The Scorched-Earth Policy of Srilanka along with the military aggression and encroachment of Tamil Eelam by the Sri Lankan Government since 1980’s have caused serious environmental disaster to cause obvious climatic changes in the Island.
What do we understand by Climatic Changes or global warming and what relevant does this bear on Eelam Tamils? Let us look at the brief history of how this awareness on climatic changes came about.
From the medieval times in the West, agricultural and feudal system was the type of economy. They then moved on to the economy that was based on manufacturing. The industrial developments in the West took over since the late 18th century. Heavy use of coal and oil to produce electricity and steam power to run machineries were the norm. The belching of CO2, methane, carbon and other chlorofluorocarbons and halons from the industrial chimneys were a typical site in the West. This is still seen today in India and China. The gases that belch out from these industrial factories are damaging the ozone layer in the stratospheric zone. Thus the use of manufacturing technology of the late19th century and 20th has caused a great threat to the natural environment of the world. The impact of this development has caused destruction or disturbance in the environment and is capable of bringing about the changes in the weather and climatic pattern.
The cry from the scientific community, that this is causing global warming and melting of the ice in the Arctic ocean, in the North Pole has become louder. The threats of rising sea levels are causing erosion on the coastal lines in many countries. The low lying island nations are being threatened to be submerged. This has been the reason why all forward thinking countries in the late 20th century [1992] and now in the 21st century are prepared to take gigantic efforts to protect the environment. The West has moved towards nuclear energy, and in the process of refining and developing suitable technology to harness natural resources like sunlight, wind and wave power to produce electricity.
Not only has the industrial development caused these climatic changes, the vast areas of deforestation in various counties have also contributed to global warming and draught. The Amazon rain forest and rain forests in Africa, Asia and south Asia were cleared in order to expand their agricultural income and to meet their greater demand on food. This too has contributed to disasters like drought and scarcity of water. Deforestation causes global warming as CO2 absorption is depleted due to lack of large foliage trees. Carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation account for about 20% of global anthropogenic emissions. Strategies and incentives for reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) have emerged as one of the most active areas in the international climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The International negotiations have lead to first steps in combating climate change with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. Under the Protocol, industrialized countries have to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by around five per cent between 2008 and 2012 compared to 1990 levels. It is however broadly recognized that further steps are necessary to stabilize the climate in the long term.
This week the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes (UNFCCC) been conducting the conference in Copenhagen Denmark involving 193 countries around the globe. Ministers from these countries, many thousands of NGO’S and Media have gathered to formulate policies on curbing the pollutants, and to draw some consensus on the measures to be taken by all countries by 2012.
In this respect, this subject is very meaningful to us, the Tamils. The war in the North & East for the past 30 years has not only destroyed the harmony within our peoples on their day to day living in the Tamil homeland areas, but our natural resources has also been plundered and depleted. The successive Srilankan governments out of vengeance applied the scorched earth policy. This was aggressively followed and well executed by the Sinhala armed security personals. We have lost many of our forests and trees that symbolize us. The destruction of our forests and protective trees has almost completely damaged our ecology on a very large scale. Here I wish to point out that Srilanka has been a signatory on the climatic changes since 1994.
Mr. T. Thipaakaran an environmentalist and journalist give’s below his factual observations. [Translated from His Tamil Article-Tamil net]
Deforestation in North and East Sri Lanka had been well planned and very intentional. In 1996, during the military operation by Sri Lanka from Vavuniya to Mannar termed ‘Edibala’, 50 to 100 m wide forests were destroyed on both sides of A30 and A14. Defense lines used by the Sri Lankan Army also swallowed a portion of the forests.
A similar destruction had taken place along the Madawachchi – Mannar A14 from Chettikulam to Kattiamban via Parianalankulam (about 30 kms long) on either side of the road. Also, the same story repeated on the 25 km stretch, Vavuniya to Mannar on A30 Highway (from Poovarasangulam) on either side of the road, about 50 to 100m width of the forests was destroyed. Also, the brush bunds created on the North of A30 road not only had the forests destroyed but it disrupted the irrigation system used for cultivation. This has reversed the flow of water from the lakes and blocked the whole process of irrigation. In brief, 1300 acres of natural forests in Vavuniya–Mannar districts were eradicated by the “Operation Edibola”.
”Operation Jayasikuru” (1997-1999) is the next link in the chain of destruction. A massive deforestation occurred on either side of the Omanthai–Mangulam region, 40 km in length causing complete destruction of all type of vegetation, except those areas where the army planed their settlements. The route which commences from A9 highway and that extends through the forests on either side of the road also had faced the same fate. Forests within reach of 50-100 meters on the 27 kms road stretch along A34 (from Mangulam to Mullaithivu) were bulldozed and more vegetation was destroyed to build defensive bunds. In addition to the above wanton destruction, a large number teak trees were cut for their valuable timber, The poachers were smuggling Teak Timber to the south to make furniture, while the army officers and corrupt politicians had a fair share from these proceeds.
