How true is the truth we know? How do we know the truth we know is actually the truth itself or something that is made a truth by someone else?
The raging war between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan army is an ideal place to put this suspicion into test and as such has always been an issue for open criticism. The people in the south are dependant on the news brought to them by national and private media to establish their judgments on the actions of the two parties. On the other hand, we occasionally, compared with the frequency with which we receive the news from the media, hear the contrasting tale of a person who would actually happen to be in the hot spot. The difference between first hand experience and the follow up news are more than likely two sides of the river. But again, how do we decide which is true and which is not?
They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Well, it may also attract a thousand comments. My recent post (well, hardly a post, just four links to four pictures) on a cricket fan in the recent SL Vs AUS match running around the ground with an LTTE flag seemed to attract some serious attention and to my amazement received a comment which I thought was rather awkward (awkward, abnormal, surprisingly thought provoking - tag it anything you want) in a group of one sided arguments. Kay, who claims to be a guy raised in
It is very unfortunate that many of you have chosen a side in this war without knowing both sides of the story. Someone once said that truth is the first casuality of war. As a tamil raised in Jaffna, I couldn't have said it better.
Some of you sound very sincere in your belief that the LTTE are terrorists and are not fighting for peace. Now I ask you, do you believe that the SL government is fighting for peace? Do you believe that if the LTTE chose to put down their weapons today, the tamils will be able to live in peace in a truly democratic society? Do you believe there's no discrimination against tamils in Sri Lanka?
Have any of you actually seen war? Most of you probably rely on the Media for your information but who controls the media? Ask questions. Try to see both sides of the story. One site that I've seen come close to the truth of what I experienced in real life is www.tamilnet.com. Of course, most of you would probably dismiss it as LTTE propaganda, but would you belive me if I said this is what I saw and heard when I lived in Jaffna?
It is very easy to pass judgement on events that we have not personally experienced. The only ones who can speak truthfully of this war are those who exprienced it first hand. If any of you get the chance, ask someone from the north or the east for their side of the story. Then chose your side.
It would be irrational to come to a conclusion that Kay’s views represent those of all the people from
However, in my perspective it was not on the information provided by the media that the people have established their judgments of LTTE to be a terrorist organization. The mere experience of atrocities committed by the LTTE in the south is sufficient for the people, the normal citizens in this country like me, to draw an image of the LTTE and its course of action. The history of bombings targeting innocent civilians, the assassination of national leaders, the mass murders, the use of child solders in battles etc. all provide the necessary substance for the people in the south to cast the LTTE as a terrorist organization. (View this video for e.g.)
So in essence, while disagreeing to Kay’s comments in general regarding LTTE not being a terrorist organization, I feel this would open up for a conversation for the above suspicion. So let me raise the questions clearly again. How credible is the news we receive through the media on this storming war and its parent, the ethnic conflict? Truly, how contrasting are the views of the south to those of the north?
PS: By the time I submit this post, sittingnut had written two interesting comments on my previous post. I invite you all to read them as well.
4 Comments:
Kay, who claims to be a guy raised in Jaffna…
A girl actually, raised in Jaffna, now residing overseas.
It would be irrational to come to a conclusion that Kay’s views represent those of all the people from Jaffna or any other war-hit area in the North and the East.
I wholeheartedly agree. I don’t claim to represent anyone but myself. I didn’t see too many comments or views on this site that agreed with my view of things, so I thought I’ll throw my two cents in. We would need to hear more views from those in the north/east to see if they’re all in consensus with me.
The history of bombings targeting innocent civilians, the assassination of national leaders, the mass murders, the use of child solders in battles etc. all provide the necessary substance for the people in the south to cast the LTTE as a terrorist organization.
I would caution you against assuming all people in the south view the LTTE as terrorists. I am sure there are many people in the south (Tamil, Muslim and Singhalese) who would disagree with your view; just the same way there are those in north/east who would disagree with mine. By the way, I wanted to comment on the pictures you have linked to your post. The people in the photos have not been forced, kidnapped or trained to be solders as your original post implies. This is a regular event that takes place in most LTTE controlled areas where voluntary participants are given basic defensive training by the LTTE. I remember them from my time in Jaffna when LTTE had control of that area. I’ve never attended one, but I recall none were mandatory. It’s interesting to see the Ministry of Defence manipulate the pictures into supporting their point and even giving credit to a pro-LTTE site for posting the pictures. If the LTTE were really forcefully training them, why would they post pictures of it on the web? Ask questions.
How credible is the news we receive through the media on this storming war and its parent, the ethnic conflict?
In my opinion, not very credible. Free speech is non existent in the SL media these days. Look what happened to the journalists who dared to oppose the government. Until the government’s hold on the media is released, only it’s version of events will make it out to the public.
