Sri Lanka: Bloggers react to eviction of Tamils in Colombo

The Sri Lankan Blogosphere is reacting strongly to the recent move by the authorities to evacuate some Tamil people in Colombo. A lot of blogs have expressed anger and rage at the government's actions, while others have attempted to understand the reasons for this move. Another debate appears to if this is a form of ethnic cleansing or sheer ineptness on part of the government. From Kumar Rupesinghe

More than 300 Tamils who live in lodges in Colombo suburbs have been forcibly evacuated by the Sri Lankan Police, after a massive search operation in the Wellawatte, Kotahena, Pettah and Wattala areas in the morning of 7th June. According to news reports, 47 Tamils were forcefully taken from a single lodge located in Station Road in Wellawatte. Another lodge in the area reported 35 arrests by the Police.

A Janusis asks pertinent questions about why there was utter lack of diplomacy surrounding the events. The author further points out to what appears to upset the bloggers, and sums it up with the post title “Colombo being cleansed by the filthy?”.

It is such an obvious move of desperation that I wonder if we might have to conduct tuition classes in diplomacy for our politicians. It is like stubbing your toe on a rock and then kicking the rock because you are mad at it. No terrorist is going to base himself in such obvious locations for instance, and you can’t abuse bus loads of people solely because you might assume one of them is dangerous.

True Sri Lankan points out that while the Supreme Court in Sri Lanka has stayed the evictions, the government's powers may be unstoppable because of the Emergency regulations. The blogger highlights the fact that through the years of the conflict, no side has emerged as having defeated the other, and that peace can be established through a settlement, instead of violence. ..In Science We Trust says that it's all a part of Sri Lankan mentality, and that it may not be ethnic cleaning, but it is “just plain stupidity by a bunch of idiot policy makers”.

Lanka Libertarian opposes the government's move, but feels that the media (in this case a journalist from Reuters) has misrepresented the case by calling it ethnic cleansing.

this racist also quotes an (as in one) unnamed(!) analyst saying that eviction of 376 tamils without identification and without any reason to be in colombo, is equivalent to ethnic cleansing. nowhere does he mention the fact that hundreds of thousands of tamils live in colombo. and that only real case of ethnic cleansing in sri lanka was carried out by ltte terrorists in north where presently almost 100% of the population is tamil.

A Voice In Colombo feels that all parties involved may be over reacting. From the police who evicted the people from the lodges, to bloggers who oppose the evictions.

All these stupid acts by the police (and other parties involved) create gold mines for those who supporting the terrorist. They take this as a great opportunity to justify their support to the LTTE. Pro LTTE parliamentarians, the usual network of peacenik bloggers are jumping up in the air, in the rejoice of finding this great opportunity given by the government.

Lanka Whistle-Blower offers his apologies to the Tamil Community. According to the blogger, while security concerns are real and present, there are appropriate ways and means to tackle the same. Further, “However, rounding up of people like this based on the sole criteria of race marks a new low in this conflict that has marred post-independent Sri Lanka. “. Mahasen offers his views, “What do they do here? If they aren't working or learning, why are they in Colombo for months? How and on what do they spend their time?”. Words of Wisdom wonders if they'll target Tamils living permanently in Colombo next.

Ravana pinpoints the current situation in Sri Lanka and says “The root of Sri Lanka’s problems is disregard for human rights. For me, it really is that simple.”. An article at groundviews says that this act is the government's arrogance at its peak, and questions the need to possess a legitimate reason to stay in Colombo.

A Tamil is expected to possess a ‘legitimate reason’ to stay in Colombo, which may include attending university, doing a job etc. Otherwise he does not have any business to be in Colombo. Even those who can stay in Colombo are expected to possess sufficient reason to be on the streets. The question “Kohitha Yanne?” strikes at the rock bottom of our freedom and fundamental rights. It wont be acceptable to provide answers in the likes of “off to the beach side to get some fresh air” to this Kohithe Yanne question. That definitely can’t be a ‘good’ reason to be on the streets.

Scourge! highlights the importance of a compromise and points out that this war cannot be ended militarily. Indi.ca, in a post titled “Shame” expresses that war and conflict only strengthen the LTTE. The blogger further says

Prima facie, this is wrong. It is wrong for a government to abuse its citizens so. Strategically, this is foolhardy. It runs directly contrary to the goal of a united Sri Lanka and reconciliation. Consecutive governments ahave asked us to sacrifice human rights, press freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and freedom in general for this struggle.

57 comments

  • Sinaha

    The Tamils want to eat the whole cake, enjoying the liberal democracy and safety among the Sinhalese in Colombo, but dare not to assist any terror activities of their Eelamist heroes. Like it or not this action was long overdue, if separatism is so fine to Tamils why come to Colombo at all? If Tamils want to live in Colombo among us then help us find the cowards who kill innocent civilians.

