Word: tamil
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...certainly do not pretend to know the answers to the moral quandaries. But I do know that, now that the Sri Lankan state has defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, more commonly referred to as the Tamil Tigers, the government’s value rigidity—all of its black-and-white moralizing of the conflict—must cease if there is to be any chance at a permanent peace and a brighter future. More specifically, as the state finishes off the rebels, it must promise to address the political grievances of the minority groups whom...
...There is no doubt that the Tigers are a dangerous terrorist group. Even now, on the eve of the last battle, they defend their position with human shields: Tamil women and children. But the Tigers are not the Tamil population, and it does not follow that the legitimate claims of those who see them as freedom fighters should be unduly ignored. It’s been total war thus far, and both the state and the tigers have committed severe human-rights violations (the state itself has refused to allow the United Nations Human Rights Council to conduct an investigation...
...Since the 1980s, at least, the center of Sri Lankan politics has been dominated by Sinhalese Buddhists. Tamil Hindus and Muslims have often gotten the short end of the stick with regard to education, discriminatory language policies, and pogroms and political gerrymandering in their traditional homeland...
...Lankans, whether Tamil Hindus, Sinhalese Buddhist, or Muslims, should not have to choose between multiculturalism and political rights on the one hand and national security and the safety of their children on the other. Before the official end of the war, a promise must be made to address many of the Tamil grievances—short of independence—that fueled the fire in the first place. There cannot simply be a victor’s peace, for that is no peace...
...several countries are trying to help forge a truce - or at least a temporary suspension of fighting - so government troops can get the remaining civilians out of the war zone. The Sri Lankan president met with high-ranking officials from India, just after its government condemned the killing of Tamil civilians. The U.S. has also expressed concern over the dangers faced by civilians, and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is expected to visit the country in the coming days. The Tigers have indicated their willingness to agree to a truce but, according to U.N. officials, are still preventing civilians from...