I. An Overview of the History of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Since independence, Sri Lanka has experienced political instability, decentralization of political power, fierce struggles, and obvious conflicts of interest and ideological confrontations among political parties, resulting in the ineffective functioning of the political system and chaotic governance of the country.
Among them, the Tamil people in the north and east have long felt neglected and discriminated against by the government, and political inequality and segregation have exacerbated ethnic tensions.
Sri Lanka's former colonial status is not high, and a series of development measures have been carried out after independence, but the level of development is still relatively lagging behind.
In the context of political instability, economic growth was further hampered, resulting in the loss of jobs and sources of income for many people and a serious impact on the living standards of the population, which also provided the social basis for the outbreak of civil war.
It has a complex social structure of multiple ethnicities and religions, with the Tamils of Ceylon and Muslims of Ceylon being the most special.
In the process of nation-building and economic development, Tamil and Muslim communities have suffered political and economic oppression due to persistent racial discrimination and inequality, and have formed political and cultural opposition to the Sinhalese in the south.
Buddhism is the main religion in the country, but there are also large adherents of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. During the civil war, various religious organizations participated in the armed conflict, which to a certain extent exacerbated ethnic contradictions and conflicts.
Government forces represent the central government of Sri Lanka and are dominated by Sinhalese Ceylon and are primarily responsible for fighting Tamil independence militant groups and maintaining national unity.
The government army is strong, has a complete weaponry and training system, and has repeatedly carried out large-scale military operations to eliminate Tamil independent armed groups.
Tamil independence armed groups are also one of the main players in the civil war, and these organizations are aimed at fighting for national self-determination and independence for the Tamil community, most notably the "Liberated Tamil Eelam" organization.
The group, which once controlled large swathes of northern and eastern Sri Lanka, used terrorist attacks and suicide bombings that caused extensive casualties and property damage, and its commander, General Tiger, was one of the most prominent figures in the civil war.
Islamic extremists have also participated in Sri Lanka's civil war, and most of these groups have been formed on the basis of religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds to fight for the rights of Islamic sects.
Among them, Muslim national liberation organizations, Muslim youth organizations and other organizations were active during the civil war, and were on the side of the fight against government forces and Tamil independent armed groups, and in recent years, the Islamic terrorist organization "Holy Fighters" (ISIS) has also operated in Sri Lanka and has carried out terrorist attacks in the country.
In July 1983, opposition parties in southern Ceylon Sinhalese accused a member of the Tamil Independence Armed Group of murdering 13 Ceylon Sinhalese soldiers, triggering violence and massacres that resulted in large numbers of deaths and injuries and the mass displacement of the Tamil population.
Government forces have also joined the fight against Tamil independent armed groups, creating a long-lasting civil war pattern.
In 1987, the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of India reached the Indo-Sri Lanka Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which aimed to achieve the national unity of Sri Lanka and obtain a degree of autonomy for the Tamil community.
The agreement was resisted by Tamil independence militants and sparked resentment among the Sinhalese community in Ceylon, exacerbating tensions in the civil war.
This agreement was resisted by the Tamil Independence Armed Groups, and also caused discontent among the Sinhalese community in Ceylon, leading to the continuation of the civil war, and the government forces took several military operations against the Tamil Independence Armed Forces during this period.
In 1990-2001, government forces took control of large areas of northern and eastern Sri Lanka, and the Tamil Independence Armed Group suffered a heavy blow.
In 1995, government forces occupied the city of Chennai, the headquarters of the Tamil Independence Armed Group, and detained important figures such as its leader, General Tiger, although there were also numerous terrorist attacks and assassinations during this period, so that the civil war continued.
Between 2001 and 2009, there were fierce military clashes between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Independence Armed Group.
Government forces adopted a strategy of all-out offensive, eventually occupying all the bases of the Tamil Independent Armed Group and firmly controlling the situation.
In May 2009, government forces finally defeated the Tamil Independence Armed Group, and important figures such as General Devil Tiger were killed, officially ending the Sri Lankan civil war.
Main events and effects in the civil war
During the civil war, which had resulted in a large number of deaths and injuries, countless families had lost loved ones, the people of Sri Lanka had lived in terror and violence, and hostility and hatred between the Tamil and Sinhalese communities of Ceylon had deepened.
After the end of the civil war, many refugees and displaced persons still needed to be resettled and reintegrated, which posed a huge challenge to the social stability and development of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and industry were severely damaged during the civil war, and after the civil war, Sri Lanka's economic recovery was slow due to insufficient overseas aid and government investment, and unemployment and poverty remained acute.
The civil war had led to extreme polarization in Sri Lankan politics and exacerbated tensions between political factions, and the Government faced major challenges in dealing with the aftermath of the civil war, restoring the economy and democratizing the civil war.
Political instability can also exacerbate social divisions and lead to more violence.
Many countries and human rights organizations have accused the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Independence Armed Group of violating civilians and violating international humanitarian law, and Sri Lanka needs to re-establish its international image and credibility after the end of the civil war as a crucial step in rebuilding its economy and society.
During the civil war, both the Tamil Independence Armed Forces and the Sri Lankan government forces committed grave violations of civilians and violations of international humanitarian law, including mass killings, enforced disappearances, torture and sexual violence.
These grave violations and violations of human rights have aroused widespread concern and condemnation by the international community, and prompted the United Nations and other international organizations to intervene in investigating and defending human rights.
India supports the Sri Lankan government in its fight against Tamil independent armed groups, and after the end of the civil war, the political stance and influence of the countries concerned on Sri Lanka have also changed, which has had an impact on regional security and stability.