  • Kalu Nanki

    It is not surprising to see tamils evicted from colombo. This is only the start. Sinhala majority people can not tolerate anymore. There are times to come worse than 1983.

  • true tamilian

    As truesrilankan said there are no sinhalese allowed in north or east and we don’t want any sinhalese there. We also understand that no sinhalese want us in their areas and we have any intention to stay or live in their areas. Sinhalese don’t want us to be a civilized socity. So they like to burn down our libraries or bomb them after they locked the libraries leaving the innocent tamil youths inside. They don’t want any tamils serving in armed forces and tamils like to be in service only with ltte. There are a lot of things to compare, at the end even a fool can come to a conclusion that everything is seperate except the name Sri Lanka. so why we bother dividing the name too. Keep your Sri Lanka we don’t want anything of it. Leave our Tamil Eelam, we won’t let you take anything of it. It’s that simple.

  • Amunugam

    Tamils come to Colombo for several reasons. A few of them:
    1. First and foremsot on medical grounds. Hospitals in the peninsula, Vanni or the Eastern province don’t have always the right medicine. Most eligible proffessionals have left those areas due to war, kidnapping, killing etc.
    2. To take care of governmental business from Job interviews, passports, pension papers etc to almost of everything else.
    3. Most young men and women live in lodges to make arrangement to levae the country to go to any other country looking for saftey, better future etc.

    Even if they are not working or learning they are in Colombo trying to stay away from the war zones. They live off mony from their relatives abroad.

    They watch hours TV, especially DVD Tamil films. Sleep for hours. Play cards, carrom, Draughts or just loiter around etc.

    By evicting Tamils from the lodges, now, Sri Lanka has demonstrated to the world that Tamils are an unwanted people in Sri Lanka. This gives a valid reason for them to support the LTTE.

    May be some of these men and women will become now LTTE cadres!!

  • rajkumar

    what I dont understand is, recently GOSL went on record ( al Jazeira)saying that Tiger organisation is comprised of Tamils, Muslims & Sinhalese as well.Then how on earth did tamils only became a security threat,what about those sinhala terrorists. where will GOSL be deporting them, perhaps to the mid sea.
    By forcefully evicting tamils, the government is playing into the hands of LTTE.These shortsighted political moves will further alienate the tamils from sinhalese.To kill the bugs set the house on fire.

  • jr Sunil

    Thank you MR brothers, at last they agree Eelam & Srilanka are 2 countries. send all Tamils back to Eelam and bring your army back to Srilanka

  • bala

    My family & I are victims of the 1958 pogrom. So this does not surprise me as it does the younger generation. This is an expression of the Dutugemunu mentality taught to me (in Sinhala) when I was schooling in Matara. But I believe there are still a lot of decent Sinhalese people amongst whom I had the privedge to live and work later on. Unfortunately they are also a minority like the Tamils and never have a voice or get to power. Ealam seems to be the best way forward for both parties given the 50 years of disharmony. When all the other countries are leaping forward we are simply ruining everything we have.

  • eye4eye

    For all of you Tamils living in Singhala area. Shame on all of you.You folks did not learn from 1977 and 1983. Today another lesson been taught to you. I hope every one who is Tamil should vacate the south and Join LTTE and teach the sighalease a lesson.

  • The many commentators here who compare LTTE’s actions with those of the elected government of Sri Lanka, and thereby try to justify this horrendous human rights violation by the government completely miss the point. The key difference is that the government of Sri Lanka is elected by all its citizens, including Tamil Sri Lankans. The LTTE is not elected. It is a fascist, terrorist organisation that the Tamil population have zero control over. The government, therefore, is bound to serve the well-being of its citizens, whereas the LTTE are not.

    The LTTE are not preaching unity; they are preaching separatism. If the government does not want to entertain separatist claims, then they must foster unity. Any actions to the contrary simply go further in undermining the feeling of Sri Lankanness among the Tamil Sri Lankan population and further the cause of the terrorists.

  • K. ARVIND

    Such insensitive and short-sighted action, whether on instructions from the highest levels or as a result of
    thinking on the part of the IGP – not particularly known to be bright either for his thinking, planning but more for getting caught with his pants down in Press Conferences.
    The question no longer, consequently, is not “if Eelam” but “when Eelam?” a position with which many Tamils distanced themselves since they want to live with others in a united and peaceful Sri Lanka. But action such as this, aimed also to destroy their integrity and pride,
    will push the Tamils to the waiting arms of the Separatists. If the Govt has the courage to accept her
    faux pas the IGP must be removed immediately, before he does further damage. Sri Lanka today remains the laughing stock of the world.

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