What Genocide? Are you insane or opportunistic?
Ven. Basnagoda Rahula
Professor Steve Baker is a close friend of mine. He teaches in the
department of psychology, but we often meet each other between classes
because both of our departments, mine being English, are located in the
same building.
Whenever we meet, we greet each other warmly and sometimes stop for a
few words. I would ask him about the recession in America or President
Obama’s stimulus package while he would mostly inquire about the present
developments in Sri Lanka.
When he saw me last Friday, he appeared to be somewhat reluctant but
eventually put his question into words. “What are they writing about?”
he asked me with growing impatience, referring to a few reports he had
read online about Sri Lanka. “What are they talking about? Genocide and
concentration camps?”
Well, I knew Steve was impatient not about an imaginary Nazi era in
Sri Lanka but about ‘the absolute nonsense’ those writers were writing
about. However every reader is not a Steve. Some are habitually prone to
accept reports as true, particularly when such reports are crafted with
rhetorical tactics. Others are naturally inclined to ally with a writer
when they read about ethnic discrimination.
False Reports
Thus, false reports often create ghastly illusions which not only
haunt the reader but also cause unnecessary adverse effects. Exposure of
the truth, then, is a necessity in order to expel illusions and to bring
benefits and happiness to all. Of course, justification of war is not my
purpose in this article, but blatant misinterpretations of the present
humanistic mission in Sri Lanka demands a truthful explanation, so I,
too, should write.
As some of you are already aware, ‘genocide’ is a repeated word used
by some to interpret the ongoing war in Sri Lanka against terrorism.
However, to repeat what impartial writers have already stated, this
interpretation is nothing other than a vicious untruth created by the
enemies of piece in a disgraceful and cowardly effort to discredit Sri
Lanka, and by doing so, to promote terrorism in that country.
Liberation Process
I would say that those who claim genocide to exist in the present
liberation process in Sri Lanka are not ignorant people. Instead, they
are applying survival strategies, intentionally conspiring to support
such strategists, or maintaining strong links with such people.
To be simple and brief to the best of my honesty, no genocide is
taking place in Sri Lanka in her endeavour to fully liberate the
country. What the civilians receive is love, care, and companionate
attention from the soldiers, officers, and government workers.
Tears flew into my eyes as I continued to gaze on the photos of the
soldiers who were helping Tamil civilians in war-torn areas. One is
carrying an elderly disabled woman; another, along with several medical
personnel, is providing medial support to a sick young lady; one more is
pouring bottled water into a thirsty child’s mouth while another child
next to is keeping her mouth open for her turn.
In the kitchen, a large number of male and female soldiers and other
workers are cooking and busily providing hot meals for the displaced
civilians who have managed to reach the cleared areas. What an admirable
feat the soldiers and their staff are performing!
Tamil civilians
I am fully convinced that the kind support provided to Tamil
civilians by the soldiers, officers, and the Government in general is
not just physical or verbal; instead, it is deep-rooted in their hearts.
They help because they know they should help.
When it comes to civilians’ welfare, Sri Lanka is overwhelmingly
humanistic, and this noble quality is markedly visible from the highest
order of the country. In helping innocent civilians, Sri Lankan
authorities never think of racial discrimination.
Recently, I have had conversations with the Navy Commander Wasantha
Karannagoda and Vanni commander Jagath Jayasuriya, and several high
ranking Army offices. I was fascinated by their amazingly soft hearts.
I am also aware of the humanistic values of the Army and Air Force
commanders. These are the people of broad attitudes and strong moral
principles. Of course, they are fearless fighters, but at the same time,
they are the mothers and fathers of the innocent.
I would unhesitantly claim that a similar frame of mind generally
exists among Army, Navy, and Air Force officers and soldiers of all
ranks. During my visits to Sri Lanka, I have visited a few Army camps
and given talks. I was mesmerized by the solders’ understanding about
and respect for human rights.
Moral Values
Kindness to the innocent is a pervasive characteristic among all in
Sri Lanka’s triple forces. Even if, let’s say, one in a hundred thinks
differently, he or she has no power, and all have to melt with the
invincible moral and ethical values in the system. In brief, Sri Lankan
forces do not accommodate - I mean they neither think about nor promote
evil practices against civilians.
Then, what are the so-called concentration camps some have mentioned?
Again these writers are intentionally distorting the government’s noble
effort to rehabilitate the displaced civilians.
For some, the distortion means to make a desperate effort for
survival; for others, it is to provide the background support for those
who make such efforts; still, for a few, it is to highlight themselves
by creating sensational news reports. The plain truth is that they all
know very well that Sri Lanka does not establish centres to torture
civilians.
Rehabilitation Process
Such being the truth, if any individuals or organizations claim that
those civilians should be allowed to go back to their villages without
completing the rehabilitation process, they should be aware that they
are making an irrational claim. Seemingly, they expect terrorist
problems to persist in Sri Lanka.
One reporter has recently mentioned about barbed wires around such
rehabilitation centers, alluding to Nazi concentration camps. One needs
to understand that the objective of writing to media is not to create
false impressions but to inform the reader in the most unbiased and
truthful way.
News Reports
One could easily defend one’s own news reports. “It is not my words,
not my view. I’m just quoting what others say,” a writer would claim.
However, the tone of the report is obvious to the careful reader. Words,
phrases, subordinated ideas, and unstated information all speak volumes
of the writer’s intention. A noble reporter is the one who integrates a
wholesome intention into a report.
If you have any doubts about Sri Lanka’s sincerity in her effort to
help the displaced civilians in Vanni, here is a sure way to test your
doubts: visit Jaffna and talk to the civilians who will tell you how
kind and caring Sri Lanka is to them.
Those who are currently arriving at cleared areas will also enjoy the
same advantages, same rights, same privileges - all provided with kind
feelings.
(The writer is Associate Professor of English at Montgomery College
in Texas, USA. He is also a published author.) |