Wikipedia

Tamil Genocide

Tamil Genocide, also known as the Sri Lankan Tamil Genocide, or Eelam Tamil Genocide are terms that encapsulate a series of devastating events suffered by the Sri Lankan Tamil a.k.a Eelam Tamil people leading to, during, and following the Sri Lankan Civil War. Acts of genocide against the Eelam Tamil started in 1948, as soon as Sri Lanka gained its independence, and were perpetrated through Sinhala-Buddhist centric government policies, pogroms, land grabs and ethnic cleansing.[21] Started in a Ceylon Citizenship Act, it spanned several decades, this conflict culminated in an intense final phase from 2006 to 2009.

Tamil Genocide
Part of Sri Lankan Civil War
May 15, 2009 handout photo provided by Sri Lankan army shows the massacre in no-fire zone in Mullivaikkal, Sri Lanka.
LocationSri Lanka
Date1948[1]-2009[2][3]
TargetEelam Tamils
Attack type
Genocide, ethnic cleansing, mass murder, mass shooting, hate crime shelling, hostage taking, forced disappearance, denial of humanitarian aid, summary execution, rape, land grabbing, colonization
Deaths
  • 1956-2004: Tamil civilians: 54,053 killed + 25,266 disappeared forever (TCHR, 2004) [4]
  • 2008–2009: 40,000 Tamil civilians killed (UN, 2011)[5][6][7][8]
  • 2008–2009: 70,000 Tamil civilians unaccounted (UN, 2012)[9][10][11]
  • 2008–2009: 146,000 Tamil civilians unaccounted (2011, Bishop Joseph)[12][13][8][14]
  • 2009 Jan-May: 169,796 Tamil civilians killed (ITJP, 2021) [15]
Injured1956-2004: 61,132 Tamil civilians[4]
Victims1956-2004: Tamil civilians[4]
  • Raped: 12,437 women
  • Arrest/Torture: 112,246
  • Displaced: 2,390,809
PerpetratorsSri Lanka Armed Forces, Sri Lankan government, Sri Lanka Police, Sinhalese mobs, Muslim Home Guards,[16][17] Sri Lankan Muslim mobs [18][19][20]
MotiveAnti-Tamil sentiment, Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism, Sinhalisation

The term "genocide" in this context is used to describe the systematic and widespread targeting of Tamil civilians, combatants, and political figures by the Sri Lankan government forces, committing atrocities including mass killings, enforced disappearances, land grabbing, colonization and sexual violence. The conflict and its brutal end have sparked international debate and led to calls for accountability and justice.[1]

History edit

Land Grabbing and Colonization edit

Main article: Sri Lankan state-sponsored colonisation schemes

The forced Sinhala colonization began in 1952 in Gal Oya[22][23]

Demographic Changes edit

Massacres and killings edit

Forced Disappearances edit

Premediated Pogroms edit

Main articles: 1956 anti-Tamil pogrom, 1958 anti-Tamil pogrom, 1977 anti-Tamil pogrom, 1981 anti-Tamil pogrom, and Black July

Gang rapes and sexual violence edit

Main article: Sexual violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka

Mullivaikkal massacre edit

Main article: Mullivaikkal massacre

Destruction of evidence of crimes edit

Resistance Movement edit

The build-up to the genocide can be understood through the lens of post-colonial strife and ethnic nationalism. The independence of Sri Lanka in 1948 marked the beginning of heightened ethnic tensions, as policies implemented by the Sinhalese-dominated government marginalized the Tamil population, leading to social, economic, and political disenfranchisement. This systemic discrimination sowed the seeds of unrest. There were civil disobedience which was followed by armed struggle against Sri Lanka state to form a independent Tamil state called Tamil Eelam.[1]

Civil Disobedience edit

Armed Struggle edit

Main article: Sri Lankan Civil War

The failure of the civil disobedience leads to the formation of several armed Tamil resistance movements, the most prominent of which was the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), aiming to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of the island called Tamil Eelam.[1] This war was known the Sri Lankan Civil War or Eelam War.

