The loved ones show up one by one, each with a small book that details a history of sorrow and loss. Each book has the name and last details of their significant other. As you open the book there is a family tree located on the first page inside. Each deceased name has a "X" drawn next to their name. Next to the missing is a "?" The cause is listed beneath the emblem, and it is often "WAR" written in plain capital letters. The Sri Lankan conflict can neither be understood nor analyzed by using the white over black paradigm. There were thousands of officers and soldiers who had been injured due to the war against LTTE terrorists for 30 years.
Soon after the war, the Sri Lankan Government had recognized to set up strong systems for the persons left out from the battle field to rehabilitate by understanding their common psychosocial problems faced by families and communities, and the associated risk and protective factors, so that practical and effective community-based interventions can be recommended to rebuild unity, and resilience. Thereafter the concept of rehabilitation process came in to active power and was vital. The government of Sri Lanka headed by the President practicing the Buddhist principles of forgiveness and compassion very much understood the knowing the value of a human life, and considered the Ex-terrorists also as human beings whose minds were heavily brainwashed, distorted, and misguided, could be given a chance to reform and be rehabilitated to become useful citizens of the country.
In contrast, in other countries where terrorists had been active and when they were detected and captured, they were killed, tortured and out-casted. The other nations worked on the presumption that the Ex-cadres cannot be reformed and rehabilitated. Certain countries to ensure their destruction, shot them on the head leaving no chance of survival nor a second chance. However, the rehabilitation was a success story of correcting the ruthless terrorists of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the Government of Sri Lanka with the assistance of the Forces to re-amalgamate them to the society as useful and productive citizens. The Government and Military forces ensured that all arrangements were made to establish transit centers close to every entry point with basic human needs such as medical, food, water, sanitation facilitates and clothes.
The Rehabilitation program in Sri Lanka commenced with the Sri Lankan Forces laying down their arms to take up a new and different role to right the wrong and commit to follow a suitable path for the best interest of the country. Their humanitarian actions painted a heartwarming image as they were seen feeding the hungry citizens, nursing the wounded, carried and assisted the elders and the disabled, traced back to the relatives of people who had undergone untold suffering. They also managed to bring back their parents, children who up to then had worn the cyanide capsule and carried a gun were wearing a gold chain and happily attending to school to finish their studies that was denied to them for many years. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was a Tamil militant organization that was based in northeastern Sri Lanka. Its aim was to secure an independent state of Tamil Eelam in the north and east in response to the state policies of Sri Lankan governments that were widely considered discriminative towards the minority Sri Lankan Tamils. In Sri Lanka the armed conflict has been ongoing since 1983. The war has incurred heavy human and economic costs with more than 70,000 lives lost, mostly combatants, and more than one million people displaced. When the LTTE was eventually defeated and its leadership abolished on May 18th 2009 the present regime is aware that LTTE elements within the global Tamil Diaspora have been trying to form violence in the Island by falsely portraying the Sri Lanka government with fabricated stories and condemning the government for war crimes.
When we recall the horrible atrocities committed by the LTTE one should never forget how they used thousands of children who were forcibly recruited and used by armed groups throughout for more than two decades of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. When the valiant soldiers of the Sri Lankan government defeated the LTTE in May 2009, the result of the protracted conflict, that occurred in the Northern and Eastern Provinces are among the least developed areas in the country, despite their immense human resources, agricultural and tourism potentials which was shattered. Hundreds of individuals from the provinces were uprooted during the last phase of the conflict and shifted to the welfare villages. Among the extensive list of post-conflict recovery initiatives, the main priorities were to critically identify for a stability and long-term peace program which required an immediate attention to rehabilitate and reintegration of adult ex- combatants and children formerly associated with LTTE armed groups. An effective reintegration process is vital for restoring the overall stability and security, and curtailing violence and crime by strengthening the rule of law in the post-conflict context. Providing a viable and sustainable options in place of a violence for adult ex-combatants and children formerly associated with armed groups and, thereby, transforming them into a productive and active citizen.
The Government of Sri Lanka, prior to its military victory of bring the war to an end and abolishing the fear of terror the government thereafter launched a process that would lead to the comprehensive disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration into civilian life of all ex LTTE combatants and children formerly associated with armed groups, who were either captured or have surrendered to the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and other armed groups. In March 2009, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, in the light of its mandate to coordinate and develop policies that effectively respond to both natural and manmade disasters, launched a broad consultative process, which produced a “National Framework Proposal (NFP) for the Reintegration of Ex-combatants into Civilian Life in Sri Lanka”. The NFP was validated on 30 July 2009 by a cross section of the relevant line Ministries, the diplomatic community, United Nations (UN), international/ national non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector. This National Action Plan (NAP), proposed by the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, aims to operationalize the National Framework Proposal for the Reintegration of Ex-combatants into Civilian Life.
