In Sri Lanka: Reconciliation and Reconstruction

Sri Lanka is now focused on the "3 R's:" Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Reconciliation. The immense cost for resettling the 280,000 people in the camps is staggering. European leaders need to stop lecturing and start helping.

It is actually possible that China will be able to step into the picture if Europe continues to lecture -- instead of assist -- the government of Sri Lanka. We will see Asians helping Asians, and the 'Chinese Century' will become self-fulfilling. Japan, too, is providing assistance.

The government of Sri Lanka is cash-stretched for having paid for the military campaign to end three decades of war, coupled with the lack of tourists since the Tsunami, followed by the global meltdown that hurts Sri Lanka as much as any other country.

The Sri Lankan military is providing for the refugees.

The faces of children are heartbreaking. Even more tragic is that at least some of them had been trained as child soldiers by the Tamil Tigers. I will file a story shortly about a project just north of Colombo to rehabilitate the child soldiers who have been rescued.

The world may never know the exact number of Sri Lankans -- Tamil and Sinhala combined -- killed in the decades-long conflict, or even in its final battle.

Ironically, the government slowed its final offensive to assure the fewest number of civilian casualties -- the Tamils used as human shields. The U.S. and Europe used that time to demand a ceasefire that would have allowed Tiger leadership to escape and regroup.

The caring response of Sri Lanka's exhausted militia is inspiring.

The United Nations believes a total of 80,000 to 100,000 people died on both sides during the 28 years of bloodshed.

Given the unprecedented number of women and children the Tigers held hostage -- some estimated up to 100,000 were used as human shields -- the number killed in the final days of fighting could be high.

But the U.N. has stated that the Times of London's estimate of 20,000 killed in the final battle as being based on unreliable data.

An additional 80,000 joined the military in the last six months.

The European Union's unsuccessful attempts to cry "war crimes" against Sri Lanka perhaps ironically heralds the end of European colonial domination as it has been known for over four hundred years.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has announced that he welcomes all the Tamils who have been compelled to live abroad back to the island to take part in the future development process.

Paradise was turned into hell by the Tamil Tigers

Sri Lanka's new Minister of National Reconciliation is the former high-ranking Tamil Tiger leader, V. Muralitharan.

Young and old have both been victims of the war.

He has been appointed by the president. At press-time, an interview with Mr. Muralitharan and the Huffington Post is pending.

Last week, a distinguished group of Tamil professionals from the north met with the government and pledged their full cooperation in rebuilding the region to its old glory.

The government plans to provide electricity to the north as soon as possible.

Giving water to an exhausted and dehydrated child.

Sadly, many European NGO's who came to the island to help after the Tsunami stayed to work and support the Tigers.

A Norwegian head of an NGO was expelled just last week for actively supporting the Tamil Tigers in the last days of their existence.

In the past, another Norwegian NGO was charged with "losing" three dozen vehicles, including heavy earth moving equipment, to the Tigers.

The organization I founded ten years ago, Orphans International Worldwide, active in the south since the Tsunami and associated with the United Nations (DPI), stands by ready to assist as needed.

These children will always remember their rescuers.

Follow Jim Luce on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jimluce

Comments

[Nadika Munasinghe]

Well done Mr Lunce. May you go from streangth to streangth. Sri Lanka needs more articles from you. Hope that other journalists have the sense to follow your example.

[tmorgan1000]

Lanka turns away Tamil aid ship
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8090110.stm

Verdict is in; Government of Sri Lanka wants Tamil civilians dead. Sending aid away while there is not enough milk powder for babies or medical supplies for the injured.. hiding behind paper work when their UK embassy and other officials were notified of the mission..

If they followed Buddhist precepts (they claim Buddhism is their official primary faith), Sri Lanka would not be in such a mess & they would be an Asian economic tiger. The kind of tiger which benefits all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4UcKxF7rSY

There won't be peace in Sri Lanka until they have freedom of the press, embrace the federal idea, take steps to reform their military/police Re: ethnic tolerance and allow NGO's access to all the IDP camps.

[PeterRatna]

Yep. We believe you. UN, EU, US and all NGOs are actively working against the Sri Lankan state.

Sinhalese are fully justified in locking up 300, 000 Tamils in concentration camps and confiscating half of Tamil owned land as 'high security zone'.

I've read a few amusing articles in my lifetime. Jim, I've really got to give it to you: no other writers make me chuckle as much as you do.

[Thamil Maravan]

Well Said Jim and thanks a lot! Yes EU and NGOs only want to favor the LTTE terrorists! Thanks Jim for praising the heroic SL Army! It is a genuine legitimate democratically elected government which was fighting a the world's no.1 terrorists group which is far worse than AL Qaeda! You are one of the best ever writers Jim along with Stewart Bell of National Post! Problem is that this LTTE terror supporting Tamil diaspora which used to collect over $300 million a year through extortion, drug trafficking and fraud etc used that money to bribe many Western media stations to talk in favor of LTTE terrorists and against the GoSL! These LTTE terrorists are big fat liars and please dont believe in LTTE terrorists propaganda!