National and international media coverage edit

International Reactions edit

In 2022, The Parliament of Canada made May 18 as the Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.[24][25] On an official letter addressing the Tamils who have suffered through the genocide, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with other supportive statements, wrote

“In October 2022, we joined our international partners in adopting an United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution that calls on the Sri Lankan government to address the human rights, economic, and political crises in the country. Canada has been a global leader in the adoption of other UNHRC resolutions calling for freedom of religion, belief, and pluralism in Sri Lanka – essential elements to secure peace and reconciliation in the years to come – and we will continue our work to safeguard human rights across the world. And in January 2023, our government imposed sanctions against four Sri Lankan government officials in response to human rights violations on the island."[26]

The letter was titled: Statement by the Prime Minister on the first Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. It was written on May 18, 2023, as the day Tamils across the world acknowledge as Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day. It is a remembrance day observed by Eelam Tamil people to remember those who died in the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War.[27][25]

Protests edit

 
Members of the Tamil diaspora community gathered opposite 10 Downing Street in Whitehall to commemorate the beginning of the Black July in Sri Lanka forty years ago in 1983

UN Response edit

Aftermath edit

The aftermath of the conflict has been characterized by a contentious and painful process of reconciliation, with ongoing debates over accountability, human rights investigations, and efforts to heal a deeply divided nation. Nonetheless, the path towards reconciliation and justice remains fraught with challenges, as political, ethnic, and historical complexities continue to influence the discourse around the Tamil Genocide.[28]

Sri Lanka's Denial of the Genocide edit

Sri Lanka has responded to the statements which have been made by several world leaders including primarily Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In certain Sri Lankan government websites such as the one for the high commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore the government has stated Sri Lanka rejects the reference to Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day by the Canadian Prime Minister and that it is a distorted narrative of the past conflict in Sri Lanka is aimed solely at achieving local vote-bank electoral gains, and is not conducive to broader goals of communal harmony.[29]

Recognition of Genocide edit

The international community's response to the Tamil Genocide has been varied, with some countries and international bodies recognizing the events as constituting acts of genocide or war crimes, and calling for comprehensive investigations and accountability measures. However, the acknowledgment and classification of these events as "genocide" remain controversial and are subject to political and diplomatic considerations.[30]

Countries such as Canada and the state of Tamil Nadu in India have been vocal in acknowledging the genocide of the Tamil people, advocating for international investigations into war crimes and human rights violations. The United Nations has also been involved, publishing reports and resolutions calling for accountability and justice for the victims of the conflict.[31]

Recognition of Black July as a Genocide edit

Main article: Black July

The late Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi declared the Black July massacre to be a genocide against the Tamil people on August 14, 1983.[32][33] However, she was not prepared to intervene or exert pressure on Sri Lanka.

In December 1983, The Review, a publication of the International Commission of Jurists said:[34]

"The evidence points clearly to the conclusion that the violence of the Sinhala rioters on the Tamils amounted to acts of genocide."

Tamil Genocide Education Week in Canada edit

In June 2020, Toronto District School Board (TDSB) approved a motion calling on the Ministry of Education to incorporate Genocide education as compulsory learning unanimously.[35] In this genocide education, Tamil genocide was included as a complimentary component.[36]

Protests arose by Sinhalese groups. They all failed. The TDSB was going forth with the Tamil genocide being taught in schools

Around the same time Vijay Thanigasalam, by Progressive Conservative MPP, tabled bill 104, which is an Ontario bill called Bill 104, Tamil Genocide Education Week Act. During Bill states: 

"The seven-day period in each year ending on May 18 is proclaimed as Tamil Genocide Education Week. During that period, all Ontarians are encouraged to educate themselves about, and to maintain their awareness of, the Tamil genocide and other genocides that have occurred in world history."

This Bill was not taken lightly by Sinhalese groups who staged even more protests. They yet again failed as the Ontario judge, Justice Jasmine Akbarali, upheld Bill 104 in battle ‘over who gets to write the history of the war'. The court examined evidence and heard arguments from all parties in order to better determine whether or not what occurred amounted to a genocide of Tamils. Justice Jasmine Akbarali stated "The dominant characteristic of the law is to educate the public about what the Ontario Legislature has concluded is a Tamil genocide.” [37]

Tamil Genocide Memorial and its History edit

The Tamil Genocide Memorial commemorates the lives lost during the Sri Lankan Civil War, particularly in its final stages in the area of Mullivaikkal.

Sri Lanka edit

In Jaffna, the northern province of Sri Lanka, a statue was erected to honor the memory of the victims of the conflict, particularly the events that unfolded in Mullivaikkal in May 2009. This statue served not only as a memorial but also as a symbol of the Tamil community's resilience and mourning. However, the memorial faced significant opposition and was destroyed, reflecting ongoing tensions and the contentious nature of memorializing the conflict within Sri Lanka.

