As my third day of fasting ends, I wonder, where is the change? Although I know there may be no direct correlation between my fasting and the Tamils suffering the aerial bombing and shelling in Northern Sri Lanka, I somehow had this daydream that once we started this it would all change…it has to, right?
How much worse can it get? Could it get any worse than a hospital in Puthukudiyiruppu being shelling incessantly nine times in a row, where 500 patients were seeking urgent medical treatment? Could it get any worse than the Sri Lankan government telling everyone that this hospital was a “legitimate target?” Could it get any worse than bombing that leaves 52 civilians dead in one day? Could it get any worse than the Sri Lankan government accusing international news media and NGOs of “sensationalizing civilian casualties” and “exaggerating number of deaths” in this real humanitarian disaster?
While I’m trying to convert my daydream to fit reality, I am reminded of the people I met in Northern Sri Lanka only three years ago, where they were living with dignity in the very places that have now been overrun by the Sri Lankan government. I remember them and their words about wanting freedom, to live in peace where they could govern themselves, and no longer have to live under fear and oppression from the Sri Lankan government.
I won’t forget meeting a young woman in Northern Sri Lanka who just had a baby boy in 2006. She captured the essence of what Tamils living in the Northeast strive for during one of my conversations with her. She said, “when we go to the South, we are sent back North; when we travel through checkpoints were are harassed; when we seek aid, we are ignored; when we look for work, we are turned away; when we go fishing, we are fired at; when we sleep at night we do not know if we will be here the next day…if we live in our own land and have our own people to govern us, we will finally feel like human beings.”
Even though it seems like things are not changing, I embrace those wishes of people in Northern Sri Lanka during this fast, and know that beyond the clashes of war, our act of solidarity is charging people all over the world to start speaking out more for those who are silenced.
February 8th, 2009 at 2:57 am
It is not easy to penetrate the thick skin and pre-set attitudes of the powers of the world. But our hope and spirit for liberty, like yours, will always shine bright even at these darkest of times.
We will keep reminding them to see how they are assisting a genocidal government and thus being a party to it.
February 14th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Vanakkam!
As JK has said the journey is long but there can be no light in a night of darkness unless at least one person makes the move to light a candle. No country has gained its independence overnight. I do not want to be overly optimistic and say we have reached the end; I also do not want to be overly pessimistic and say this is just the beginning. To be realistic, this is probably the climax. The contribution that you are making is helping heighten the climax of our goals and visions. Let not your spirit be dampened by the lack of attention. You have to bear the darkness in order to bask in the sunshine of tomorrow. The Sun will rise on us soon…The time will soon arrive when we all receive the manna of freedom.
Dharmam Vaazhga! Thamizh Vezhga!
Anpudan,
eezha gothai
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Things might not change as fast as we want them to change.. but rest assured that your actions have sparked others to do something about this whole mess..