In may it was ten years ago, the bloody civil war was ended in Sri Lanka – is associated with great hopes. But came back Easter of Terror. Impressions from a still divided country.
Tamil temple separated on a beach in northeast Sri-Lanka: Religious groups in many places, from each other
Of the day, Sunil the life Weersingh almost cost was a Monday in September 1991. The soldier wanted to take a minute to Endure to the toilet – after long hours of regungslosem, entrenched in a position, in the middle of the jungle. No sooner had he climbed over the sandbags, hit him a shot on his right knee. Another bullet pierced his right Shin, before he saved himself at the last second behind the protective position.
Sunil Weersingh, now 52 years old, curly, braided tied hair, sitting in the office of the beach hotel, which he operates in the North-East of Sri Lanka. He points to the scars. His Name is changed for his protection. Because Weersingh belonged to for twelve years, a special unit of the sri Lankan army. In the jungle, he and his men tracked the Tamil Tigers, extremist militias, and the widespread attacks over decades of fear and terror on the island in the Indian ocean.
Abandoned barracks in Trincomalee: human rights violations on both sides
The United Nations accuse the government troops of human rights crimes. Thereof Ex wants to know-soldier Weersingh nothing. And yet his story stands for a country that is torn ten years after the end of the armed conflict low, regardless of the series of attacks on Easter Sunday.
A hundred thousand Dead in the civil war
In may 2009 a civil war in which up to 100,000 people were killed ended in Sri Lanka. On the one hand, the Tamil Tigers, which pursued their goal – an independent Tamil state in the North of the country, even with Terror. On the other hand, the army took in its fight against the insurgents civilian victims. Until today, the crime of the citizens are not are worked up the war. And you can feel it in Sri Lanka, even if only as a Tourist on the island.
Paradise beaches on the Indian ocean, spectacular train routes through the highlands, tea, cinnamon, and very lovable people – from the civil war-plagued country has become a popular travel destination. The number of tourists has increased five-fold, according to official data, in the last ten years. This year the travel guide “Lonely Planet has chosen” the island the number one travel destination.
Nine-ark-bridge in the highlands of Sri Lanka: a Paradise of beaches, spectacular railway lines
The tourism was considered by many as a peace-making Power of the Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians gave equally good business. However, after the terrorist attacks at Easter, a slump in the industry, yet no one knows how strong he fail and the country will throw back.
Tensions in the holiday Paradise
The suicide bombings – allegedly by Islamists on Christian churches and Hotels were “completely atypical for Sri Lanka” – that is, the experts were quick to agree. Because tensions between Christians and Muslims, who together make up only about 18 percent of the population, formed over decades of the country. The modern history of Sri Lanka was determined rather by the conflict between the Sinhala-Buddhist majority and the Tamil-Hindu minority.
“Are you Sinhalese reading, Tamil or Muslim?” This is the question that you hear in many parts of the country, still, first, reported Weersingh in a conversation at the beginning of the year in the tourist high season. As a Sinhalese reading, and businessman he had in the North of the country a heavy Los. The end of the 1990s he emigrated to Europe, wanted to leave the violence behind. Then he returned to being a Yoga teacher is building up his savings in a Hotel. The Northern provinces are developed for tourism, the beaches are just as beautiful as in the South or the West.
Buddhists – Hindus – Muslims – Christians
However, the local authorities were in part occupied still with members of the Tamil Tigers, and would have him, the Buddhists, the stones placed in your way. “My daughters should not go to school here,” says Weersingh. He told the in January in his office, behind a closed door. His employees in the Hotel, the Tamils and Muslims, are not supposed to know that he is speaking with a Reporter. He’s now considering to sell the operation and to try a restart in the capital city of Colombo. The oblique views, the discrimination, the be to him and his family, despite the paradisiacal backdrop to much.
Praying Buddhists in Anuradhapura: tourism as a peace-Power
Discrimination can, of course, also report the other side. Thong Lassa is a farmer and Tamils. At his sales stand, four kilometres from Weersinghs the Hotel, hanging coconuts, and bananas. “House searches and harassment by the soldiers were, until Recently, on the agenda,” says the 56-Year-old. With the extremists he had never had to do something, “like the least”. However, Lassa says that the government should allow the Tamils to be more self-managing.
Tensions since independence
For Christian Wagner, South Asia expert at the Berlin science and politics Foundation, right here is the sticking point. “Even ten years after the end of the civil war, the question of the representation of the Tamil is not solved of a minority.” Wagner calls it the “tragedy of this country”.
The British colonial masters had in the 19th century. Century settled the Tamils from India as workers in the then Ceylon. But, except for the noticeable tensions, especially the policy, have catered to the independence of Sri Lanka in 1948, says Wagner. “First was the architecture introduced as the first official language and, later, Buddhism, as a privileged Religion in the Constitution.” For the Tamils this was a provocation, “the Tamil Tigers took advantage of then-radical”.
Even now, ten years after the end of the civil war, separated the living quarters of the various religious groups in many places, from each other, and hardly read a Sinhalese, the Tamil-speaking or Vice-versa. However, the tourists and the trade with India and China have made the country a rapid rise. “The people in Sri Lanka just want peace,” says Ex-soldier Weersingh, only a few weeks before the Easter bombings brought Terror in the tropical Paradise. In the end of the year, upcoming presidential election, the parties need to explain how you permanently want peace guarantee, with all groups of people at a table.