Anybody hear about this?

[Rev.Reverence]

Sri Lanka Civil War Over...

[weapon]

I don't like war and killing its bad.

W

[Homicidalheathen]

Velupillai Prabhakaran, wow what a weird lookin' little guy.

I don't like war either, unless your fighting for your right to practice whatever religion you choose, that is just...in my mind. And worth fighting for.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I'm still not sure I beleive it.

[Rev.Reverence]

I'm still not sure I beleive it.

Yeah, there could be a rally...could..

[Ice Queen (1)]

Interesting. I know someone there. We have talked about the war before, but don't do so often. Now I am curious, I will ask him.

[Msterbeau]

Photos, or it didn't happen.

[Rev.Reverence]

Photos, or it didn't happen.

You...

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Yeah, there could be a rally...could..

It's just that, they have been at war almost all of my life and I'm kinda old.

[Ice Queen (1)]

I already got a response. The rebels have been "militarily defeated" in his words. He expresses relief and acknowledgment there is more work to be done.

This war had been going on since before his birth, being a 27 year old. I always thought how I could not even imagine being in that environment, knowing no other way but war. It will be interesting to follow. I hope it lasts.

[Simon Bar Sinister]

I already got a response. The rebels have been "militarily defeated" in his words. He expresses relief and acknowledgment there is more work to be done.

This war had been going on since before his birth, being a 27 year old. I always thought how I could not even imagine being in that environment, knowing no other way but war. It will be interesting to follow. I hope it lasts.

Yeah, the Sri Lankan military refused the rebles' offer of a cease-fire.

[ttogreh]

The battles for now may be over, but the war is not. A civil war is not over until all members of a society have access to the services and government of that society. Civil wars, just like insurgencies, are not won with bullets and bombs. They are won with hospitals and schools.

If you don't believe me, go to wikipedia, and type in "Pax Romana".

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Ice Queen do you know what part of the country your friend lives in?

For them that might not be aware.... Sri Lanka is an island off the southern coast of India in case anyone was wondering and is better off economy wise than its neighbor. Not to say that things are "good" there. The place just isn't quite the war-torn rubble heap we might typically think of.

It is a confusing situation but it does seem that the Tigers (Tamil Tigers a.k.a. "the rebels") have clearly surrendered. I don't pretend to know that much about this other than I remember there was an actual cease fire sometime around 2000 and that a few years ago they slowly started fighting again with no actual declaration of withdrawing from the cease fire until more recently (from the Sri Lanka government). From the stuff I have heard on NPR (or rather the late-as-hell-nighttime BBC feed that they run) is that it was always very difficult to get accurate, reliable info on what was actually going on. I did a bit of reading about it just now, like everything, what is going on is complex.

Even if the actual physical fighting is done forever, living there for the large majority is something that is hard for any westerner to grasp fully. The personal stories do help put things into perspective though.

[Ice Queen (1)]

Ice Queen do you know what part of the country your friend lives in?

For them that might not be aware.... Sri Lanka is an island off the southern coast of India in case anyone was wondering and is better off economy wise than its neighbor. Not to say that things are "good" there. The place just isn't quite the war-torn rubble heap we might typically think of.

It is a confusing situation but it does seem that the Tigers (Tamil Tigers a.k.a. "the rebels") have clearly surrendered. I don't pretend to know that much about this other than I remember there was an actual cease fire sometime around 2000 and that a few years ago they slowly started fighting again with no actual declaration of withdrawing from the cease fire until more recently (from the Sri Lanka government). From the stuff I have heard on NPR (or rather the late-as-hell-nighttime BBC feed that they run) is that it was always very difficult to get accurate, reliable info on what was actually going on. I did a bit of reading about it just now, like everything, what is going on is complex.

Even if the actual physical fighting is done forever, living there for the large majority is something that is hard for any westerner to grasp fully. The personal stories do help put things into perspective though.

He is in Negombo, in the northwest.

Yes, a civil war like that, simply does not end at once. I think that was what is meant by having more work to do. A stop in the fighting is a start.

[Rev.Reverence]