The destruction of the statue sparked protests and outcry both locally and internationally, highlighting the deep scars left by the conflict and the importance of memorialization in the healing process. Efforts were made to rebuild the statue, namely public sit in protests and hunger protests. This act of reconstruction not only restored the physical monument but also served as a reaffirmation of the community's commitment to remembering the past and seeking justice. The rebuilding of the statue in Jaffna stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Tamil people and their continued struggle for recognition and reconciliation.

Canada edit

A Tamil Genocide Memorial to be built in Chinguacousy Park, in Brampton, Canada by 2025, the design was finalised in February 2024, after 3 years of delay.[38][39]

Canadian Mayor Patrick Brown promised to build a monument after the Mullivaikkal memorial in Sri Lanka was torn down in January 2021. In recognition of the importance of memorialization for the Tamil diaspora, a proposal was made to build a Tamil Genocide Memorial in Brampton, Canada. The proposal aimed to provide a space for reflection, remembrance, and education, acknowledging the community's loss and resilience.

The initiative to erect the memorial in Brampton was met with both support and criticism. Proponents argue that it serves as a necessary acknowledgment of the atrocities faced by the Tamil population and as an educational tool for future generations. Critics, however, raise concerns about the potential for such memorials to foster division or impact diplomatic relations. Patirck Brown stated "While there might be some people trying to 'whitewash' history in Sri Lanka and rewrite history — we can't stand for that."

India edit

 
Illuminated sculpture of Tamil Paavai (Tamil Goddess/Tamil Mother), at the entrance of Mullivaikal Muttram

The Mullivaikkal Memorial or Mullivaikkal Muttram is a memorial dedicated to the Mullivaikkal massacre, the killings of Tamil civilians during the final phase of the war between Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan armed forces at Mullivaikkal in 2009. The Mullivaikal Memorial is in the Thanjavur District of the Tamil Nadu state in neighboring India. On 6 November 2013, the inauguration of the Mullivaikal Memorial took place.[40] One of the Tamil political party's leader Pazha Nedumaran and the World Tamil Confederation Trust he heads are the founders.[41]

Mauritius edit

 
Memorial Pillar at Mauritius

In honor of the Tamil citizens and LTTE soldiers, the mayor of Beau Bassin Rose Hill, Louis Andre Toussaint, in Mauritius, has constructed a pillar. It was constructed in response to the Mauritius Tamil Temple Federation's (MTTF) requests. The memorial's epitaph says:

"THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THOSE 146,679 TAMILS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES INNOCENTLY AND 40,000 REPORTED LOST IN DEFENCE OF THEIR BELOVED MOTHERLAND IN SRI LANKA"

On top, the memorial has the Eelam Tamil ethnic National Flag on which it is written "Tamil Eelam" in Tamil letters. This memorial is located cated within the Beau Bassin Rose Hill Municipal Council's grounds, a short distance from the mayor's office.[42]

Acts of commemoration edit

May 18th Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day edit

 
Mullivaikkal Remembrance day, 2016: Eelam Tamil women and children can be seen grieving in Mullivaikkal
Main article: Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day

