The 15-year civil war in Sri Lanka between government forces and Tamil Tiger separatists has left many families searching for answers about missing loved ones. One mother, Rasalingam Thilakawathi, has been searching for her daughter for 15 years, with the last evidence being a photo of her daughter sitting inside a bus with captured Tamil Tiger fighters. Many more people are missing, and Thilakawathi pleads with authorities to tell her whether her daughter is alive or dead. The memorial service marking the 15th anniversary of the war took place on the strip of land in Mullivaikal village where thousands of civilians were believed to have died.
The conflict in Sri Lanka dates back to the mistreatment of Tamils by the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese majority, leading to a rebellion by Tamil Tiger fighters who sought an independent homeland in the north. The group was defeated in a 2009 government offensive that UN experts say killed tens of thousands of Tamils. Both sides were accused of serious human rights violations, with the government targeting civilians and hospitals, while the Tamil Tigers used child soldiers and held civilians as shields. Many criticize the United Nations for failing to intervene and stop the bloodshed.
Despite years of searching, many families of missing individuals have grown feeble and died, unable to find closure. Some have refused to accept death certificates for their missing children without knowing what happened to them. Others, like Sellan Kandasamy, have been separated from their loved ones during the final stages of the war, not knowing whether they are alive or dead. A new UN Human Rights Commission report recommends the establishment of an independent prosecution and special court to bring perpetrators to justice.
The UN’s involvement in the conflict has been criticized, with many feeling that the international organization failed to protect civilians during the war. Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon set up an internal review panel, which found that the UN system did not meet its responsibilities in the conflict. Many survivors and families of missing individuals feel let down by the UN and other international organizations that failed to provide assistance when it was needed most. Despite the passage of time, they continue to demand answers and justice for their missing loved ones.
In Vejle, Denmark, people gathered to remember Velupillai Prabhakaran, the slain Founder of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Despite his death in 2009, there are claims that Prabhakaran is alive and living abroad, leading some to collect money on his behalf. Thilakawathi and other parents of missing children in Sri Lanka have protested and demonstrated, seeking answers about their missing loved ones. The new U.N. report calls for prosecutions and accountability for the atrocities committed during the war, emphasizing that the truth must be revealed, and justice must be served for the tens of thousands of Sri Lankans who were forcibly disappeared. Family members and advocates are determined to ensure that the victims are never forgotten, and their families deserve to know the truth about what happened to their loved ones.