Thus, over 1000 acres of Teak forests were eradicated – thanks to the environmental care by the Sri Lankan Government.
On the next agenda for further destruction by the army, was the move from Mangulam, which includes
- Nedunkerni – Ottuchuttan (either side of the road).
- Nedunkerni – Vedivaithakallu (either side of the road).
- Nedunkerni – Kulavichuttan – Manavalanpattam- urrippu - via Kottiparichaan (new road 30 km) on either side.
A bund (for defense) of 40 km in length from Ottuchuttan to Dollar/Kent farms in Manallaru wiped a large number of forests. Altogether 2,500 acres worth of forests East of A9 were estimated to have been wiped out. We could expect the reality to be more horrific.
Another 1,500 acres worth of jungles were absorbed in due to
- conversion of a Railway Line to gravel road on the West of A9 (during Jaisikuru)
- A defense sand bund from Nachimotta from Puliangulam Parallel to railway line was erected.
- 50 km long sand bund from Putuur to Vanni, and to Vannivilangulam via Puthuvilangulam.
Other losses of 1000 acres could be attributed to
- destruction of forests on either side of madu – Palampiti –Periamadu – Pallamadu road.
- bund and defensive fence from Sirathikulam, Panangamam, Moondrumuripu – Vannivilangulam – Mangulam through Pallamadu jungles – wild trees at a distance of 50 – 100 m from the bunds were cut to make up the above total.
The catalogue of deliberate destruction of thousands of acres of virgin forests ( for SLA’s logistics and defense purposes) culminated with the illegal smuggling of valuable timber such as Teak, Mahogany etc., South of Manallaru – Mangulam road. They all were illicitly transported to the South. It is estimated – that it will take around 150 years to grow these trees even if we replant them now.
Although after the military success of Vanni in 1999, the LTTE had replant some valuable trees (Teak, Magosa etc) during 2000 – 2004, this effort was short lived due to further escalation of hostility.
We have witnessed the destiny of the hardcore trees; it is now the turn of ‘Palms’. The coconut estates in Palai had to take their turn as they were needed for defense bunkers from Killali from Mugamalai – Nagarkoil. The total destroyed up until 2004 was 12,000 coconut palms – but this has exceeded by thousands more later years. The destructions of Palmyra Palms and other shrubs aren’t still accounted.
Due to the hostile nature of this war and the creation of the so called ‘security zones’ by clearing fertile lands, along with a catalogue of destructions from bombing, shelling and building of bunkers and bunds could never be account for the number of trees and shrubs that were destroyed.
But nothing can equal the artillery and air attacks with the use of internationally prohibited war weapon [cluster bombs] during the Killinochi attacks- which produced much devastation virtually frying all forms of vegetation. Ironically the defense secretary of Sri Lanka Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa himself had ‘boasted’ that 4000 sorties by air had landed in the Vanni region. One may not need any further testimony than this to show their cruelty-crime against humanity.
The similar situation had existed in the previous military operations from Manallaru – Mullaitheevu, which destroyed the coconut estates in Alampil – Chemmalai and Mulliavallai areas. The normal loot of valuable timber was something that has been taken for granted.
All of the above may reduce the memories of Vietnam War to a mere ‘dream’. One may conclude that the venom and the victimizing attitude of the Sri Lankan Government are clearly reflected by its attack on the environment of the Tamil Eelam homeland area. However, one cannot deny the fact that government further devastated about 3000 acres of forestry in Vanni, so as to make arrangements to house our people in camps following the Mullivaikal massacre for maximum of two three years.
The Sri Lankan Government used the very same land to house its concentration camps detaining about 300,000 civilians. Thanks to international pressure this period has been shortened, many thousands are released.
This man made devastation on Tamil Eelam territory will have ecological and metrological effect on the whole Island. This incursion on our homeland is yet to be reaped in the form of poor rainfall. This will be a threat to the environmental balance, forestry growth, wild life’s, natural, fauna and flora. Sadly, neither the above destruction nor its after effects seem to have attracted the attention of any of the so called ‘environmental Samaritans’ from the International community. So will this end the agony and anguish of Tamil Eelam people and their future environmental problems?
A million dollar question from every citizen of the North and East of Sri Lanka is “where do we go from here right now?” – Is this, a rather difficult and embarrassing question to answer? However, though we are speechless, will the so called International Community can be of any help, at least can we have some hope that they would persuade the U.N to comply with the following:-
- Probe immediately into the reasons for this environmental damages and consequent disaster in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka and order an impartial inquiry by an independent and impartial U.N bodies.
- Freeze immediately all aid to Sri Lankan Government on the issue of ‘environmental protection’ at least until the verdict is delivered after an international inquiry.
Dr. V. Rajayogeswaran
This Paper Presented on 12th December 09
At a conference which was arranged jointly by Denmark Tamil Forum &British Tamil Forum.
Held at Copenhagen University.