Chapter 4:

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Essential questions:1. What causes conflicts in multi-ethnic

societies?2. What are the consequences of these

conflicts?3. What are the challenges in managing ethnic

diversity?

Today’s agenda:

Introduction to ethnic conflicts Background information about Sri

Lanka Causes of the Sri Lankan conflict Recap: Pop Quiz!

Next lesson: Consequences of the Sri Lankan conflict

In 1948, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) enjoyed the highest literacy rate in Asia. It did not have the problem of over-population; its educational and transportation systems were advanced. For some years, Ceylon was a model for the world. But, today, it is an island known for its problems, and its reputation as a killing field only matched by that of countries such as Rwanda.

Adapted from a comment by an editor of a Tamil newspaper in 2003.

Watch this news clip: ‘The Casualties of Sri Lanka’s Conflict’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD77iTj7zBw

What can you infer about the conflict in Sri Lanka?

How far do you believe what the reporter says?

Why the conflict between the Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka?

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Race % of Popn.

Living Area Religion Language

Sinhalese

81.9% Majority everywhere, except Jaffna and Batticaloa

Buddhism

Sinhala

Tamil 9.4% Largest group in Jaffna & Batticaloa,

Large minorities in other northern and eastern districts.

Hinduism

Tamil

Moors 8% Mainly coastal port cities

Islam Tamil and Sinhala,

Discussion: Given the demographics of Sri Lanka,

what potential problems could occur?

1. Uneven race distribution throughout SL means limited interaction between communities—gives rise to negative stereotypes and misconceptions

2. Racial conflict becomes territorial in nature

The people

Sinhalese are natives of Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Tamils are descendents of

Tamils who have been living in the country since 300 BCE

Indian Tamils: came in 1800s with the British colonial masters to work in tea plantations

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1. Citizenship Rights

2. ‘Sinhala-Only’ Policy

3. University Admission

4. Resettlement of Population

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Citizenship Qualification in Sri Lanka

Given only to those who were born in Sri Lanka, or whose forefathers were born there

Result of Citizenship Qualification Policy

Many Indian Tamils brought from India by the British to work in Sri Lanka became stateless

Indian Tamils not allowed to vote

No basic citizenship rights despite contributing to economy

What was done: India tried to help stateless Tamils by

holding talks with the Sri Lankan govt.Results of the Talks

Sri Lanka is to allow certain numbers of Indian Tamils to return to India

The rest of the Indian Tamils were to be granted Sri Lankan citizenship

By the 1980s, this agreement was not fulfilled and many Indian Tamils remained stateless

Indian Tamils felt neglected and upset

Resolution

2003: Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Indian Origin Bill passed

Citizenship granted to any person of Indian origin who had Permanently lived in SL since 1964, or Was descended from someone who had

permanently stayed in SL since that date

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Many educated Tamils could enter government service during the colonial period

They held important jobs in the government

Two questions for you to consider:

1. Why do you think they were able to accomplish this?

2. How do you think the Sinhalese, the majority group in Sri Lanka, feel about this?

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Changes made after Sri Lanka gained independence from the

British

1. In 1956, Sinhala was made the only official language of administration

2. Tamils in the government service were given three years to learn Sinhala or be dismissed from the job.

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Result of the policyResult of the policy Tamils were unhappy as they were now unable

to get jobs or promotions

Organised a peaceful demonstration against the Official Language Act

How did the Sinhalese react?

The Sinhalese supporters disrupted the peaceful demonstrations

Riots occurred

Over a hundred deaths were reported

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What happened after the riot over the Official language Act Sri Lankan Prime Minister signed a pact with Tamil leader.

Tamil was made the official language of the Tamil minority.

Tamil was allowed to be used as a language for administration.

However tension between the Tamils and Sinhalese continued to increase leading to more fighting and deaths

?

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• Tamil Language was given greater recognition in the Sri Lankan Constitution

• Tamil was made the national language and the language of the administration in the northern and eastern provinces where Tamils formed the majority.

• English was taught in school to facilitate communication among the different racial groups.

Tamil accepted as an official language.

