Thursday 19 July 2012
Photos of Sri Lanka history
Videos of Sri Lanka
Tamils flee Sri Lanka conflict
Roots of Sri Lanka conflict
Silent Tsunami- Sri Lanka
People and power- Sri Lanka: War Crimes
2010-2012
2010 (Rajapaksa re-elected)
January - Incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa wins presidential election by a big margin but the outcome is rejected by his main rival Gen Sarath Fonseka.
February - Gen Fonseka is arrested on corruption charges, and jailed for 30 months by a military court in September. He is convicted of further charges in November 2011 and sentenced to another three years in jail. President Rajapaksa dissolves parliament, clearing way for elections in April. European Union suspends Sri Lanka's preferential trade status because of concerns over its human rights record.
April - President Rajapaksa's ruling coalition wins landslide victory in parliamentary elections.
September - Parliament approves a constitutional change allowing President Rajapaksa to seek unlimited number of terms.
2011 (Human rights’ concerns)
April - UN says both sides in the Sri Lankan civil war committed atrocities against civilians and calls for an international investigation into possible war crimes. Sri Lanka says the report is biased.
July - Sri Lanka's largest ethnic Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance - wins two-thirds of local councils in the former war zone in the north and east.
August - President Rajapaksa says his government will allow the expiry of state emergency laws which have been in place for most of the past 40 years. However, critics say that the introduction of new legislation that allows the detention of people suspected of terror offences without charge continues the state of emergency in a new guise.
September - Parliament approves law allowing government to take over 37 businesses. Critics say they will be seized from opponents to reward supporters.
2012
January - 160 Islamic clerics expelled for violating visa regulations.
March - UN Human Rights Council adopts a resolution urging Sri Lanka to investigate war crimes allegedly committed during the final phase of the decades-long conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels. Sri Lanka says that the move usurps its sovereignty.
May - President Rajapaksa orders the release of former opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka from jail on the third anniversary of the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers. Gen Fonseka led the victorious campaign in 2009 as army chief .
January - Incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa wins presidential election by a big margin but the outcome is rejected by his main rival Gen Sarath Fonseka.
February - Gen Fonseka is arrested on corruption charges, and jailed for 30 months by a military court in September. He is convicted of further charges in November 2011 and sentenced to another three years in jail. President Rajapaksa dissolves parliament, clearing way for elections in April. European Union suspends Sri Lanka's preferential trade status because of concerns over its human rights record.
April - President Rajapaksa's ruling coalition wins landslide victory in parliamentary elections.
September - Parliament approves a constitutional change allowing President Rajapaksa to seek unlimited number of terms.
2011 (Human rights’ concerns)
April - UN says both sides in the Sri Lankan civil war committed atrocities against civilians and calls for an international investigation into possible war crimes. Sri Lanka says the report is biased.
July - Sri Lanka's largest ethnic Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance - wins two-thirds of local councils in the former war zone in the north and east.
August - President Rajapaksa says his government will allow the expiry of state emergency laws which have been in place for most of the past 40 years. However, critics say that the introduction of new legislation that allows the detention of people suspected of terror offences without charge continues the state of emergency in a new guise.
September - Parliament approves law allowing government to take over 37 businesses. Critics say they will be seized from opponents to reward supporters.
2012
January - 160 Islamic clerics expelled for violating visa regulations.
March - UN Human Rights Council adopts a resolution urging Sri Lanka to investigate war crimes allegedly committed during the final phase of the decades-long conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels. Sri Lanka says that the move usurps its sovereignty.
May - President Rajapaksa orders the release of former opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka from jail on the third anniversary of the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers. Gen Fonseka led the victorious campaign in 2009 as army chief .
2008-2009
2008
January - Government pulls out of 2002 ceasefire agreement, launches massive offensive.
March - International panel, invited by the government to monitor investigations into alleged human rights abuses, announces that it is leaving the country. Panel member Sir Nigel Rodley says the authorities were hindering its work. Government rejects the criticism.
July - Sri Lankan military says it has captured the important Tamil Tiger naval base of Vidattaltivu in the north.
October - Suicide bombing blamed by government on Tamil Tigers kills 27 people, including a former general, in the town of Anuradhpura.
December - Sri Lankan troops and Tamil rebels claim to have inflicted heavy casualties on each other in fierce fighting in the north.