Many policymakers and stakeholders grapple with designing post-war strategies in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen, it is increasingly important to understand what works to prevent countries from relapsing into war. A Conflict-torn states have often have a narrow window of path to prevent war relapse. About half of all post-war countries lapse back into civil conflict between the same belligerents in the first decade after the end of fighting However in Sri Lanka such an incident has not taken place thus the Rehabilitation program is evident to be a major success.
When we take a look at the rehabilitation program which was conducted in Sri Lanka the Use of language was given the highest priority from the commencement of the rehabilitation program to prevent continuation of the stigmatization on rehabilitees. The Government ensured to build a friendly atmosphere for the ex-combatants to feel safe and be responsive during the rehabilitation process. The ex-combatants became beneficiaries of the rehabilitation and all child soldiers became our children as special presidential pardon was given to them with an unconditional amnesty for all their past doing as the government wanted to restore love, care, and kindness into the child’s heart.
The Marriage is the beginning of the family and is a life-long commitment. It also provides an opportunity to grow in selflessness. Marriage is more than a physical union, it is also a spiritual and emotional union thus mass marriage ceremony was held on 13 June 2010 where 53 couples took their marriage vows, with the consent of their parents / families. Their marriages were conducted according to the religious customs, and traditions by the respective religious dignitaries. The Bureau paid all the expenses for the entire ceremony, which included: a. Wedding Dresses –Sarees b. Flower Garlands. c. Pottu and Thalis. d. Bridal Dressing by experts. e. Individual Wedding Photographs. f. Wedding Gifts in the form of Rs 5000/- deposited in joint saving accounts.
The Ex LTTE-cadres took part in a number of Bridal and pageant shows as It was quite the turn-around in their lives who used to dress in camouflage uniforms with a cyanide capsule around their necks. A heart to heart Counselling programs for rehabilitees were conducted extensively in order to cultivate their minds, for a harmonious life in society. During this program a very special attention was paid to educate rehabilitees on the topic diversity. There were many ex-combatants who had the potential to develop skills in the field of arts and cultural activities such as painting, dancing, singing and playing various instruments. An art exhibition was held in different parts of Sri Lanka to display the work of the rehabilitees and to rise their self-esteem by giving due credit to their work. Drama was another interesting form of therapeutic activity that was conducted during the rehabilitation process to provide a mental relaxation. A number of excursions were planned and organized for the rehabilitees to interact with the people in the South and the upcountry, to understand the concept of brotherhood and sisterhood as it was indoctrinated by the LTTE that ex-combatants were under the impression that Sinhalese people do not allow Tamil people to visit any area in the Southern part of Sri Lanka however they were surprised at the very warm welcome which they received thus shatter the false norms established by the LTTE. The Ex-combatants were even taken to many interesting places in the city of Colombo and they really enjoyed these tours as they were denied to receive any such opportunities during their stay with the LTTE. A long queue of medical camps was conducted at the rehabilitation centers regularly to ascertain the health conditions of the ex-combatants as they had been subjected to improper health facilities when they were serving the LTTE.
Conclusion
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act”- George Orwell
The Rehabilitation of approximately 12,000 ex-LTTE cadres who surrendered to the Sri Lankan government for Security during the final stage of the humanitarian operations was a critical issue to the government because being as member of the LTTE these surrenders had served the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world. Further, they had also been motivated and trained in gun culture to kill innocent civilians and destroy public properties and also to commit suicide for their cause to not get caught to the government. Winning the heart and minds of people and ensuring a safe rehabilitation after the war was the great challenge that the Sri Lankan military had to do. Freedom isn’t free. The Sri Lankan Tri forces have sacrificed all that is precious even their own life, and time away from their families — to protect our freedoms and way of life. Our military rose to the call of duty and protected us from the horrors of the LTTE. There are no words that can properly express our collective gratitude. The Sri Lankan military and government had worked overtime and assumed the responsibility beyond their levels to rehabilitate and specially to reintegrate those affected by the war back into society with a brand-new identity. Their hard efforts today have been twisted and turned by the mouthpieces of the LTTE diasporas who shed crocodile tears and spread false propaganda to make the international forums to look down upon Sri Lanka. However, the evidences are within reach, the real story that took place in Sri Lanka must brought to the spot light and challenged the allegation raised by the international forums.
Reference
Hettiarachchi, Malkanthi “Sri Lanka's Rehabilitation Program: A New Frontier in Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency” Institute for National Strategic Security, National Defense University, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26469814]
Hettiarrachchi,Dharshana Rehabilitation of Ex Combatants, Department of Government Information, Bureau of the commissioner General of Rehabilitation, May 2013. [https://www.bcgr.gov.lk/]
National Action Plan of the National Framework Proposal for Reintegration of Ex-combatants into Civilian Life in Sri Lanka, Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, October 2009. [https://www.ilo.org/]
