SRI LANKA: Peace, Reconciliation and Reconstruction ProcessThe ethnic conflict that erupted violently in Sri Lanka two decades ago is now in a state of uneasy truce with a Ceasefire Agreement signed on 22 February 2002 between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam (LTTE). With a view towards deepening the involvement of YMCAs all over the country in the Peace, Reconciliation and Reconstruction Process, a Workshop was held in June 1996 wherein all the YMCAs committed: • To make a Christian response by expressing YMCA solidarity with the oppressed victims for the gradual transformation and normalisation of their lives. • To stimulate and empower YMCAs to work for peace and reconciliation among different groups in conflict through identified processes. • To help the poor among the vic tims to re-construct their broken lives and communities through sustainable programmes. The Peace, Reconciliation and Reconstruction (PRR) process is directed at long-term strategies and geared towards enabling youth to seek a living in a multi-religious and multi-cultural society. Peace Centres were established to carry out a variety of activities including religious study camps, and forums for the public, children, and youth. Located in Navali, Trincomalee, Galle, Pandaterruppu and Jaffna, these Peace Centres have organised conflict transformation workshops, counselling, seminars on current issues, and cultural activities and sports festivals, etc. for interaction within the community. The following is one of the case stories that highlights the role of these Peace Centres: The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka brought about the numerous cases of disappearances, including Mr. Anton Raveendran a fisherman in the Gurunagar area, situated in the Jaffna peninsula. One day, Mr. Raveendran went out to sea for fishing and did not return home. His wife Mrs. Maria Koratty did not know what to do and where to go. The Jaffna peninsula was under the control of the Government. With the signing of the ceasefire agreement, LTTE was allowed to operate and carry out their political activities in the peninsula. Given the various government armed forces operating in the area with the involvement of LTTE officers, Mrs. Koratty was confused and desperate as to how to seek help. The people in the village referred her to the Jaffna Peace Centre. Jaffna YMCA, after obtaining all relevant information, responded by writing to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Involuntary Removal and Disappearance of Persons. The Commission replied and assured her that they would carry out a search for Mr. Anton Raveenthran. A few days later, the Commission communicated that they had inquired into the disappearance of Mr. Raveenthran but he could not be found. Soon after, Mrs. Koratty, had read an article from a Tamil language newspaper with a photograph that showed a few prisoners in the Kalutara prison in a protest fast against their unauthorised detention. They were captured by army personnel on suspicion that they were suicide bombers. Mrs. Koratty found her husband among those presented in the paper. The Jaffna YMCA then forwarded an official complaint to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka which took over the case. Mr. Anton Raveenthran's case is in the courts. We, the YMCA with Mrs. Maria Koratty, are pleased of our involvement on this case among many other cases that seek justice for poor helpless families. Contact Person: Chrisantha Hettiaratchi |
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