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3. UNIVERSITY ADMISSION

Before 1970:

• University admission criteria was based on merit

• Examinations were held in the English language

• Sinhalese were unhappy at the equal number of Sinhalese and Tamil students in the medical and engineering courses, as it was not proportionate to their numbers in the country

3. University Admission

What was done after 1970: Several educational policies were

introduced to rectify this imbalance. E.g. it was compulsory for Tamil

students to score higher marks than the Sinhalese students to enter the same courses in the universities.

Minimum marks for university admission, 1971

Course Students Minimum marks

Arts SinhaleseTamils

187170

Engineering SinhaleseTamils

227250

Medicine and Dentistry

SinhaleseTamils

229250

Bio-science SinhaleseTamils

175181

Physical sciences

SinhaleseTamils

183204

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Result of this policy:• successful in increasing the number of Sinhalese

youth who were qualified to enter the universities.

• Percentage of Tamil students who were admitted to the engineering courses fell significantly.

• Tamil youths unhappy and dissatisfied with the unfair educational policies

• Difficult to qualify for admission into the university esp. medical and engineering courses limited job opportunities disillusionment with government supported or joined Tamil Tigers (LTTE)

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4. Resettlement of Population

What this policy is about:

• the Sri Lankan government transferred Sinhalese from the densely populated south-western and and central areas into the Tamil area.

• Aim was to provide land for the landless Sinhalese peasants to live on and to cultivate rice.

How did the Tamils react?

• They were unhappy as the arrival of the peasants was accompanied by Buddhist monks and the Sri Lankan Army which was mostly Sinhalese.

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CHECKPOINT

There are 4 reasons for the conflict in Sri Lanka:

1948: Citizenship RightsCitizenship Rights—over 1 million Tamils made ‘stateless’

1950: Government-sponsored resettlementresettlement of Sinhalese in Tamil areas began

1956: ‘Sinhala Only’‘Sinhala Only’ policy was introduced

1972: Government restricted Tamils’ admission into restricted Tamils’ admission into universityuniversity by raising admission criteria

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Consequences of the Sinhalese-Tamil Conflict

Political Economic Social

•Armed conflict

•Foreign intervention

•Unemployment

•Loss of investments from other countries

•Fall in no. of tourists

•Sri Lankan Tamils driven out of their homeland

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1. Armed Conflict1. Armed Conflict• The policies introduced by the Sri Lankan

government made the Tamils discriminated

• Made peaceful demands to be fairly treated by the Sri Lankan government

• Early 1950s: Federal Party asked that Tamil areas be recognised as a federation within the country

• By 1976 demands still not met

• New political party Tamil United Liberation Front emerged

• The policies introduced by the Sri Lankan government made the Tamils discriminated

• Made peaceful demands to be fairly treated by the Sri Lankan government

• Early 1950s: Federal Party asked that Tamil areas be recognised as a federation within the country

• By 1976 demands still not met

• New political party Tamil United Liberation Front emerged ?

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Tamil United Liberation FrontTamil United Liberation FrontTamil United Liberation FrontTamil United Liberation Front

• Fought for a separate independent state.• Wanted this independent state to be called

Tamil-Eelam

• Sri Lanka government rejected the idea of a separate and independent state

• Some angry and dissatisfied Tamil youths formed a militant group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

• Fought for a separate independent state.• Wanted this independent state to be called

Tamil-Eelam

• Sri Lanka government rejected the idea of a separate and independent state

• Some angry and dissatisfied Tamil youths formed a militant group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

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Liberation Tigers of Tamil EelamLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

• With the formation of the militant group LTTE, violence was inevitable

• LTTE were considered to be terrorists.• They attacked Tamil members of the police

force, and Tamil politicians who rejected their call for an independent state.

• Later, they resorted to attacking Sinhalese

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ARMED CONFLICTARMED CONFLICT• Sinhalese also showed violence towards the

Tamils repeatedly, eg. during 1956 peaceful protest against the ‘Sinhala Only’ language policy.

• They took part in 1983 riots• Armed conflict has resulted in war between

LTTE and Sri Lankan government• Cost: more than 60,000 lives• Has lasted more than 20 years• Still on-going

• Sinhalese also showed violence towards the Tamils repeatedly, eg. during 1956 peaceful protest against the ‘Sinhala Only’ language policy.

