Sri Lanka's Military Role in Haiti and Beyond

by Daniel J Gerstle · 2010-01-20 13:52:00 UTC
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Despite the horrific violence waged by the Sri Lankan government on rebel-controlled areas of the country last year, not to mention the many killings of civilians in the crossfire and the long-running discrimination against Tamils, that government has played an important and productive role in global peacekeeping and aid, including in Haiti. How does one treat a government that is so extremely two-sided like Sri Lanka?

Tamil Tiger rebel forces have not only engaged in political efforts toward justice for the Tamil minority, but have also consented to, if not ordered, fighters in their ranks to use terror bombs to kill civilians in the country. To this end, the Sri Lankan population as a whole does very much require its government to seek peace, if not wage battle to prevent the Tigers from moves which compromise national security in the country. However, the Sri Lankan government has gone way too far by including and abusing Sri Lankan civilians, namely Tamils, in its nets. Recently, fellow blogger Michelle highlighted the outrageous discriminatory language used by the Sri Lankan government.

Nevertheless, I remember working alongside very positive and humanitarian Sri Lankan security experts in Somalia and have followed the Sri Lankan government's valiant and productive work with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations in other countries. Currently, Sri Lanka plays a role in Haiti, previously in peace-keeping and now in recovery. Perhaps Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa promotes positive international relations in order to obscure repression at home. Very likely the case, but perhaps global peace and security professionals and activists are best behooved not to blacken entire governments accused of human rights violations, but to isolate within those governments the more specific offices responsible for violations.

Would it not be more productive to enjoy a good coffee and conversation, possibly winning over Sinhalese friends in the Sri Lankan government and military, rather than scorning them in the crossfire? Here Amnesty International provides a similar approach, offering recommendations on how Sri Lankan politicians could promote positive change in coming elections.

Photo credit: Lkmal.

Daniel J Gerstle is a journalist, human rights researcher, and humanitarian aid consultant. He is Editor and Chief Correspondent for HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine.
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