This issue...
Covers the period April to June 2005
Introduction
Taylor Owen in an article titled Human Rights, Human Security and Disarmament has discussed the differentiations between traditional security and human security. He points out that the primary premise of this differentiation is based on the referent object of security. The following table is explains his argument.
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Type of Security
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Referent object
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Responsibility to protect
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Possible threats
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| Traditional security | The state | The integrity of the state | Interstate war
Nuclear proliferation Revolution |
| Human security | The individual | The integrity of the individual | Disease
Poverty Natural disaster Violence Landmines Human rights abuses |
In discussing 'possible threats' category, Owen brings out an interesting observation in detailing what actually could be regarded as a threat to human security and what should not be considered as such. His recommendation is that all possible threats must be 'assessed based on its severity' and 'only those that surpass a threshold of severity' should be recognised as a threat. These observations and comments are contributory to the ongoing debate on traditional security and human security and the boundary demarcations of each. This debate is applicable to the present Sri Lankan context where for better policy decisions; clarifications are needed as to what can be considered threats to human security.
General Situation
The period of four months from April to June 2005 have been marked in the Northeast with a number of hartals, protests and demonstration over numerous reasons. These demonstrations have had the day today activities in the protest held areas crippled and have also contributed to mounting tensions amongst communities. The following is an account of the number of protests that took place in the given districts.
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CHA District Office
Areas
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April 2005
|
May 2005
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June 2005
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| East - Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee | 6th /April:
Some members of the Muslim community protested and held a hartal because a Buddhist statue was constructed in Pottuvil. The hartal was organised by the welfare societies in the area. | 16th /Trincomalee:
A hartal was staged by the Tamil Peoples' Forum; shops, businesses and schools were closed and security personnel set up checkpoints around the area in protest of a Buddha statue near the Trincomalee bus stand. A curfew was imposed on 17th, when 9 explosions occurred in different locations in the town, where seven people were injured. | 3rd June/Trincomalee:
A hartal was organised by the Tamil Forum, in protest of a large Buddha statue being placed in town. |
| North - Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Puttalam | 26th March, 6th & 9th April/Jaffna:
Protests by Fishermen Societies and CBOs were held at various locations in the Jaffna district condemning the new construction of SLA sentry points within 200 meters of coast while prohibiting rehabilitation of civilian buildings in the same area and delays in providing relief to those affected by the tsunami. 20th /Jaffna: The Private Bus Association went on strike and the public gathered in protest of an accident involving a motorbike and a private bus. One of the passengers on the motorbike was killed and others were injured in the accident. | 5th/Jaffna:
Large crowds carrying black flags and placards protested against the visit of the Governor of Northeast Province Mr. Tyronne Fernando 7th /Jaffna & 10th/Vavuniya: Several members of media gathered in protest of the murder of the journalist Mr. T. Sivaram | 03rd June/Jaffna:
A harthal was observed in protest to the non removal of security deployment in Trincomalee as agreed earlier. Security sentry posts at Munai in Point Pedro DS Division and Meesalai in Chavakachcheri DS Divisions were burnt down by protesters. |
The protest and hartals are a form of expression used by people to voice their displeasure about incidents that they feel have an adverse effect on their lives. While these protests are taking place in the districts, the government was seen to be taking various steps towards development initiatives. The Development Forum held in Kandy on 15th and 16th of March 2005 and the Joint Mechanism initiative are the best examples for such development initiatives. The most prominent feature of the discussion held at the forum focused on bringing people to the spotlight- in readjusting development strategies that ensured the contribution of the people in the decision-making process to establish subsidiarity and ownership. As pointed out in the Introduction, Owen speaks of the boundaries that should be administered in taking into consideration the actual threats to human security of the people based on levels of severity. The ambiguous question that arises in introducing and implementing new development policies therefore is bringing in these limitations to the Sri Lankan context and deciding upon what should be and should be not taken into consideration. Undoubtedly, this process is necessary but it would not reduce in any way the implications that would follow.
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