In the face of an unfolding human catastrophe in Sri Lanka where a repressive state fights a fierce non-state force, how can accountability be determined and demanded, peace imagined, and a just political process sought?

Learn about the specifics of the current situation, while at the same time posing questions about how Sri Lanka can shed light on other contexts of secessionism, nationalism, militancy and state power in South Asia and beyond, particularly in the context of a global "war on terror"? Furthermore what is role of diaspora/exile communities in shaping, funding, and brokering national aspirations in contrast to those who have remained?

Discussing these questions will be:

Lead Speaker: Nirmala Rajsingam [Sri Lanka Democracy Forum, London]

Opening Remarks: Ahilan Kadirgamar [Sri Lanka Democracy Forum, New York]

Moderator: Bhavani Raman [South Asia Solidarity Initiative, New York]

Performance by NYC-based artists YaliniDream and Varuni Tiruchelvam

About the Featured Speaker
Nirmala Rajsingam is a Sri Lankan Tamil activist who lives in exile in London. She was the first woman to be detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in the early eighties. A survivor of the government engineered Welikade prison massacre, Nirmala was subsequently freed from prison by LTTE guerrillas. She left the LTTE as a result of the total lack of internal democracy within the movement and its serious human rights abuses. Nirmala is the sister of Dr. Rajani Thiranagama, founder-member of the University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna), who was assassinated by the LTTE for her outspoken views. They are the subjects of the documentary film "No More Tears Sister" by the National Film Board of Canada.

For more info on SLDF visit: (www.lankademocracy.org)

Recent Articles on the subject: (www.himalmag.com/)

Last updated: 2009-02-19 16:25:12