Chapter 4: Conflict in Multi-Ethnic Societies2

What are the consequences of the Sinhalese-Tamil Conflict?

Factors: Political Consequences, Economic Consequences and Social Consequences
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Identify: Political Consequences

• Armed Conflict,

Describe:(Why the factor was important before the conflict

• Prior to the violence, in the 1950s demonstrators against the government policies were peacefully carried out.
• The Tamils wanted the Tamil areas to be recognized as a federation within the same country; they did not ask for a separate state.
• They did not use violence.
• In 1976, the newly formed Tamil united Liberation Front asked for a separate, Independent State called Tamil Eelam.

Explain(How the conflict affected the factor)

• Since the Sri Lankan Government rejected the proposal, conflict aroused.
• many Tamil youths lost hope in the government and formed a militant group, called the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE)
• They resorted to violence.
• Tamils supporting the government were also attacked.
• Tamil Politicians who did not support the proposed separate state were also attacked.
• Sinhalese used violence against the Tamils too.
• Many were killed and others injured.
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• Foreign Intervention

Describe:

• before the conflict, as an independent country, Sri Lanka was making its own decision on both internal and external matters.

Explain:

• During the conflict, India tried to be the mediator in response to the July 1983 riots.
• In 1987, it sent 20 ships to jaffna to send food and petroleum products to the Sri lankan tamils.
• Air-dropped Food and medical supplies in jaffna when the ship were turned back by the Sri lankan navy.
• This was in violation of Sri Lankan Airspace.
• Provided peacekeeping services in northeastern provinces.
• Sri lanka thus saw active involvement of a stronger neighbour in its internal affairs due to the conflict.
  

Identify:Economic Consequences

• Unemployment
  
  
  
  Describe: Before the conflict, many job opportunities were available in Sri lanka as the tourism industry was thriving, foreign countries and locals were investing in Sri Lanka

Explain: Due to the July 1983 riots, many factories and companies were burnt.

• Many businesses especially by foreigners closed down their companies.
• This meant that thousand of factory workers and plantation workers lost their jobs.
  

• Loss of Foreign Investments from other countries
  
  
  
  Describe:
  
• Before the conflict, Sri lanka was seen as one of the role model country for many developing countries.
• This attracted a lot of foreign investments into Sri lanka
• Sri Lanka's economy was boosted by these foreign investments.

Explain:

• Due to the conflict, foreign investors lost confidence in Sri Lanka
• They were afraid of losing their investment in Sri Lanka.
• They decided to look elsewhere besides Sri lanka for their investments.
• The economy thus suffered badly.

Identify: fall in number of tourists

Describe:

• Before the conflict, one of the major source of revenue for Sri lanka came from tourism.
• Tourism was thus a key player in the growth of the economy.

Explain:

• Due to the conflict, countries discouraged their people from travelling to Sri lanka.
• Tourists were also hesitant to come to Sri lanka.
• Thus there was a drastic fall in tourism industry resulting in unemployment and loss of income from for Sri lanka.
• Thus the economy was affected badly.

Social Consequence

• identify: Sri Lankan Tamils driven out of their homeland

Describe:

• Before the conflict, Sri lankan Tamils mainly resided in the northern and Eastern provinces of Sri lanka.

Explain:

• Due to the 1983 riots, many Tamils fled to Tamil nadu in south India.
• Up till today, many Sri Lankans still remain as refuges in india.
• High Security Zones(HSZ) were also cset up by the Sri Lankan Army to keep the LTTE away.
• Many Tamils were displaced when the Sri lankan Army moved to jaffna to take on the LTTE.
• Many Tamils were forced to live in refugee camps with poor living conditions.

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Chapter 4: Conflict in Multi-Ethnic Societies

SRI LANKA-CAUSES OF CONFLICT IN SRI LANKA

Factors: Citizenship Rights, Sinhala Only Policy, University Admission and Resettlement of population

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Identify the factor:Citizenship Rights

Describe: in 1948, Sri Lanka granted citizenship to only those who were either born in Sri lanka or those fathers and grandfathers were born there. As a result, many Indian Tamils found themselves stateless. Thought India tried to solve the problem, many Indian Tamils continued to remain stateless in the late 1980s.

In 2003, Sri Lanka passed the Grant of Citizenship to persons of Indian origin Bill- Citizenship was given to any person (or descendants ) of Indian origin who lived in Sri Lanka since 1964.

Explain: This meant that they were unhappy as despite contributing to the economy, they were not given citizenship. Thus they supported the Tamil Tigers in the conflict against the government.

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Identify the factor: Sinhala-Only Policy

Describe: Under the British rule , Tamils held the powerful jobs in the government service because of their good command of English. However, based on the 1956 Official language Act, Sinhalese because the language of administration. The Tamils held a peaceful demonstration which was however disrupted by the supporters of Sinhala language.

Since 1957, the government has granted greater recognition to the Tamil language by declaring it a national language, language of administration in the northern and eastern provinces,

Explain: This upset the Tamils as they that they were unable to secure jobs or be promoted. They also concluded that peaceful means might not work and violence might be the answer to the problem.

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Identify the factor: University Admission

Describe: Before 1970, the Tamils were unhappy with the education system as it was based on merit. However, from 1970 onwards, the Tamils have to score higher marks that the Sinhalese to enter the most popular courses in the university.

This system is still in place today.

Explain: This made the Tamils unhappy and resent the government. They felt that the government was biased against them and in the process,deprived them of good job opportunities. They thus supported the Tamil Tigers against the government.

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Identify the factor: Resettlement of the population

Describe: The government implemented a policy to provide land for the poor Sinhalese peasants. These peasants were transferred from the densely populated south-western and central areas into Tamil areas. however, the Buddhist monks and the Sri lanka Army came with the other Sinhalese to the Tamil areas to occupy the lands

Explain: This caused unhappiness because the Tamils now have to compete with the Sinhalese peasants for lands, as well as jobs and sales of their products. They thus resented the government.

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Which one is the most important factor?
Without a proper education , you wouldn't be able to secure a good job in any sectors. Even if the discriminatory policies regarding jobs are lifted, it will be pointless without a good education. Most Tamils were not even able to get a university education they deserve. Furthermore, most university graduates were young and energetic. Thus, they become good recruitment grounds for the Tamils, even if they are not studying in the university due to discrimination. Thus, I think that the discrimination at University admission is the most important that the discrimination at jobs or the Official Language Act.

Which one is the least important factor?
The citizenship rights only affected Tamils in certain districts, this only concerns the Tamils who were brought over from India by the British to work in the tea plantation estates in Sri Lanka. This is different from the other reason which directly affected the Sri lankan Tamils in the northeastern provinces in Sri lanka. the Tamil tigers were using the citizenship issue to their advantage to highlight the discrimination against the Tamils. thus, in my opinion, the citizenship right is not as important a factor as the other factors. The Tamils needed proper education to secure a good job. They also need good support from the government to make a good living in their area. thus the other three factors: Discrimination at Universities, The "Sinhala Only" Policy and the resettlement are equally important.