Truly, how contrasting are the views of the south to those of the north?
Thank you for raising this question. As someone who’s not familiar with the south, I’ve always wondered how the media there chooses to represent itself. Let’s look at a single incident for example: A school is bombed by the SLAF, LTTE claimed 60 or so (can’t recall exact number) young female students were killed; government stated they were all tigers in training. The media in the north stated both side’s claims, but it also included testimony from students, teachers and parents stating that the dead were indeed students. Pictures of all deceased girls were printed with their full names, locations, and family background. So, I have no doubt that the people in the north (as well as the international tamil community) believe innocent students were murdered that day. I am curious to know how the media in the south handled this story. Did they side with the government claims? What did they present to back up their claims?
Personally, I lost faith in the media long ago. I realized that both sides will always manipulate the information for their gains. I try to base my opinions only on what I have experienced myself, and on what others have experienced first hand. But that raises the question you mentioned Niro, how do you decide if someone’s telling the truth? It’s a judgement call each of us has to make. As for the incident above, I believe the dead were students. Reason: two of my cousins attend that school and confirmed that the dead were indeed students. I see no reason why my cousins would lie to me so I chose to believe them. I would like to hear how you (the readers) came to your conclusions about this incident.
Kay:
First of all, my apologies for misunderstanding you for a guy. I’ll edit the post to see that it ensures your ladyship :)
Now with respect to your claims of SLAF bombing a school, well yes I guess I remember the situation. However, it was reported here that the bombing had actually taken place in an LTTE military training camp, as you have already mentioned. Since I’ve not been at the site, it would be wrong from my part to confirm the news. Provided that there’s no purpose for you to lie, I’ll take your comment to be more reliable than what I heard through media.
However, if this was actually the case, I would, with much credibility, say that it was a misinterpretation of the information SLAF had and that truly it was another side effect of this bloody war, an accident. But, if the SL media tried to cover this up crafting a lie and presenting a whole different scenario, it is no way acceptable. We see civilian casualties in any war. I firmly believe that by no means would the SL army intentionally kill innocent people to win their battles. With that I would hardly say that this whole bombing incident matches to the deliberate killings of innocent people by the LTTE (I hope you had a chance to witness the video I provided in my post). I presume you have never heard of SL army invading villages and murdering people or setting up claymores to commuter buses or blowing up populated buildings, have you? Although, if you search the history of the LTTE, you would find myriads of such atrocities. Can you deny them?
You had warranted the whole civilian training issue, but you seemed to have left out the child soldiers part. Is it because that it is a harsh truth you have to admit? Can you defy the pictures and say that even the children willingly take up arms to safeguard themselves from the SL army?
Ok, let’s for a minute assume that the LTTE is not the terrorist group in this whole scenario but the SL army. Then is it appropriate for the LTTE, “as a group of people promoting non-violence and only trying to achieve their rights”, to retaliate against the SL army by killing civilians in the south? Is it appropriate for them to setup bombs in buses and trains, highly populated buildings in the capital just to get back at the SL army? Shouldn’t they pose to be the good guys while the international community will ultimately recognize the SL army to be the terrorists?
To be honest, I guess these are questions that you won’t be able to answer with a conscience. This comment was not in anyway meant to hurt anyone, especially those from the north and the east. But, with the knowledge I have, be it from the “untrustworthy media” or from my personal observation, I would still go on to say that LTTE in fact IS a terrorist group. A mere clarification of how dubious the media here is not going to change that.
Kay and Niro,
Just read this. I think I've seen the incident you mentioned discussed in a few other places and it appears to be a very contentious issue. Thats why I went and did some reading a few weeks ago. I think Unicef and other similar organisations have some information online.
Not sure if you read it, but this article which was also available in the Sri Lankan press, gives a good summary.
http://transcurrents.com/tamiliana/archives/187
The journalist's blog also appears in kottu.org.
Thank you for the article link. Its not often you find an article with in depth details that still manages to stay neutral. What the reporter has written sounds about right to me. The sad situation is, each event that takes place in SL is represented almost completely differently by both sides. For example, I read an interesting article a while ago, where a SL army commander admitted to being responsible for one of the bus bombings that was attibuted to the tigers. He stated that his solders had placed the bomb on the bus on orders from his higher commanders. I cant seem to locate that article again, but if anyone finds it, please let me know. I cant vouch for the authenticity of that article, but we see a lot of similar news in the media in the western tamil diaspora.
Niro, I will try to write a proper response later when I am not as busy, but if you have some time, try to view the videos at this link: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=SLcrisis
Let me know your thoughts.
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