• They took part in 1983 riots• Armed conflict has resulted in war between

LTTE and Sri Lankan government• Cost: more than 60,000 lives• Has lasted more than 20 years• Still on-going

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2. Unemployment

• Riots and violence led to massive unemployment. • Business in the conflict areas/districts slowed

down or some stopped totally.• Many factories were closed and plantation

workers lost their jobs. • The jobless started to take part in vandalising,

looting and burning their places of work.

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• The instability caused by the riots and violence did not only led to massive unemployment.

• It resulted in the loss of investments as investors lost the confidence in investing in the country.

• The economy would inevitably suffer as it needs businesses from other countries.

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• The violent internal conflict made Sri Lanka an unsafe place for tourists.

• As a result, tourism which was one of the income earners for the country was damaged.

• This decrease resulted in a loss of jobs and a fall in Sri Lanka’s earnings.

• The economy was badly affected and the country lacked the finances needed to build up its infrastructure

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• The conflict caught India’s attention• India played the role of a mediator• Mediated between the Sinhalese and

the Tamils after the 1983 riots but was unsuccessful

• India supported the Sri Lankan Tamils by sending supplies

• Stopped by the Sri Lankan navy• Indian Air Force dropped supplies in

Jaffna• Violated SL air space

?

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• India forced Sri Lanka to sign a peace accord in July 1987.

• Both parties agreed to a ceasefire.• The Tamil-Tigers were to surrender their

weapons to Indian peacekeeping troops.• Jaffna was captured by the Indian

peacekeepers by force.• Clashes between the Tigers and the Indian

peace-keeping troops occurred in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

• 1990 India withdrew its peacekeeping force from Sri Lanka.

6. Sri Lankan Tamils driven out of their Homeland

Caused large-scale displacement beyond its borders

E.g. in the 1983 riots, thousands of Tamils fled to Tamil Nadu in South India

Abt 65,000 Sri Lankans are still refugees in India today

6. Sri Lankan Tamils driven out of their Homeland

Early 1990s: High Security Zones (HSZ) set up by SL Army to keep LTTE away

Access is controlled in HSZ Army occupied large parts of Tamil-

dominated areas in North and East of SL 1995: Many Tamils had to flee their

homes when SL Army moved into Jaffna Many still live in overcrowded conditions

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Overview of Lesson

We have looked at the following:

1. The population compostion and distribution in Sri Lanka

2. The causes of the Sinhalese - Tamils Conflict.

Citizenship Rights

Jobs in the Government Service

University Admission

Resettlement of population

2. The consequences of the Sinhalese-Tamil Conflict

Causes of conflict in Northern Ireland

Background textbook p. 111-114Causes textbook p. 114-124

Diagrammatic representation of Diagrammatic representation of United Kingdom and the United Kingdom and the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland

Map of Northern Ireland and the UKPart of the United Kingdom

Independent

Facts on Northern Ireland

Background: Origins of the conflict

Before 12th century: N. Ireland + Republic of Ireland were ONE country (Ireland)

Irish were Catholics 12th C: Ireland conquered by England Protestant Scottish and English settlers

brought over by Eng landlords Northern part of Ireland became mostly

Protestant

Catholic King James II tried to defeat the Protestants

But failed; defeated by Protestant King William of Orange in Battle of Boyne in 1690

Protestants implemented Penal Laws against Catholics

For years, civil war raged. 1800: Ireland part of UK

Background: Origins of the conflict

Hostilities continued Local Irish Catholics sought limited self-

govt (Home Rule) in late 1800s Fighting intensified 1900s, British lost control of southern

part of Ireland 1921: Ireland divided into 2 separate

parts based on majority religion

Background: Origins of the conflict

South: known as Irish Free State, largely Catholic gov

North: Northern Ireland 1949: Irish Free State cut ties with Br

and became Republic of Ireland

Background: Origins of the conflict

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In 1993

• 1 million Protestants, mostly of Scottish and English origin

• 600 000 Catholics, mostly descendents of local Irish inhabitants of the island

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Government in Northern Ireland

Government in Northern Ireland

Since 1972• ruled by the British parliament in London• Secretary of State for Northern Ireland chosen by

the British Prime Minister• finance,commerce,health and education controlled

by N Ireland government• Foreign affairs and defence matters were in British

hands

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Causes for the Conflict between the Protestants and the Catholics

Divided Loyalties

The Education System

Employment

Housing

Voting Rights

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• The Protestant and the Catholics are intolerant of one another.

