Peace Pledge

THE VENUE: OfERR
OUR QUANDARY: The Civil war has replaced the peace process in Sri Lanka, can we?, should we?, must we? visit the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission’s office in Chennai on the World Peace Day. Will it be appropriate when we were of different bends of mind on the political solutions in terms of federalism versus a unitary form of government and peaceful and inclusive negotiations versus a “humanitarian war”. Yet it became clear to us that though the Tamil’s perspectives, rights and needs were not being met by the Sri Lankan government, it was still important for us to show the Sri Lankan Government and the world that there are many Tamils who are committed to democracy and a peaceful means of conflict resolution.

Our relationship with the embassy has been a channel through which we have been able to negotiate with the Sri Lankan government in the past. Having thus resolved to keep the doors and avenues for negotiation open, on World Peace Day, 40 Ceylon Tamil refugees (OfERR volunteers and camp refugees) gathered at the Chancery of the Deputy High Commission, Chennai. The guests of honor were religious leaders from the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Muslim Communities. A single candle was lit and passed around to light up several candles held by children and youth as the priests offered prayers for the dawn of peace, and for the resolution of an ethnic conflict that has raged for many decades.

Mr A.M. Amza, the Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Chennai announced that his government had decided to amend the Citizenship Act to facilitate persons of Indian origin who had left the Island as refugees, to obtain Sri Lankan Citizenship on their return to the Island. He also announced that the Government would conduct the GCE O.Level exams in Chennai this year too. The O.Level examination was held in Chennai last year to ensure that the children forced to leave schools and flee to India were able to complete the exam in Chennai. This was another issue which had come about as a result of our efforts and coordination with the High Commission.

A mango sapling was planted jointly by Mr. Amza and Ms.Ahila, Joint Treasurer- OfERR, herself a refugee.
This was an idea that OfERR suggested to the High commission to symbolize that Tamils and the Sri Lankan government were planting a seed of hope for Peace together. This sapling of the tree of peace if allowed to take root and become deeply entrenched will allow for the growth of a strong and unshakable peace process which will spread its branches far and wide.

The same evening similar celebrations were carried out at the OfERR head office and the regional offices as well as in the 117 camps all over Tamil Nadu. The meaning and significance of World Peace Day was explained and discussed, and the pledge for Peace was fervently recited as the volunteers passed on the light of their candles to one another, until the darkness was dispelled by the light of all their candles. This has a strong symbolism to our refugees, a single Refugee is a speck of light, but together the refugee community can have a voice. And it is this voice that has found articulation in The Trichy Declaration. The voice of the democratic non violent Tamil community which cries out against the human rights crisis and details the expectations and requirements of the Tamil people, who have so far been silent spectators in the government-LTTE peace efforts sponsored by the international community.

The celebration of World Peace Day was also carried out in the OfERR tsunami offices and in the tsunami affected villages where the refugee volunteers have been carrying out their relief work for the past 3 years. Once the volunteers had carried out the Peace Day celebrations in the tsunami villages, some of the surrounding village panchayats too conducted their own celebrations of World Peace Day in their villages.

Thus the idea of peace building that was planted took root and spread its branches into the Indian soil through the refugees. It is our hope that likewise it will take root in Sri Lankan soil, the soil of our motherland and an era of peace will bloom. To the Tamil refugees in India, a peaceful resolution to the conflict is the only way they can finally cast off the shroud of a refugee and return home to don the mantle of proud citizens. Thus World Peace Day has a special significance for us. When we pray for peace in our homeland, we pray for our futures and our destinies.