Written by: Sahana K.
When early cartographers and geographers set foot in Ceylon, they described it in their notes as “the Pearl of the Indian Ocean; Eden; a land without sorrow;” and the “island of paradise.” (Ponambalam, 1983). Yet, this land, once claimed as a paradise is now flooding with sorrow for its Tamil population. 
The May Massacre of 2009 is something that cannot be forgotten. In May 2009, thousands of Tamils were brutally massacred in program to wipe out the Tamils. Since the event, much evidence has stemmed which document the atrocities inflicted upon Tamils, including torture, rape, shelling and mass killing. But what happened since? While inquiries have been conducted on the crimes, what happened to the people who have survived?
Currently, according to the United Nations (UN) 117,888 IDPs still live as refugees and many have had their traditional homes confiscated. Of these people, 18,589 persons are living with host families in Vavuniya, 4,928 in Mannar and 94,371 persons in Jaffna districts. In addition to these people, another 16,000 still remain in camps in Vavuniya district (UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). These are only the numbers of those that were accounted for; therefore, one can only assume the numbers of people unsettled are much higher than these already high numbers may indicate.
But more than where, the question is how these people are now living. Many of these people who had suffered through the genocide suffer both from physical and mental trauma induced by May Massacre. With so many refugees, it is clear that little is being done to “resettle” the victims back into their homes. Not even the basic necessities are being met for these IDPs. With little employment opportunities, delayed livelihood assistance, high food prices, lack of adequate shelter many Tamils live in poverty in their own lands.
The mental and physical trauma induced by war and the crime of genocide is not one that is easily levitated; in fact, it is one that transforms people within their core, and leaves a wound that really never truly completely heals. How does one begin to move on with their life when everything is stripped from them? There are countless children who have lost their parents and grandparents. There are thousands of spouses who must continue on without them. There now remain innocent girls who were raped mercilessly who now must figure out what their future holds. And really, in a paradise that resembles a nightmare, what does the future really hold?
Yes, this is the reality of the paradise now. These people, who once lived comfortably, are now lost in the nightmare of paradise.
Tags: Speak Out
