There have been series of attempts to resolve the civil war peacefully by political arrangements until the Rajapaksa regime decided to declare war against LTTE in 2006. The first peace rounds were marked by Bandaranaike and Chelvanayagam in 1957. The Senanayake- Chelvanayagam peace talks in 1965 followed by Round Table conference 1983, All Party conference 1984, Thimpu Bhutan talks in 1985, Political Parties conference of 1986, Indo Sri Lanka Accords, All Party Conference of 1989, Dialogue with the LTTE in 1990, Select Committee of Parliament, Jaffa Peace talks of 1995 and Ceasefire agreement and peace talks in 2001. The entire peace process in Sri Lanka failed in finding a political solution to the ethnic conflict. Particularly, the Indo- Sri Lanka Peace Accords and the 2002 Peace process were able to gain international attention. However, the failure of the peace process changed the political map of Sri Lanka in a larger context. The failure of 1987 and 2001 peace activities problematized the international involvement in the peace process in Sri Lanka. With these contextual annotations, the author looks at the catastrophe of the peace process of Sri Lanka through two case studies: 1987 Indo- Sri Lanka Peace Accords and 2002 Peace rounds. The final portion of the paper describes the linkages between human security approach and peace agreements in Sri Lanka.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Review of Literature
Background note on 1987 Indo- Sri Lanka Peace Accords
Background note on the Peace Process in Sri Lanka (2002-2006)
Field Work Report
Conclusion
Chapter One: References
HUMAN SECURITY AT THE TIME OF 2004 TSUNAMI DISASTER
Introduction
The relevance of Human Security in Post-Conflict Sri Lanka
Socio-economic and gendered nature of disaster outcome
The policy of the Buffer Zones
Towards a Human Rights-Based Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction
Field Work Report
Chapter Two: References
Appendix
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This work examines the recurring failure of peace processes in Sri Lanka from the 1980s through 2006, investigating why political agreements failed to secure lasting peace and address human security requirements. The research explores the role of international mediators, the impact of power asymmetries, and the influence of domestic ethnic politics and cultural identity on the sustainability of conflict resolution.
- The historical failure of the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord and the 2002 Peace Process.
- The impact of the 2004 Tsunami on human security and ethnic relations.
- The intersection of gender, social class, and disaster policy in post-conflict recovery.
- The necessity of a rights-based approach to disaster risk reduction (DRR).
- The role of identity politics and social comparison in fueling ethnic tension.
Excerpt from the Book
The policy of the Buffer Zones
Sri Lanka had a policy of environmental conservation at the time of the tsunami through the Coastal Zone Management Plan of 1997 that prescribed restrictions from the sea for human habitation. However, these rules were rarely enforced. Due to this, the IDPs settled in temporary homes in these zones, in violation of the rules, which were nearly adjacent to the ocean.
The policy of buffer zones was promulgated in 2005 which specified that a 200-meter no-build zone was to be observed along the east coast where most of the damage from the disaster took place. These areas largely comprised of minority Tamils and Muslims who also happened to be the most affected in the tragedy. However, what sparked a major controversy was the creation of a narrower 100-meter buffer zone in regions populated by the Sinhala-majority, which was also where tourism was concentrated.
The discrimination meted out to the Tamils and Muslims in terms of the differential size of the buffer zones was viewed as a catalyst for human insecurity as it intensified ethnic prejudices. The government’s vested interests in rebuilding the tourism industry, while ignoring the plight of the vulnerable communities was a major hindrance to its own rehabilitation efforts.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the series of failed peace attempts in the Sri Lankan civil war, establishing the context for analyzing the catastrophes of the 1987 and 2002 peace processes.
Review of Literature: Analyzes the structural failings of the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord and the 2002 Peace Process, highlighting how political agendas and the exclusion of key stakeholders contributed to their collapse.
Field Work Report: Presents primary qualitative data collected through interviews with scholars and students to provide on-the-ground perspectives on stakeholders, peace agreements, and political intentions.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, arguing that the failure of peace initiatives stems from a lack of genuine effort to address grassroots concerns and identity issues, suggesting that brutality and military power were ultimately favored over reconciliation.
HUMAN SECURITY AT THE TIME OF 2004 TSUNAMI DISASTER: Examines how natural disasters exacerbate social vulnerabilities and ethnic tensions, specifically focusing on the discriminatory nature of post-tsunami reconstruction policies.
Towards a Human Rights-Based Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction: Argues for the integration of a rights-based framework in disaster management to protect marginalized communities and hold duty bearers accountable.
Appendix: Documents the raw responses from various research participants regarding the 13th Amendment, the role of Norwegian mediation, and the impact of identity and culture on the conflict.
Keywords
Sri Lanka, Civil War, Peace Process, Human Security, Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, LTTE, Tsunami 2004, Disaster Risk Reduction, Ethnic Conflict, Identity Politics, Buffer Zones, Norwegian Mediation, Rights-Based Approach, Stakeholders, Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research explores the recurring failure of peace processes in Sri Lanka and investigates how natural disasters like the 2004 Tsunami intersect with pre-existing ethnic and social insecurities.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
Key themes include the breakdown of peace negotiations (1987 and 2002), the role of international actors, human rights infringements, and the socioeconomic impact of disaster reconstruction policies.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to understand why peace agreements in Sri Lanka have consistently failed to meet their expected outcomes and to advocate for a more human-rights-centered approach to conflict resolution and disaster management.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The study uses a combination of literature review and qualitative primary research, specifically semi-structured interviews with scholars and students involved in the field of International Relations.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides a critical analysis of peace agreements, the political dynamics between the government and the LTTE, and a detailed review of post-tsunami recovery policies and their failure to protect vulnerable communities.
How would you characterize the keywords defining this work?
The work is defined by terms focusing on peace-building, human security, conflict transformation, ethnic identity, and disaster risk management.
What role did the Norwegian government play in the 2002 peace talks?
The interviews and analysis suggest that Norway acted as both mediator and facilitator, but their role was often viewed as ambiguous, and their motivations were frequently questioned by the local parties.
How did the buffer zone policy affect post-tsunami reconstruction?
The buffer zone policy created significant tension as it appeared to discriminate against Tamil and Muslim communities by enforcing stricter land-use restrictions compared to regions populated by the Sinhala-majority, where tourism development was prioritized.
What do the participants suggest as a path to future peace?
Participants emphasized the need for sincere recognition of identity, equality of rights, and the devolution of decision-making power to minority groups, rather than relying on top-down, militarized solutions.
- Arbeit zitieren
- MA International Relations Dilan Prasad Harsha Senanayake (Autor:in), 2018, The Human Security Discourse and Seeking Peace. Field Work Analysis Based on the Sri Lankan Civil War, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/442861
