Sinhalese-Tamil conflict The consequences

Consequences Click on the hyperlink to begin Political Economic Social

Political consequences Armed conflict Foreign intervention

Peaceful Means: TAMILS EEarly 1950s : Federal Party asked that Tamil areas be recognised as a federation within the country DDemands not met 11976 : New political party TAMIL UNITED LIBERATION FRONT asked for a separate independent state (Tamil Eelam) SSinhalese government rejected this idea ARMED CONFLICT

Violent Means: TAMILS SSome angry Tamil youths formed a militant group, the LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM [LTTE], and resorted to violence PPopularly known as Tamil Tigers, they were considered terrorists

Violent Means: TAMILS TTamil Tigers attacked TTamil members of the police force TTamil members and supporters of the ruling party TTamil politicians who did not support the proposed separate state TThe Sinhalese

Violent Means: SINHALESE SSinhalese also showed hostility through violence AAnti-Tamil riots first in 1956, then 1958, 1971, 1977 and 1983 MMany killed and injured TTamils forced to flee for their lives UUnfortunately, such riots were encouraged by the Sinhalese security forces such as the army

Violent Means 11983 riots – thousands fled to Tamil Nadu in South India IIndian government was forced to intervene in the conflict in Sri Lanka VViolence cost thousands of lives LLeads to hatred and distrust MMakes peaceful solutions almost an impossibility CChildren grow up with prejudices of their racial or religious groups RRemained hostile towards each other throughout their lives

IInternal conflicts may attract foreign intervention HHow? Role of mediator vs direct involvement IIn this case, INDIA 11983 : Mediator JJun 1987 : Indian Air Force dropped food and medical supplies in Jaffna. JJul 1987 : Sri Lanka, under pressure from India, signed a peace accord with India FOREIGN INTERVENTION

Extract of peace accord: –W–Was to be a ceasefire between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan forces –T–Tamil Tigers were to surrender their arms to the Indian peacekeeping troops –T–Tamil-dominated northern provinces were to be merged with the eastern provinces

OOct 1987 : Indian troops took Jaffna by force OOct 1987 – Dec 1988 : Clashes between Indian peacekeeping force and Tamil Tigers MMar 1990 : Indian peacekeeping force withdrawn

Economic consequences Unemployment Loss of investment from other countries Loss of investment from other countries Fall in number of tourists

TThose killed are usually breadwinners of families RRiots of 1983 caused massive unemployment FFactory worked SSelf-employed PPlantation workers MMany Tamil-owned companies and business were the target of the looters MMany of the jobless were Sinhalese, took part in VVandalism, looting and burning places of work such as garment factories IIn a conflict, all parties suffer UNEMPLOYMENT

BBusinesses from other countries are needed for economic growth IInternal unrest drives away investors SSri Lanka – investments fell UUS$66m in 1982 UUS$39m in 1983 UUS$22m in 1986 AAffects economy drastically LOSS OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS

TTourism – a major income earner for Sri Lanka SSerious affected by violent internal conflict TTourist arrivals fell drastically after 1983 riots LLoss of jobs; fall in income AAffects economy adversely LLess funds for public projects like transport and housing FALL IN NUMBER OF TOURISTS

Social Consequences Sri Lankans driven out of their homeland Sri Lankans driven out of their homeland

IIn the 1983 riots, thousands of Tamils fled to Tamil Nadu in India. SStill remain as refugees in India HHigh Security Zones (HSZ) were set up by Sri Lankan army to keep LTTE away AAccess controlled Sri Lankan Tamils driven out of their homeland

Recent updates of the conflict 2002 – peace talk begin. Ceasefire agreement was signed 2003 – LTTE withdrew talks 2004 – suicide bomb took place in Colombo. Tsunami in Sri Lanka further aggravated the conflict. International aid was not shared between Sinhalese and Tamils 2005 – assassination of Foreign Minister, a Tamil. Major setback for peace talk.

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Federation A federation is a state that comprises a number of partially self-governing regions, united by a central government

Militant group One that uses organised violence to achieve their goals

Mediator A neutral party that brings two opposing sides together for discussion

Peace accord Agreement between two hostile parties, tht formally ends a war or armed conflict.

Ceasefire A temporary stoppage of any armed conflict, where each side involved in the conflict agrees to suspend aggressive actions

Looting In times of riots, not safe for shops/companies to open for business. A group of people will then forcefully break open the shops/companies and carry off things/objects. These things can be goods or office equipment.