I have a right to | BBC World Service

Wimalasena Hewage - Sinhala

Reporter's Story

The LTTE rebel group (the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) have been fighting for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community since 1983. The separate state, in the north and east of the island, is called Eelam.

The destruction, caused by nearly twenty years of war, is enormous. There has been a terrible loss of precious lives. About 65,000 people have died in this conflict.

There are positive developments though. Formal peace talks between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government, which aim to end the bitter ethnic conflict, began on the 16th of September 2002.

Now there is a ceasefire, and both parties are holding on to it.

In the media, there is not so much talk about the rights of the people and human rights abuses. There is talk about fighting: how many people were killed; how many tanks were deployed; how many landmines were used and how many troops were mobilised.

There is very little about the people - the people who don't want war and the victims, the ones who survive.

I travelled to Jaffna, Vavuniya and Batticaloa in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Young Refugee

I interviewed a girl who lives in Madras, India. I was very moved by her story. Because of the war in Sri Lanka, she lost her father, her sister and two brothers. She has one surviving relative, her aunt.

They lived in Jaffna. In 1998, she fell ill with chicken pox. There was heavy fighting and the threat of mortar fire in that area and her father, sister and brothers fled by boat to Madras.

She stayed behind with her aunt, who was taking care of her. The idea was to rejoin her family in Madras but the boat capsized and this girl lost her entire family in the sea.

I met her through an NGO, the Organisation for Ealam Refugee Rehabilitation (OFFER). When she told me her story, tears came to my eyes. I can not imagine what it must be like to lose one's entire family. There are so many girls in her situation.

The sad thing is that most Sri Lankans in India have their homes in the north of Sri Lanka but many of these have been destroyed. If they were able to move back, they would have to start from the beginning.

Making a Difference

OFFER is helping her. This group provides relief and assistance to the Tamil refugees who have taken refuge in India.

According to OFFER, there are presently 140,000 refugees in the state of Tamil Nadu. Some 65,000 are sheltered in 116 refugee camps run by the government.

OFFER has a sewing centre for girls and it provides computer training and classes in accounting. Its aim is to assist the Tamil refugees by helping them receive an education.

It also has trained volunteers who work in the camp. They look after the residents there; help them find employment. OFERR has employed her as a computer operator.

Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

I met a lawyer, who is a specialist in human rights and who is acting on behalf of a man who was found guilty of allegedly supporting the LTTE rebel group (the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).

I met him in the northern town of Vavuniya; he comes from a family of farmers.

He says that in 2001, he was arrested and tortured by the government's security forces and was forced to sign a paper admitting to connections with the Tamil rebels.

The lawyer is appealing on his behalf and his case is ongoing.

Making a Difference

These people are not very aware of their rights but they know that they can stand up for their rights, so I think this series of "I Have a right to ..." radio programmes may help them.

The people of Sri Lanka will hear stories where others have stood up for their rights. The listeners will learn that they have recourse.

	Other Producers: Bengali Burmese French for Africa Indonesian Pashto Persian Portuguese for Africa Sinhala Somali Uzbek BBC Sites: Q & A: peace talks The road to peace The ethnic divide Tamil Tigers Country Profile: Sri Lanka External Sites: Government of Sri Lanka Tamil Net The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites		Wimalasena Hewage - Sinhala Reporter's Story The LTTE rebel group (the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) have been fighting for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community since 1983. The separate state, in the north and east of the island, is called Eelam. The destruction, caused by nearly twenty years of war, is enormous. There has been a terrible loss of precious lives. About 65,000 people have died in this conflict. There are positive developments though. Formal peace talks between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government, which aim to end the bitter ethnic conflict, began on the 16th of September 2002. Now there is a ceasefire, and both parties are holding on to it. In the media, there is not so much talk about the rights of the people and human rights abuses. There is talk about fighting: how many people were killed; how many tanks were deployed; how many landmines were used and how many troops were mobilised. There is very little about the people - the people who don't want war and the victims, the ones who survive. I travelled to Jaffna, Vavuniya and Batticaloa in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Young Refugee I interviewed a girl who lives in Madras, India. I was very moved by her story. Because of the war in Sri Lanka, she lost her father, her sister and two brothers. She has one surviving relative, her aunt. They lived in Jaffna. In 1998, she fell ill with chicken pox. There was heavy fighting and the threat of mortar fire in that area and her father, sister and brothers fled by boat to Madras. She stayed behind with her aunt, who was taking care of her. The idea was to rejoin her family in Madras but the boat capsized and this girl lost her entire family in the sea. I met her through an NGO, the Organisation for Ealam Refugee Rehabilitation (OFFER). When she told me her story, tears came to my eyes. I can not imagine what it must be like to lose one's entire family. There are so many girls in her situation. The sad thing is that most Sri Lankans in India have their homes in the north of Sri Lanka but many of these have been destroyed. If they were able to move back, they would have to start from the beginning. Making a Difference OFFER is helping her. This group provides relief and assistance to the Tamil refugees who have taken refuge in India. According to OFFER, there are presently 140,000 refugees in the state of Tamil Nadu. Some 65,000 are sheltered in 116 refugee camps run by the government. OFFER has a sewing centre for girls and it provides computer training and classes in accounting. Its aim is to assist the Tamil refugees by helping them receive an education. It also has trained volunteers who work in the camp. They look after the residents there; help them find employment. OFERR has employed her as a computer operator. Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. I met a lawyer, who is a specialist in human rights and who is acting on behalf of a man who was found guilty of allegedly supporting the LTTE rebel group (the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). I met him in the northern town of Vavuniya; he comes from a family of farmers. He says that in 2001, he was arrested and tortured by the government's security forces and was forced to sign a paper admitting to connections with the Tamil rebels. The lawyer is appealing on his behalf and his case is ongoing. Making a Difference These people are not very aware of their rights but they know that they can stand up for their rights, so I think this series of "I Have a right to ..." radio programmes may help them. The people of Sri Lanka will hear stories where others have stood up for their rights. The listeners will learn that they have recourse.