The Way Forward
1. What can people living in Sri Lanka do to create peace and genuine democracy?
Ultimately, peace will come - as it has in other protracted conflicts - because Sri Lankans are tired of violence. But today, people in Sri Lanka have little space to organise against State organised violence. Because of state censorship and as a result of the total breakdown of the rule of law, media control, and control of public space, Sri Lanka resembles a de facto dictatorship. Unless there is greater international engagement, Sri Lankans will retreat further and further into the silence of self-censorship whilst the few who do speak out will face greater life threatening consequences.
2. What can the international community do to help resolve this crisis?
The international community is the only hope that Sri Lankans have for the restoration of the rule of law and their fundamental human rights and for reconciliation and for stopping the “Sri Lanka model” from being exported around the world. The international community must raise the Government’s humanitarian and human rights violations whenever it considers trading preferences and economic aid. Whenever Government officials travel abroad or whenever there is contact with officials within Sri Lanka, the international community must highlight that international conventions on human rights cannot be ignored without consequence. In short the international community must step up to its 'responsibility to protect' not just Sri Lankan civilians but civilians in other countries that are looking to adopt the same model.
3. What can the UN do about the situation?
The UN should speed up the workings of the independent panel to investigate alleged war crimes by all parties. In parallel, the UN should press the Government of Sri Lanka to comply with its humanitarian and human rights obligations and the UN Secretary General should appoint a Special Envoy to ensure faster progress in the resettlement, rehabilitation and reconciliation process.
4. The international community is rather a broad term - who has the most influence?
The USA, India, Japan and EU could be doing much more to coordinate and bring pressure to bear on the Government of Sri Lanka; experience with Sudan and Burma suggests that when these players act in a coordinated manner, China and Russia recognise that is not in their interests to obstruct action and be seen as the backers of yet another nepotistic dictatorship.
Democratic states like Brazil and South Africa that have hitherto given uncritical support to the Government of Sri Lanka could also be persuaded by their publics to step up to their shared 'responsibility to protect' civilians suffering from dictatorial governments.
5. What can citizens from outside Sri Lanka do?
As with other conflicts in the past (eg South Africa, Chile) or those that are happening today (eg Burma, Tibet, Iran), there is much that ordinary people can do to avoid complicity and to pressurise the government. First, sign our campaign letter and share with friends and family - numbers count! And if you are thinking of visiting Sri Lanka simply for a holiday or buying Sri Lankan products, consider if there are alternatives which are more in tune with your values. Help the campaign in its effort to gather support from key opinion shapers all around the world by donating some of your time - this is a volunteer-run campaign and we need help in organising awareness-raising events, research and raising funds. And of course celebrities and business leaders who have a link with Sri Lanka have particular opportunities to engage. If you want discuss things further please write to srilankapeacecampaign@gmail.com marking the subject heading “Volunteer Inquiry” - we will do our best to respond as soon as possible.