• Give their allegiance to different countries. • Protestants want to continue to be part of United

Kingdom• Fear union with Republic of Ireland• Fear Catholics would not be tolerant of the Protestant

beliefs

What about the Catholics?

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• Catholics want N Ireland reunited with the Republic of Ireland

• Remember persecution suffered by the Catholics during England’s conquest of Ireland

• Distrust the Protestants eg. Protestants still celebrate the Battle of Boyne as a mark

of Protestant dominance

What about the Catholics?

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• Education system in N Ireland deepened the rift between the Catholics and the Protestants

• Schools in N Ireland can be divided into 3 categories:

* The Protestant Schools* The Catholic Schools* Mixed Schools

?

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In the Protestant Schools• Students are taught British History, play British sport and

are loyal to Britain

In the Catholic Schools• Students learn Irish History, play Irish sports and taught

Irish language and culture.• See Britain as a foreign country

In Mixed Schools• Subjects cater to both the Catholics and Protestants• Schools run by private individuals• Unpopular

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Results of the Educational System:

• Generations of children grow to be distrustful of each other

• Hostility between them increases.

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• Competition for jobs

• Catholics felt there is no equal opportunity for them in getting the jobs

• Number of Catholics engineers and civil servants was not proportionate to their numbers in the country

• Fewer Catholics in senior positions in the public or private sectors

Unemployment rate by religion and sex in 2002 to 2003, Northern Ireland

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• The provision of housing by city council- caused great concern to the Irish

• The Councils made up of largely of Protestants

• Catholics were delayed in getting their houses

• They became frustrated as the shortage of houses meant they have to wait for many years to own a house

• Catholics felt the provision of housing was unfair to them

A 1989 study on the housing situation in Northern Ireland by a government body that promotes understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights in Northern Ireland

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•The right to vote was a problem to the Catholics prior to 1968

•Each household was given to 2 votes while companies had more votes depending on their sizes

•Many companies owned by Protestants- so they ended up with more votes

• many voting districts were often drawn up to include large proportion of Protestants

•Catholics were unhappy

?

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Since 1968, changes have been made

• due to the changes voting rights ceased to be a problem in Northern Ireland • everyone is entitled to one vote• must be a British subject• must be above 18 years old• has to be born in Northern Ireland or• must have lived in the United Kingdom for 7 years• voting districts have also been redrawn to ensure fairness

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The Troubles – From Peace to Violence

• 1967: The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) formed•Wanted to end discrimination against Catholics•Adopted non-violent methods•Civil Rights Movement organised by NICRA in 1968•Marked the beginning of ‘The Troubles’ ?

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• NICRA Organised marches

• Fighting broke out among Catholics, Protestants and police

In 1969, • the British Army was sent to Northern

Ireland to help keep peace• Catholics welcomed their protectors• Catholics soon lost faith in the British

Army when the army started to search their homes and made arrests

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In Jan 1972:

• 15,000 participated in illegal peaceful civil rights march

• British soldiers shot at protesters• 13 civilians died and many more were

wounded • This incident is called the ‘Bloody Sunday’

incident• Led to great outburst of Catholic anger

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• More violence resulted between Catholics and Protestants

• Inaction of local police

• British Army often raided Catholic homes

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Involvement of Irish Republican Army (IRA)

• Desperate Catholics turned to IRA• Aimed to destroy the state and force Br to

withdraw completely through using violence• Attacked Br soldiers• Bombed businesses and shops belonging to

Protestants• 1969-1993: more than 3,500 deaths• IRA responsible for 2/3 of deaths

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Effects of Protestants–Catholic Conflict

The conflict resulted in :

• Social segregation• Declining economy:

Decrease in investment

Decline in tourism trade

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• Throughout 1970s to 1990s attempts were made

to resolve the conflict but attempts failed• Peace accord was discussed in the 1990s but failed•Good Friday Peace Agreement reached in 1998• Peace is uncertain as there is still tension