Social Media: Sri Lanka's New War Zone

J Jeganaathan
IB226-Jegan-SriLankaSocialMedia.pdf
This essay examines the role of social media
in shaping the post-war political developments in Sri Lanka as well as the ethnic question
of Tamils. It explores how the social media has transformed the ethnic confict within the
new realm of cyerspace and the impact on post-war Sri Lankan ethnic question.
!n "#$ %ay &'"( Sri Lanka celerated the )*ar +eroes ,ay- to commemorate its military
victory over the Lieration Tigers of Tamil .elam /LTT.0$ which was rutally decimated
four years ago. Sri Lankans were treated to a sight of mass army parade$ which not only
displayed military might ut also meant to serve as a deterrent to dissident elements in
the country.
The igger question is$ whether the ethnic confict was duly resolved with the end of LTT.
or rather it descended into to a new phase. *hat seems very much palpale from the
post-war socio-political developments is that the political issues related to ethnic Tamils
have not een addressed adequately$ rather they have een systematically su1ugated.
!f late$ the 2overnment of Sri Lanka /2oSL0 has een facing ire from the international
community on its accountaility for human rights auses and war crimes. ,espite
attempts at political manoeuvring to evade international pressure$ 2oSL continues to lose
its human rights attle along with loss of political legitimacy at home and aroad.
The government has failed to defend itself against two successive resolutions at the
34+56 and compromised its goodwill with India for 6hina hoping that latter would shield
it from international criticisms. It also overestimated the 6hinese capacity to deepen or
expand its infuence in the region and misconstrued playing the 6hina card$ which was to
act as a counterweight against India. It failed to fathom that 6hinese presence$ however
deep and wide$ would hardly translate into concrete action. Sri Lanka is still under the
international scrutiny for alleged human rights auses and war crimes.
,o these factors imply that the confict has een taken to a new level$ where Tamils-
foremost demand is for 1ustice than 1ust peace. 7ut the ground is not swelling with
reprisal ecause of strong military presence and surveillance. 5ather$ it is very much alive
and active in cyerspace$ over which the 2oSL has limited control.
Images and videos covertly capturing the rutality of the last phase of the war have gone