Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tigers (LTTE) are considered a terrorist organization by 32 countries. Their soldiers wore cyanide vials for consumption upon capture. They invented the suicide belt and pioneered the use of suicide bombing as a tactic. They also pioneered the use of women in suicide attacks and forcibly kidnapped and inducted child soldiers. [...]
Tag Archives: Tamil Tigers
U.N. Ambassador Kohona: Sri Lanka Refugee Situation Improving
New York, N.Y. Fourteen years after the civil war in Rwanda, refugees are still living in mud huts. In Bosnia, following Balkanization, people lacked heat and electricity for years. On the Afghani-Pakistani border, millions today are living in squalor. In all of these refugee populations, disease was and often remains endemic. Food and water scarce. [...]
Italy Hosts Child Soldiers Symposium with U.N.
New York, N.Y. The obscene issue of child soldiers is being discussed this week at an international symposium in Rome. The Italian government is hosting this important symposium, “Children and Young People Affected by Armed Conflict: Learn, Understand, Act.” This meeting is in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of [...]
In Sri Lanka: Reconciliation & Reconstruction
Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is now focused on the “3 R’s:” Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Reconciliation. The immense cost for resettling the 280,000 people in the camps is staggering. European leaders need to stop lecturing and start helping.It is actually possible that China will be able to step into the picture if Europe continues to [...]
In Sri Lanka: A U.S. Congressman Gets It
Colombo, Sri Lanka. At a press conference at the Colombo Hilton this morning, North Carolina Congressman Heath Shuler was flanked by the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Washington and the Sri Lanka Minister of Foreign Affairs. The American Congressman stated boldly, “I would like to congratulate the government of Sri Lanka in their victory over terrorism. We [...]
In Sri Lanka: On the Streets of Colombo
Colombo, Sri Lanka. The euphoria remains on the balmy streets of Colombo. One week ago the Tamil Tigers were at last defeated — on the beaches of the north — after 26 years of terrorism. Their human hostages have escaped. The Sri Lankan flag flies now from virtually every tuk-tuk (three-wheeled taxi) and every building. Children grin broadly [...]
In Sri Lanka: A Look at the Refugee Camp
Colombo, Sri Lanka. In the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s victory over terrorism, there are many tears.The Tamil Tigers have been defeated, but 280,000 Sri Lankan Tamils are now Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) – in short, refugees in their own country. The world is beating a path to the camps, first United Nations Secretary General Ban [...]
Who Knew?! Tamil Tigers In Our Own Backyard!
I have thought to write less of Sri Lanka following my recent trip there – and eight articles about what I learned on that trip published through the Huffington Post. Sri Lankan soldier rescuing Tamil child. I chronicled the defeat of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government’s Herculean efforts to care for more [...]