Many States and human rights organizations have condemned the violations committed by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Independence Armed Group against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law. After the end of the civil war, Sri Lanka needs to re-establish its international image and credibility, which has an important impact on attracting foreign investment and tourism development.
In the north and east of Sri Lanka, where aid could not reach the areas in need due to the war, the international community needed to strengthen its cooperation to help Sri Lanka resolve the legacy of the civil war and re-establish economic development and social progress after the civil war.
Third, the peace process after the end of the civil war
After the end of the civil war, the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Independent Armed Group signed the Peace Agreement at Sloblok Castle in Norway.
The agreement stipulates that the Government will implement decentralization so that the autonomy of ethnic minorities will be guaranteed. The Tamil Independent Armed Group, on the other hand, will accept government management and renounce violent struggle.
During the civil war, Sri Lanka suffered varying degrees of devastation, and one of the keys to the peace process was reconstruction, with the Government investing heavily in the reconstruction of housing, roads, schools and other infrastructure through loans from the international community to provide better living conditions for the local people.
The Government promotes national unity, encourages tolerance and respect among ethnic groups, and focuses on promoting multicultural and multi-ethnic cultural traditions, establishing various cultural exchange activities and festivals, etc., to enhance understanding and integration among ethnic groups.
The Government's commitment to democratic and judicial reform, transparency and fairness in government, its strengthening of the fight against corruption and the strengthening of the capacity of judicial independence and human rights protection institutions have helped to reshape Sri Lanka's governance system and culture of respect for human rights.
The United Nations, the World Bank and other international organizations have provided economic assistance and technical support to Sri Lanka, especially in reconstruction and economic development, and the cooperation of the international community has helped Sri Lanka accelerate the pace of the peace process.
The Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Independent Armed Group signed a peace agreement at Sloblok Castle in Norway to end the civil war, which represented the process of Sri Lankan society moving from "childhood" to "childhood" and completed the basic task of ending the civil war.
Sri Lanka had suffered various degrees of destruction during the civil war, and reconstruction efforts were urgent. The government and the international community have invested a lot of money in rebuilding infrastructure such as housing, roads and schools, and improving the living standards of the local people.
This stage represents the progress of Sri Lankan society from "infancy" to "adolescence", and the completion of many tasks such as infrastructure construction.
The Government promotes national unity, encourages mutual tolerance and respect among ethnic groups, strengthens ethnic exchanges and enhances understanding and integration among ethnic groups.
This stage represents the process of Sri Lankan society moving from "adolescence" to "pre-adulthood", fulfilling the tasks of democracy and multiculturalism.
The Government is committed to democratic and judicial reform, enhancing the transparency and impartiality of the Government, strengthening the fight against corruption and strengthening the capacity of institutions for the independence of the judiciary and the protection of human rights.
This stage represents the process of Sri Lankan society moving from "pre-adulthood" to "mid-adulthood", and has completed the tasks of improving judicial fairness and strengthening the fight against corruption.
After the end of the civil war, the international community provided Sri Lanka with economic assistance and technical support, especially in the reconstruction and development of the economy, which represented the process of Sri Lankan society moving from "middle adulthood" to "late adulthood", and completed the tasks of improving economic stability and international exchange capacity.
Controversy and reflections on the Sri Lankan civil war
The colonial oaths and regulations actually succeeded in deepening the gap between nationalism, deepening the gap between the two main ethnic groups, the gentry and Tamils.
After Sri Lanka's independence in 1948, the policy of gentryism began, which led to nationalist disputes over heritage and rights, and political struggles led to mass killings and violent civil conflicts, leading to greater social discontent and oppression.
For too long, the Sri Lankan government has placed Tamils in a frustrated and specific economic, cultural and political position through various forms of legal and judicial restrictions, resulting in them falling behind the gentry in Sri Lanka's development.
Discrimination and hatred persisted for a long time between the two peoples, especially the gentry Government's racial discrimination and deprivation of Tamil, which caused them to be outraged and even translated into more concrete acts of struggle.
The differences between Sri Lankan political groups and communities have increased, to the point that serious hatred has developed between different religious groups.
In July 1983, the Tamil Independence Group launched a sneak attack, a pivotal moment leading to the outbreak of civil war, with some nationalists pushing for divisions between Tamils and gentry and using religion to create new divisions.
The Sri Lankan peace process provided an opportunity for a political settlement, and the Government had reduced some restrictions on Tamils, including the use of Tamil as an official language.
The peace process had improved Sri Lanka's domestic economic environment, promoted economic development, attracted investment and cooperation from the international community, eliminated the devastation and violence of the civil war, strengthened the stability and security of the country, improved people's livelihood and raised the country's level of development.
For historical reasons, there is serious mistrust and contradiction among peoples, which hinders the smooth progress of the peace process.
The government used large-scale massacres, bombing and other means in the civil war, resulting in a large number of civilian and innocent casualties, which aggravated the contradictions between the government and the Tamils.
Some opposition forces have shown strong antipathy in the peace process, believing that the peace process is a threat to the national integrity of Sri Lanka and obstructing its progress.
The Government should safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Tamils and take positive measures to enhance trust between them and promote harmonious coexistence between the two ethnic groups.
The government needs to focus its development on backward areas, strengthen economic support for those areas, and achieve balanced economic development throughout the country.
Bibliography:
Rajesh Venugopal (2008) State, Economy, and the War in Sri Lanka, Economic and Political Weekly, 43:31, 67-76,