4,500 people have lost their lives and many houses are now shells of the family homes that they used to be.

The Church

For this fishing village, the centre of the community is the Church. However, it was on a morning...in 1993, whilst 9 people knelt for early morning prayers that the Church was irreparably bombed. Those nine people lost their lives and the Church was almost completely destroyed. Most of the roof was rubble, as were the outside walls. However miraculously, the altar, a statue of Christ and the crucifix remained relatively untouched. The people found strength to build their church again and today it once again stands as the focal point of the community. Today, children are able to prepare songs and plays, which will be performed in a series of services coming up to Christmas.

"It is a time for reconciliation and understanding, forgiveness and acceptance", said the Bishop of Jaffna, in a message to the Southern people. He described the present situation in Jaffna and stated that since the guns have stopped, slowly but surely, previously displaced people are returning to the area. In turn, congregations are getting larger, schools are slowly re-opening and children are returning to their studies. Also, the library has been renovated and re-opened. However, he cautioned by stating that complete renovation and rebuilding will not happen overnight. Movement is still restricted in many areas given the heavy military presence. Nonetheless, slowly the healing process will come.

The Beauty

In parts, the landscape of Jaffna is simply breathtaking. On first entering the area, I could see a lush green landscape that stretched out as far as the horizon, which was mostly occupied by mango trees. Pale yellow butterflies fluttered gently through the air and blazing red wild flowers swayed in the wind.

Then quite quickly, the scenery changed from being a wild landscape, to that of a tropical setting with golden sandy beaches and coconut palms. We found ourselves in a vast area of wet land, which continued for miles and miles. Whilst sitting on a jetty, waiting for a ferry to take us to Nagadeepa in the northern part of the peninsula, we were able to enjoy the sound of waves lapping over pebbles and take in the blueness of the sky and the waters. Indeed, it was very hard to imagine that there had ever been a civil war here.

However, we were quickly reminded of the previous conflict that has lasted some twenty years, by the barbed wire that stretches out into the waters and disappears into the distance. The lush green landscape is so often interspersed with a derelict building that has been bombed out; the white and red stripes of faded paint are a small but painful reminder that building was once a place of worship for the Hindu people of the community.

A few lonely palm stems stand idle without their leaves and fruit, where once there was an entire plantation of trees bearing beautiful yellow king coconuts. The pale yellow butterflies that clip the tops of the bushes, as they fly through the vast areas of wild vegetation, are unaware that below them, dug deep into the surface of the ground, mines have been laid that now prevent the people of this land from returning to their rightful home.

We have all seen the pictures in the newspapers and on the television, however as I have recently discovered, it is very different seeing the grim reality of the situation with your very own eyes. Although time has passed, it seems that life stopped in Jaffna when the war began 20 years ago.

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Dec. 19 as a Day for Peace?

It is, indeed, heartening to see and hear sights and sounds of joy as the Feast Day of Christmas draws nearer. These signs are evermore pleasant because flickerings of peace are brightening our atmosphere.

As a humble follower of the Lord Jesus I awake myself to the realisation that lights and sweet sounds are of real value only so far as they are expressions of true light and true peace in our hearts. "Peace on earth to men of Goodwill" was the message of the angels to the Shepherds. Where genuine goodwill to ALL is held in our hearts and extended to ALL there the true spirit of the Love of Christmas has dawned. Where this is under-valued then all onward lights and sounds are a mockery and an insult to the Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

It is for this reason that our drawing nearer to Christmas moment by moment needs to warm us up with the Love of the Prince of Peace in no uncertain way. This Christ-like change will glisten in our faces and be seen by all to their own blessedness in turn. That is the duty by the Prince of Peace about which all of us who profess to be Christians have to be mindful.

Christmas this year calls for a special awakening of love in us because of the special need there is in our beloved Sri Lanka for the Peace of the Lord of Christmas to pulsate in the hearts of all. Then the Peace that God has prepared for us will burst out in staggering splendour upon our entire nation in a most miraculous way. Yes, indeed the age of miracles is not over. Christmas this year is going to be a more blessed day than ever before.