2009 (Tamil tigers defeated)
January - Government troops capture the northern town of Kilinochchi, held for ten years by the Tamil Tigers as their administrative headquarters. President Mahinda Rajapakse calls it an unparalleled victory and urges the rebels to surrender.
February - International concern over the humanitarian situation of thousands of civilians trapped in the battle zone prompts calls for a temporary cease-fire. This is rejected by the government, which says it is on the verge of destroying the Tamil Tigers, but it offers an amnesty to rebels if they surrender. Tamil Tiger planes conduct suicide raids against Colombo.
March - Former rebel leader Karuna is sworn in as minister of national integration and reconciliation. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay accuses both sides of war crimes. The government rejects conditions attached to an IMF emergency loan worth $1.9 billion, denies US pressure causing delay to agreement.
May - Government declares Tamil Tigers defeated after army forces overrun last patch of rebel-held territory in the northeast. Military says rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed in the fighting. Tamil Tiger statement says the group will lay down its arms.
August - New Tamil Tiger leader Selvarasa Pathmanathan captured overseas by Sri Lankan authorities. First post-war local elections in north. Governing coalition wins in Jaffna but in Vavuniya voters back candidates who supported Tamil Tigers.
October - Government announces early presidential and parliamentary elections.
November - Opposition parties form alliance to fight elections. The new alliance includes Muslim and Tamil parties and is led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Government says 100,000 refugees released from camps.
January - Government pulls out of 2002 ceasefire agreement, launches massive offensive.
March - International panel, invited by the government to monitor investigations into alleged human rights abuses, announces that it is leaving the country. Panel member Sir Nigel Rodley says the authorities were hindering its work. Government rejects the criticism.
July - Sri Lankan military says it has captured the important Tamil Tiger naval base of Vidattaltivu in the north.
October - Suicide bombing blamed by government on Tamil Tigers kills 27 people, including a former general, in the town of Anuradhpura.
December - Sri Lankan troops and Tamil rebels claim to have inflicted heavy casualties on each other in fierce fighting in the north.
2009 (Tamil tigers defeated)
January - Government troops capture the northern town of Kilinochchi, held for ten years by the Tamil Tigers as their administrative headquarters. President Mahinda Rajapakse calls it an unparalleled victory and urges the rebels to surrender.
February - International concern over the humanitarian situation of thousands of civilians trapped in the battle zone prompts calls for a temporary cease-fire. This is rejected by the government, which says it is on the verge of destroying the Tamil Tigers, but it offers an amnesty to rebels if they surrender. Tamil Tiger planes conduct suicide raids against Colombo.
March - Former rebel leader Karuna is sworn in as minister of national integration and reconciliation. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay accuses both sides of war crimes. The government rejects conditions attached to an IMF emergency loan worth $1.9 billion, denies US pressure causing delay to agreement.
May - Government declares Tamil Tigers defeated after army forces overrun last patch of rebel-held territory in the northeast. Military says rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed in the fighting. Tamil Tiger statement says the group will lay down its arms.
August - New Tamil Tiger leader Selvarasa Pathmanathan captured overseas by Sri Lankan authorities. First post-war local elections in north. Governing coalition wins in Jaffna but in Vavuniya voters back candidates who supported Tamil Tigers.
October - Government announces early presidential and parliamentary elections.
November - Opposition parties form alliance to fight elections. The new alliance includes Muslim and Tamil parties and is led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Government says 100,000 refugees released from camps.
2006-2007
2006 (Civil war starts)
April - Attacks begin to escalate again. A suicide bomber attacks the main military compound in Colombo, killing at least eight people. The military launch air strikes on Tamil Tiger targets.
May- Tamil Tiger rebels attack a naval convoy near Jaffna.
August - Tamil Tiger rebels and government forces resume fighting in the north-east in worst clashes since 2002 ceasefire. Government steadily drives Tamil Tigers out of eastern strongholds over following year.
October - Peace talks fail in Geneva.
2007
June - Police force hundreds of Tamils out of the capital, citing security concerns. A court orders an end to the expulsions.
April - Attacks begin to escalate again. A suicide bomber attacks the main military compound in Colombo, killing at least eight people. The military launch air strikes on Tamil Tiger targets.
May- Tamil Tiger rebels attack a naval convoy near Jaffna.
August - Tamil Tiger rebels and government forces resume fighting in the north-east in worst clashes since 2002 ceasefire. Government steadily drives Tamil Tigers out of eastern strongholds over following year.
