A good conversation among diasporals. I got no beef.
Sanjana (as Groundviews) has responded to my post on the war being over by bringing up personal email/phone conversations and trying to blacklist me with the Knight Foundation and Ashoka News. Which is, well, rather petty and besides the point. London Lanka, by contrast, has responded with something much more intelligent.
The quote he took issue with was:
The war is over and the only people that can’t really accept it are either abroad or facing abroad.
He responded, saying:
When people in the island talk about the war being over and say that people should move on, it’s a wholly understandable view. As is that of the diasporic people who can look at a wide ranging picture, one that takes little or no account of the finer, but very important, details that affect people every day.
It’s not actually about where you live, it’s about how much you know and how much you care.
On his broader point, I agree. The diaspora has a right to participate in the conversation and ‘abroad facing’ people (like me) are also welcome. I personally was really impressed by this conversation with young diasporals from Canada. On the same level, even Kumar Sangakkara has to go abroad to speak his mind and be heard and what matters is the ideas, not the location. Word.
So, that’s not what I meant. What I do mean is that people in Sri Lanka really do think and live like the war is over and that the perspective abroad – due largely to media – is very very different. We’re still in the news mainly for war (sometimes accountants) and it does get a bit old. Many diasporals did leave due to war and that’s still their reference point. But that’s not Sri Lanka anymore.
Some Data On What People Are Searching
Let us compare some search/news data.
Search and news traffic for: sri lanka war, sri lanka jobs, sri lanka education, within Sri Lanka
As you can see, Sri Lankans pretty promptly moved on to bread and butter concerns after the war, though this data is obviously not insanely robust. I don’t often type in ‘sri lanka war’ but I don’t often type in ‘sri lanka education’, so I’m assuming the samples are comparable. Also note that the news traffic basically never covers jobs or education, which are important to people.
Search and news traffic for: sri lanka war, sri lanka jobs, sri lanka education, within United Kingdom
Then compare it to similar data from the UK. It’s definitely less war, but the Channel 4 video spike is there. That also led to a spike in searches for jobs for some reason, but there still isn’t the same focus on ground level concerns. Because they’re not on the ground.
So
So, I’m not trying to say that people that bring up the war or call for investigations or boycotts or whatever are even wrong. I’m certainly not saying that all people in the diaspora are the same. What I am saying is that these questions are almost nonsensical from a local perspective, which is ultimately what matters on issues of Sri Lanka. Especially for the working poor or middle-class, of any race.
For example, the first question the Jazeera chaps asked, ‘Is Sri Lanka recovering from a prolonged civil war?’ Well, yes, obviously. The war is over. Most people in Sri Lanka are not dwelling on it and are focused on putting food on the table and getting the kid to school. I’m not saying that anyone outside (or inside) is dumb or shouldn’t talk. I’m just saying that’s where I am and where most people in this country are, as far as I can see. The war is over. Tell your friends.
Also, read London, Lanka and Drums.
Are you really surprised at the way Sanjana Hattotuwa responded to your post? He is well known to be petty, narrow minded and quite dictatorial. For the NGO types, the war will NEVER be over – that’s how they make their living, by perpetuating problems and conflicts in society.
Just a comment on your comparison of search. I don’t think it’s a practical comparison. For a moment lets assume we do search for ‘Sri Lanka jobs’ and ‘Sri Lanka Education’ kind of queries. But do you see any motivation for any one who is not living in sri lanka to search for jobs and education in sri lanka? even if there were no such thing called war.
Wow. Petty indeed :( for shame.
true. Maybe sri lanka cricket is a better search
they wouldn’t have such a motivation. Which is kinda the point, or a point.
What I’m saying is that for many people abroad, they still frame Sri Lanka in terms of the war. Which people here don’t.
sorry, i forgot to link those searches above, they’re linked now. You can run your own. Here’s with Sri Lanka Cricket
Within SL
In UK
Very similar, don’t think it makes a difference.
Lol…are those tweets for real?
Shameless aren’t they?
yes those tweets looks like fo realz. Anyhow the guy is pretty narrow minded and dictatorial, some of my comments on GV don’t even get posted.
One could even say ‘he’s just like MR’.
lol, at that twitter feed. the irony of it all. this groundviews guy seems to be suffering from major control issues. I guess indi’s little rebellion was too much for his petty ego to handle.
BTW indi, it was real classic of you to ask for their recommendation and then not play to thier tune. Props for that.
I must also admit you must be one of the more honest people i’ve come across.
Cheers
Sanjana is not a bad guy, except for the fact that he a** kisses Dayan Jayatilleke. People who earned their Ph.D at 50 but go around calling themselves “Dr” in random cyberspace, when their maximum qualification is assistant professor , are nothing more than quacks and half-baked intellectuals. Like I said on GV, Jayatilleke has not made any stunning future predictions (which is the whole point of being an expert), nor has he done any groundbreaking research in his chosen field, which happens to be political science. The man is clearly no Amartya Sen – his qualifications are no greater than your average Moratuw U lecturer. If this is the kind of intellect that SH holds in high esteem, and entertains to no end on his forum, one must question the credibility of GV altogether . Then again, SH has a masters in “peace studies” (whatever that is), so maybe that explains it.
If the “Hoo Manitarian Operation” is really over…why haven’t the armed forces been sent back to their barracks and the police allowed to handle the law and order situation in the country?
SanjanaH is a crazy nut with no scruples. Who would do such a thing? Pointless and incredibly petty.