The deepest contribution is when we feel the other’s pain as ours. The group with which we truly feel this, is our world. At that level – there is no need to give money or show sharing of status. Our true feelings would help one know that the other is there for her/him – for better or for worse. If this is achieved with poorest person (in money and status) it is achieved with all in that group.
by Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam
(June 18, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) I write in response to the article ‘Accountability and justice in Sri Lanka: a new chapter at last?’ by Dr. Lutz Oette of REDRESS, published in Sri Lanka Guardian.
I am able to relate to much of the analyses in the above article which is based on the UN’s Report.
Dr. Lutz Oette says ‘It is the first time that the country has received the attention at UN level that its record of conflict and violations merits. Unsurprisingly, the Report reads as a major indictment of both parties to the conflict that ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in May 2009: "…the Panel found credible allegations, which if proven, indicate that a wide range of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law was committed (by both parties), some of which would amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Indeed, the conduct of the war represented a grave assault on the entire regime of international law designed to protect individual dignity during both war and peace." The Panel went further and identified patterns of discrimination, impunity, repressive legislation and the steady erosion of the rule of law as major factors that have facilitated violations over the years. It roundly dismissed the measures taken by the Government of Sri Lanka following the war that focused almost exclusively on the LTTE’s role.’
All genuine investors in this war issue would eventually bring about their own closures. This may take a long time for those who have suffered more directly and, legitimately had higher expectations to be protected from such pain and loss. The mental effects of the war cannot be easily assessed. In some ways those who are accused of war crimes – on both sides – would continue to feel attacked and are likely to suffer anxiety due to this.
Leaders on both sides are seeking the vote of the International Community. These leaders set out to ‘punish’ the other side whenever they think they are losing. Despite all this – life goes on for all of us. Those of us who seek to be ‘protected’ in the future need to know as to which path we need to choose for ourselves. Given that both sides on the front line have been accused – it is important that we do not take a particular side in relation to the direct battles unless we and / or our immediate families were involved and we need to seek an outcome that would help us draw a balance and then closure.
Through my own battles for Racial Equality here in Australia, I learnt that where Administrative and Legal systems are weak and are not able to return my investments I do get redress from the social system. To most victims of the Sri Lankan war the redress is more likely to come from their respective social systems. Take for example, the Tamil Diaspora. They/we actively share information about the war and through such sharing they share them/ourselves. Most of them/us do have enough discipline not to translate into physical level actions and punishments – their/our accusations of the ‘other’ side. Genuine engagement would in fact dilute and diffuse revenge mentalities. Towards this, forums such as Sri Lanka Guardian are most valuable. I often get healthy feedback through my contributions to these forums.
Even within the media, the angle from which the contribution comes varies – especially between the official media in Sri Lanka and the global media through the internet. We need to find our own niche and seek our own justice and peace through appropriate avenues. To my mind the avenue that would help us complete our experience would be based on:
1. Our Truth – for example whether we contributed directly to the war and whether the return on the basis of the choices we had, is true as per that contribution. It helps when there are no personalities – other than ourselves in our minds. We paid and we received. If we paid for war and received war – we are even. At this level we need to not be distracted by others’ experiences – however better or worse they may seem.
2. Common Systems - Common Structures and Due Processes, including laws and policies help us invest without conscious thinking and calculating individually. To the extent we contributed to such a Common system – we are entitled to return from that system. If we have reasonable access to those who manage that system – for example, our Governments; Particular parts of the Diaspora; the UN and foreign governments; Public Service; Universities; the Law Courts and the Media – we must submit our case and seek judgment and compensation to help complete our material returns from outside. At the moment each group seems to be appearing that their group has the answers to all. This is not so.
3. Surrender to a leader with whom we identify and/or to God and stay away from that issue – i.e. – Separation or Death of the matter at our level.
Dr. Lutz Oette states ‘Coming 15 years after the Rwanda genocide and four years after it endorsed the 'Responsibility to Protect' (9) populations from international crimes, the UN's ineffective responses in Sri Lanka raised anew the question whether the UN and other international actors are able to move beyond rhetoric when dealing with such crimes.’
The UN and other International participants are covered by 2 and 3 above. UN Itself has the authority to expect as per its investments, in ensuring that Sri Lankan Government followed its Systems on regular basis. The root cause of the war is commonly known as Racial Discrimination. To my knowledge, Sri Lanka does not have laws against Racial or Caste Discrimination. It does not appear to be a signatory to UN’s International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It would be very difficult to reconcile the provisions of these principles with the practices in Sri Lanka – including in Northern Sri Lanka where the caste system is still actively practiced. Any premature dismantling of such hierarchical systems would seriously damage the economic and social structures of the communities that have invested in these systems. A strong system of Equal Opportunity with adequate economic rewards needs to be in place before the old systems are dismantled.
Sri Lankan communities including Tamils invest strongly at community levels through Common Cultural Processes and status as per those systems. These investments naturally keep us connected to each other’s mind. Unless therefore we have an alternate secular system to cover those areas, our investments through Common Systems would be drastically reduced and thus we start getting scattered and producing low level outcomes of our work – each one as per her/his thinking.
In terms of Northern Sri Lanka, the secular system that seems best suited to replace systems that discriminate on the basis of descent - is Public Administration. A move towards economic independence through Project approach would be a good start. Take for example REDRESS – which claims to be a Human Rights organization is doing work that the Government is primarily responsible for. When citizens have invested more in comforting each other – than depending on Government – they are already Equal in status to the Government in that issue that raised the need for such comfort. This is not necessarily through war and physical torture alone. It could be within communities due to lack of adherence to Common Systems resulting in individual thinking and judgment expressed through rewards and punishments at local levels. Producing outcomes at low levels leads to separation of people and loss of economic opportunities to grow exponentially. Bilateral agreements need to be channeled through Business systems. Hence Project approach. The answer is through private enterprises doing the work that the Government is not able to do. It would be truly beneficial if at the UN level the Government is required to facilitate the functioning of such private enterprises.
Many NGOs are in this category. But the larger ones also suffer from weaknesses similar to the Government.
Each one of has the ability to contribute to help our communities reach a balance internally before we take issues to the national and international levels. Our contributions could be in billions at UN level; in millions at national level; in hundreds of thousands at community level or in few hundreds at individual level. In addition to our monies we have shared our status at these levels – especially through Refugee programs. The deepest contribution is when we feel the other’s pain as ours. The group with which we truly feel this, is our world. At that level – there is no need to give money or show sharing of status. Our true feelings would help one know that the other is there for her/him – for better or for worse. If this is achieved with poorest person (in money and status) it is achieved with all in that group.
When we contribute more in money and status than we receive from such activities – we are already making a difference. A truly independent community would be able to complete the experience from within. Then it would be Equal to any other community or nation and would naturally share its wisdom with others in need.
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