October - Peace talks fail in Geneva.
2007
June - Police force hundreds of Tamils out of the capital, citing security concerns. A court orders an end to the expulsions.
Is there peace in our times?
Tension between the Sinhalese and the Tamils still exist and many unsuccessful attempts to resolve the conflict were proved for the last few years. A ceasefire agreement was signed between the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE and the Norwegians as the mediator in 2002. The LTTE, feeling that they were being marginalised, withdrew talks with the government in 2003. In 2004, a suicide bomb took place in Colombo. More than 30000 Sri Lanka people were killed in the Boxing Day Tsunami and this further aggravated the conflict. Although, it was like that, but an agreement for the Sinhalese and Tamils to share the international aid was not implemented. In 2005, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadigamar, a Tamil was assassinated. The LTTE saw him as a traitor when they found out about his campaign against a separate Tamil state. They were then accused of the murder but the LTTE denied in having any involvement at all. Many people was afraid of a return to war after a string of recent attacks on army and police vehicle and 2 mine blasts that killed 14 soldiers in Jaffna. The Tamil Tigers warned the Sri Lanka government that this will be their last chance at peace talks and are already prepared to fight if they have to, for a homeland. A peace talk that is going to commence in early 2006 has led to the Sri Lanka government and the Norwegian to be optimistic. In conclusion, although there was no riots happening in Sri Lanka, but it is only because the Tamils were afraid of the war that might happen if they showed any disapprove towards the Sinhalese. Therefore, there is peace in our times, but I believed that it will only be a temporary peace and not a permanent one.
Social Consequences
- Sri Lankan Tamils driven out of their homeland
In the 1983 riots, thousands of Tamils fled to Tamil Nadu in South India. Moreover, High Security Zone(HSZ) which are areas in which access is controlled was being set up by the Sri Lanka Army to keep the LTTE away. Due to the Sri Lanka Army, many Tamils had to flee from their homes and went into hiding while some are still living in overcrowded conditions in refugee camps or with relatives and friends, and they only have a few places to flee to because the army had occupied large parts of the Tamil-dominated areas in the north and east of Sri Lanka. This says that the conflict had also caused large-scale displacement beyond its borders.
In the 1983 riots, thousands of Tamils fled to Tamil Nadu in South India. Moreover, High Security Zone(HSZ) which are areas in which access is controlled was being set up by the Sri Lanka Army to keep the LTTE away. Due to the Sri Lanka Army, many Tamils had to flee from their homes and went into hiding while some are still living in overcrowded conditions in refugee camps or with relatives and friends, and they only have a few places to flee to because the army had occupied large parts of the Tamil-dominated areas in the north and east of Sri Lanka. This says that the conflict had also caused large-scale displacement beyond its borders.
Economic Consequences
- Unemployment
Due to the Sri Lanka riots in July 1983, thousands of factory workers, the self-employed and plantation workers lost their jobs which led to massive unemployment. Most of the unemployed are Sinhalese who took part vandalising, looting and burning their places of works. In conclusion, unemployment had made all parties to suffer.
- Loss of investments from other countries
Many investors from other countries lost their trust with Sri Lanka and the confidence to continue investing with them. However, not all investors are deterred by the conflict in Sri Lanka. Take Tao Shing Pee, a Singapore property tycoon who owns the World Trade Centre complex in Colombo for example. This shows that loss of investments from other countries has led Sri Lanka to not only have problems involving the government’s economics, but also causes Sri Lanka to be more independent.
- Fall in the number of tourists
The riots in July 1983 had also led to the fall in the number of tourists. This resulted in a loss of jobs and a fall in funds to develop amenities and facilities. Thus, economic was affected adversely and the funds to develop amenities and facilities were also limited.
Due to the Sri Lanka riots in July 1983, thousands of factory workers, the self-employed and plantation workers lost their jobs which led to massive unemployment. Most of the unemployed are Sinhalese who took part vandalising, looting and burning their places of works. In conclusion, unemployment had made all parties to suffer.
- Loss of investments from other countries
Many investors from other countries lost their trust with Sri Lanka and the confidence to continue investing with them. However, not all investors are deterred by the conflict in Sri Lanka. Take Tao Shing Pee, a Singapore property tycoon who owns the World Trade Centre complex in Colombo for example. This shows that loss of investments from other countries has led Sri Lanka to not only have problems involving the government’s economics, but also causes Sri Lanka to be more independent.