Our leaders are all bending themselves to be agents of peace. They are of different races, different faiths and different political affiliations. Some of these can be most conflicting and even hostile. That is why we look beyond Thimpu, Thailand and Oslo and other such human efforts and look to God. God in Jesus will heal where there are hurts, reconcile where there are conflicts, make us to forgive from the very core of our hearts the wrongs that we have suffered, and drive away from us the spirit of revenge where we have been genuinely wronged, and let Jesus handle it all for us in Sri Lanka. Jesus loves us all without any distinction of race, religion, politics etc. He was born for all, He died for all and He lives for all. He loves all without any distinction whatsoever.

As we keep the festivities of this Lord Jesus He challenges us with His call to us, "This have I done for you; what have you done for me". That is the call of Christmas that tests our fidelity to the Lord of Christmas. Forgiving Love is the keynote of Christmas and the foundation of all reconciliation. Forgiveness begins from person to person, group to group and then it will embrace our whole nation. That alone is the peace that will suffice.

As a practical expression of our opening ourselves to peace in the nation, indeed peace in the whole world, may I as a humble servant of Jesus suggest that we observe a National Holiday that comes close to Christmas (19th December) as a Day of Devotion to usher peace upon all people and to observe this Day for Peace. Other faiths, I have no doubt, their own devotion and those can add to the total strength of the entire nation's unquenchable quest for peace. As a practical preparation for this, I hope people will talk about it among themselves and discover what to do and how to do it.

As practical call for the observance of this day is it too much to ask that all churches and places of religion ring their bells as a call to the special devotion of the day, at 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. We wake up with thoughts of peace reaching in us and hear this call break upon us throughout the day each time bells ring, and close that day with our devotion having got into the very blood stream of our nation.

We who are Christians will then be enabled to observe Christmas in a manner worthy of the Lord of Christmas and share with our nation the highest blessings of Christmas.

May we this year observe Christmas very specially praying with St. Francis of Assisi,

Lord, make me an instrument
of Thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

* *

O divine Master, grant that
I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console
Not so much to be understood as
To understand; not so much to be
Loved as to love:
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned;
It is in dying, that we awaken
to eternal life.

and singing with our little children their Song.

" Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wondrous Compassion & Purity;
O, Thou Saviour Divine, all
my nature refine;
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me

Bishop Swithin Fernando

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Idea Forum : Good homes as a basis for harmony

May I avail of this opportunity to convey my humblest sincere congratulations on your masterly, candid, timely, and praiseworthy editorials under the striking captions, "Pursue peace relentlessly", and "Act now to promote peace", in your esteemed journal's issues of 29th and 30th November, 2002, respectively.

Meanwhile, I had the privilege and pleasure of reading through a fine, valuable, timely letter, under the caption, "Seek co-operation of opposition", by Squadron Leader, G. Raman (Retd. IAF), that appeared along with a couple of useful, worthy letters in the "Idea-Forum" of the "Peace-Quest" page of 30th November, 2002, that are commendable and welcome at this juncture of need, in our beloved country. - Well said, sirs! - thank you!

Further to my letter, under the caption "Let us start anew" - (Peace Quest of 19.10.2002), I would like to stress here, that let us not miss the correct, or right boat now and cry later, stranded and helpless from one shore to the other shore. Most certainly we got to move, or act fast on this delicate, vital, national issue of our loveable motherland.

There should be a radical change of action straightaway, without any more postponement, as the innocent helpless people have gone through enough, tough hardships due to the war, and ethnic conflict, that everybody is aware of. I do with to quote, a Chinese saying here on peace thoughts - before I pen further:

"If there be righteousness in the heart,

There will be beauty in the character;

If there is beauty in the character,

There will be harmony in the home;

If there is harmony in the home,

There will be order in the nation;

When there is order in each nation,

There will be peace in the world!"

We got to start with a little child. In fact, a child should be taught the best of living in society or community, through kindness, love, co-operative and understanding of humanity and compassionate feelings, etc, from the time of tender age of childhood itself.

