Give peace a chance

Some friends have asked me if I'm going to write about the current situation. I responded, "What can I write? It's a minefield. I'm sure I would offend someone. The division is so great that no matter what you say, you'll antagonize one side or another."

To my leftist friends, let's not forget Isapriya. She worked for the LTTE media unit, and her lifeless, raped, naked body shocked us all. Some rogue elements of the Sri Lankan Army were responsible, and we condemned it as a war crime.

However, there's been silence on the case of a German girl exposed, Paraded on a pickup truck by Hamas, raped, naked, lifeless. Elderly and children were burnt to death, beheaded, and there is a deafening silence from your quarters.

Dear rightists (or right-wingers), you've contributed to the creation of Hamas because you didn't like the PLO. The PLO was transforming into a democratic force in Palestine, but you opposed it. Palestinians continue to suffer, with their children being killed year after year, by indescriminate bombing. The PLO was offering a peace deal with the support of the international community, but right-wing governments seem determined to scuttle any chance for peace while promoting settlements on someone else's land.

Dear international media, I vividly remember when the LTTE was killing and beheading people, including children, in Sinhalese villages. They did this to save ammunition. While it's true that the army bombed civilian areas, including a school ground where teenagers gathered, claiming they were training to fight. In war, the truth is a casualty. Both sides were wrong.

Western media condemns Hamas for killing civilians, beheading and burning them — rightfully so. On the other side, media, mainly from Muslim and anti-Western countries, points out the Israeli IDF bombings of civilians in occupied areas in Palestine (Gaza, West Bank) — also rightfully so.

However, it's crucial to recognize that whether it's in a third-world or first-world country, life is life. A Tamil, a Sinhalese, an Israeli, or a Palestinian should have the same claim and right to life. Let's stop being selective in our reporting. We've had enough.

There's no easy solution, but everyone needs to take a step back. It's challenging for those of us who are neutral in this conflict to point fingers at anyone. Everyone has a fair claim to statehood, and everyone is correct about the other side's atrocities. Please, let's take a step back and declare a ceasefire. Please start talking without guns and bombs.

. Ajith 18/10/2023