- Fall in the number of tourists
The riots in July 1983 had also led to the fall in the number of tourists. This resulted in a loss of jobs and a fall in funds to develop amenities and facilities. Thus, economic was affected adversely and the funds to develop amenities and facilities were also limited.
Political Consequences
- Armed conflict
In the beginning, the Tamil did not want any conflict or violence towards anybody. They just felt discriminated because of the policy that Sri Lanka government had made and felt that they have the rights to be fairly treated. Hence, they started to voice out their unhappiness to the government. Suddenly, a new political party called the Tamil United Liberation Front emerged. This causes the Tamils to asked for a separate independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka and name it Tamil Eelam as the Tamils believed that that would ensure their rights. However, despite all that, the Sri Lanka government still refuse the Tamil’s request and causes them to form the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, LTTE, another name for it is Tamil Tigers, and resort to violence since requesting had failed. In response to the Tamils’ and the Tamil Tigers’ action, the Sinhalese showed their hostility, sometimes through violence towards the Tamils. The armed conflict has led to war between the LTTE and the Sri Lanka government, has troubled the Sri Lanka government for more than 20 years and has cost more than 60000 lives.
- Foreign intervention
Sinhalese-Tamil conflict had attracted the attention of India and thus, causes them to play the role of mediator in response to the 1983 riots. The dialogue mediated by India failed as both Sinhalese and Tamil could not come into an agreement. The Indian government then sent 20 ships to provide food and petroleum products to the Sri Lanka Tamils, but the ships were turned back by the Sri Lanka navy and this causes the Indian Air Force to dropped food and medical supplies in Jaffna. This violated the Sri Lanka airspace. Under pressure from India, Sri Lanka finally agreed to sign a peace accord with India. The Indian troops took control of the Tamil Tigers by force when they failed to fully surrender their weapons. The peacekeeping force was then withdrawn because of the clashes happening in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Foreign intervention has causes the distrust between the mediator which in this case is India and Sri Lanka.
In the beginning, the Tamil did not want any conflict or violence towards anybody. They just felt discriminated because of the policy that Sri Lanka government had made and felt that they have the rights to be fairly treated. Hence, they started to voice out their unhappiness to the government. Suddenly, a new political party called the Tamil United Liberation Front emerged. This causes the Tamils to asked for a separate independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka and name it Tamil Eelam as the Tamils believed that that would ensure their rights. However, despite all that, the Sri Lanka government still refuse the Tamil’s request and causes them to form the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, LTTE, another name for it is Tamil Tigers, and resort to violence since requesting had failed. In response to the Tamils’ and the Tamil Tigers’ action, the Sinhalese showed their hostility, sometimes through violence towards the Tamils. The armed conflict has led to war between the LTTE and the Sri Lanka government, has troubled the Sri Lanka government for more than 20 years and has cost more than 60000 lives.
- Foreign intervention
Sinhalese-Tamil conflict had attracted the attention of India and thus, causes them to play the role of mediator in response to the 1983 riots. The dialogue mediated by India failed as both Sinhalese and Tamil could not come into an agreement. The Indian government then sent 20 ships to provide food and petroleum products to the Sri Lanka Tamils, but the ships were turned back by the Sri Lanka navy and this causes the Indian Air Force to dropped food and medical supplies in Jaffna. This violated the Sri Lanka airspace. Under pressure from India, Sri Lanka finally agreed to sign a peace accord with India. The Indian troops took control of the Tamil Tigers by force when they failed to fully surrender their weapons. The peacekeeping force was then withdrawn because of the clashes happening in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Foreign intervention has causes the distrust between the mediator which in this case is India and Sri Lanka.
Introduction
This is a blog created by us, Eunice, Shuhada, Jia Yun, Danisyah and Sebastian from 3/3. The purpose of this blog is not only to complete the social studies project given by our teacher but also hopes that you are able to learn something through it, just like us. First of all, we will describe the different kinds of consequences of the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict. Three kinds of consequences had been shown because of the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict. The three consequences are political, economic and social. These three are the side effects of the conflict that the Sinhalese-Tamil had activated. Secondly, we will tell you about the peace between the Sinhalese and the Tamil in our times. Thirdly, a timeline of Sri Lanka since 2006 will be shown. Fourth, 4 videos in total will be shown and you can feel free to view it. Lastly, photos will be published for those who are interested in it.
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