The parents, elders, teachers and religious should place a major national role to solve this sad situation by guiding them properly in order to live together united in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. Togetherness is the only right solution, and the opportunity we had gained today, shouldn't be missed and we shouldn't repent later on, for ever.

The alertness and enthusiasm combined would contribute greatly to all our future success and also, we should have right thinking, positive thoughts, love, goodwill, cordiality wishes and pure, inner human feelings for all mankind, indeed. It is the right opportune moment to join and co-operate as it is undoubtedly a worthy national cause for all the citizens of our country. The pace should go well together, with democratic principles always and everyone must respectfully facilitate the peace process, with absolute mutual trust, confidence and above all, the great human understanding of one another, in the first instance.

This is of course, a national issue, that need to be solved or straightened, once and for all, at the earliest opportunity in the best interest of our people and country at large.

Let me wind up here, to quote - with the celebrated lines of Martin Luther King (Jr) who had very clearly enlightened on this delicate, vital issue of the people, concerning "peace and harmony", to reach home: "One day, we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but, that it is a means, by which we arrive at that goal, we must pursue peaceful ends, through peaceful means."

S. T. Arasu, Dehiwela

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Youth education, indiscipline and peace

The kind of education which is so vital and which we have now will largely determine our status or of the future generations in adult life.

Education should be imparted evenly and should be peace oriented.

The availability of education regarding the peace process is so vital to our country's progress.

At homes where indiscipline prevails parents most often face problems as to how they could discipline their children which is so important in maintaining peace at home.

Their childrens behaviour or their behaviour could be so vital for peace in their homes. That is why conflict resolution and arriving at peace through dialogue at national level could be an educative process as well as an example to the family in General and individually. According to a Professor of the Colombo University, the Government's greatest strength is the will of the majority which include the Sinhalese and other ethnic minorities for peace.

The people are sick of the war that prevailed and not only those of the North and East but also those of the South belonging to every ethnic group.

What is most sought after by indisciplined youth be they of the North or the South is their clamour for equal rights. Our Government has taken certain measures to further promote and protect the human rights of all citizens. These include,

(1) Cessation of hostilities by the Government forces in response to the ceasefire of Tamil Tigers which was mutually negotiated

(2) With the facilitation of Norwegian government the revival of the peace process

(3) Sending enhanced humanitarian facilities to those of the North and East.

(4) Facilitation of the free movement of essential goods as well as people all over the island.

(5) Concerning pre and post election violence a committee has been appointed for its investigation.

(6) Opening of the A-9 Jaffna-Kandy road.

(7) Expediting the judicial process in respect of detainees held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

(This step has been a much controversial issue where human rights are concerned and riots have been reported at such places where such detainees are held. They complaint of the slow legal process where the detainees have not been prosecuted in a court for a long period of time).

(8) Reviewing legislation concerning criminal defamation

Education could suppress indiscipline thus making a student peace abiding and reasonable.

A purposeful education would make a man or woman non violent. It is the general acceptance that education could bridge the status gap at the same time making peace to prevail.

An indisciplined youth without peace within himself is a liability to his or her family, is a threat to him or herself, then a threat to the society to which he or she belongs and then to the country in general.

The bitterness and distrust on both sides and the scepticism of Tamil political groups due to the repeated betrayals of Sri Lankan governments both with respect to the delivery on constitutional agreements and in the few instances where this was done with respect to the actual implementation of these arrangements in the past forty years hardly creates an atmosphere conducive to a constitutional compromise which must form a major part of a political solution.

Recognising a Tamil nation, a traditional Tamil homeland, its territorial integrity and its right to self determination could certainly imply the recognition of an independent Tamil sovereign nation state. However many of the terms have no fixed legal meaning and may be defined in such a way that the essence of these concepts is retained within the framework of a united country.

Miran Perera , Kandy

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Peace debate

To sustain the current debate on the peace process we invite readers to send in their views, comments and contributions of any other kind which would be of relevance to the peace effort for consideration for publication on this page. Contributions which should not exceed 1,200 words should be addressed to:

The Editor,
'Peace Quest',
c/o, 'Daily News',
ANCL,
Colombo 10.

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