Art edit

Pop Culture Influences edit

Documentaries edit

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Waldock, Charlotte (26 June 2022). "The Tamilian Struggle For Justice In Sri Lanka: Acknowledging The Tamil Genocide". Human Rights Pulse. Human Rights Pulse, Make justice a priority. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Lest We Forget" (PDF). North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR). Karadipokku Junction, Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka. Statistical Centre for North East (SNE). July 2007.
  3. ^ "Lest We Forget -Volume II" (PDF). North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR). Karadipokku Junction, Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka. 2008.
  4. ^ a b c "Recorded figures of Arrests, Killings, Disappearances". www.tchr.net. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Report of the Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka". Refworld/United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. United Nations. 31 March 2011. p. 41. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Sri Lanka Marks 10 Years Since Civil War's End". Voice of America. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Agence France-Presse. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Sri Lanka starts count of civil war dead". Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar. Associated Press. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Sri Lankan forces ended LTTE civil war through 'humanitarian operation': Gotabaya". The Hindu. 19 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Report of the Secretary-General's Internal Review Panel on United Nations Action in Sri Lanka". United Nations. November 2012. p. 14. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  10. ^ Macrae, Callum (3 September 2013). "Sri Lanka: Slaughter in the no fire zone". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  11. ^ Charbonneau, Louis (15 November 2012). "U.N. failed gravely in Sri Lanka – internal review panel". Reuters. London, U.K. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  12. ^ Haviland, Charles (11 January 2011). "Sri Lanka's war panel arouses strong emotions". BBC News. London, U.K. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Tamils remember war dead in Sri Lanka". Deutsche Welle. Bonn, Germany. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  14. ^ "TamilNet".
  15. ^ Death Toll In Sri Lanka's 2009 War https://itjpsl.com/assets/ITJP_death_toll_A4_v6.pdf
  16. ^ "State and Muslims Desecrate Ancient Tamil Village". Northeastern Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  17. ^ Silva, Kalinga Tudor (2010). "Home Guards in Sri Lanka: Guardians of Peace or Threat to Human Security?". Economic and Political Weekly. 45 (36): 31–33. JSTOR 25742041.
  18. ^ Ismail, Qadri (1985). "Sri Lanka's Ethnic Conflict and Muslims". Economic and Political Weekly. 20 (19): 830–833. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4374389.
  19. ^ Imtiyaz, A. R.M.; Hoole, S. R.H. (2011). "Some Critical Notes on the Non-Tamil Identity of the Muslims of Sri Lanka, and on Tamil–Muslim Relations". South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies. 34 (2): 208–231. doi:10.1080/00856401.2011.587504. S2CID 39675436.
  20. ^ Hoole, Rajan (2014-11-14). "The East Erupts: Mossad Again?". Colombo Telegraph. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  21. ^ Thanigasalam, Vijay. "Bill 104, Tamil Genocide Education Week Act, 2021". Legislative assembly of Ontario. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  22. ^ Kanagasundram, Ajit. "The Gal Oya Project 60 years on - Part I". The Island. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  23. ^ "Sinhala Colonisation".
  24. ^ "Statement by the Prime Minister to mark 40 years since Black July". Prime Minister of Canada. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  25. ^ a b "Canada committed to building future free of hate: Justin Trudeau on Sri Lanka Black July". EconomyNext. 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  26. ^ "Statement by the Prime Minister on the first Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day". Prime Minister of Canada. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  27. ^ Trudeau, Justin (17 May 2023). "Statement by the Prime Minister on the first Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day". pm.gc.ca. The government of Canada. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  28. ^ Trudeau, Justin (20 July 2023). "Statement by the Prime Minister to mark 40 years since Black July". www.pm.gc.ca. Canada Government. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  29. ^ The High commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore. "Sri Lanka rejects the reference to Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day by the Canadian Prime Minister". Lanka. Sri Lanka. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  30. ^ Day, Martyn. "Sri Lankan Tamils and Human Rights Volume 742: debated on Tuesday 5 December 2023". Uk parliament. UK government. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  31. ^ United Nations, United Nations (17 September 2015). "UN officials outraged at accounts of Sri Lanka war crimes, stress need for accountability". UN News Global perspective Human stories. United Nations. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  32. ^ "TamilNet".
  33. ^ "Black July of 1983 Revisited".
  34. ^ "Black July of 1983 Revisited".
  35. ^ Shari Schwartz-Maltz. "TDSB Trustees Call on Province to Incorporate Genocide Education as Compulsory Learning". TDSB. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  36. ^ Pilkey, Robin. "Committee of the Whole Report No. 19" (PDF). tdsb.ca. Toronto district school board. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  37. ^ Keung, Nicholas (28 June 2022). "Ontario judge upholds Tamil Genocide Education Week in battle 'over who gets to write the history of the war'". Toronto Star. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  38. ^ Bhugra, Saloni (Feb 28, 2024). "After 3-year delay, Brampton finalizes design for Tamil monument to honour lives lost in Sri Lankan civil war Tamil Genocide Memorial to be built in Chinguacousy Park by 2025". CBC.
  39. ^ Jabakhanji, Sara (Jan 24, 2021). "Brampton mayor vows to build Tamil monument". CBC.
  40. ^ "A monument to remember the Eelam war". The Times of India. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  41. ^ "Pro-Tamil leaders inaugurate Mullivaikal memorial even as police wait to challenge court order". The Times of India. Times of India. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  42. ^ "Mauritius honors martyrs of Eelam war".
  43. ^ "'We did not come from fire, we were born in it' - in Conversation with Shan Vincent de Paul | Tamil Guardian".
  44. ^ "Sri Lanka's killing fields: Here shoes still lie on the ground". YouTube.
  45. ^ "The Library Which Sparked a Civil War in Sri Lanka – Ilankai Tamil Sangam".
  46. ^ "Legacies and Lessons: Sexual Violence against Men and Boys in Sri Lanka and Bosnia & Herzegovina".
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  57. ^ Chamberlain, Gethin (15 September 2009). "'As the shells fell, we tried to save lives with no blood or medicine'". The Guardian.
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