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Issue No 3, May 2011 of dissenting dialogues

Editorial

Two years after the war: justice, reconciliation and the UN Panel Report

Click here to download the Editorial as a Word Document

Introducing dissenting dialogues

Debates on the causes and consequences of the 30-year war in Sri Lanka, and its end in May 2009, continue to evoke heated exchanges in some quarters and a disempowered silence in others. A year and a half later, it is time to engage in an open discussion that is truly reflective. While there are both continuities and discontinuities from before, during and after the war, there is clearly a renewed need for dissent and dialogue to broaden and transform the debate.

Sri Lanka’s postcolonial history has been marred by decades of economic and development policies that have marginalised and exploited sections of the urban and rural population, the inability of successive governments to address the grievances of the Tamil, Muslim and Up-Country Tamil minorities in relation to the state, the continuing oppression of women in society, and the exclusion of oppressed castes. Furthermore, the last years of the war in particular have been worryingly marked by the consolidation of centralised executive power, the rise of authoritarianism, the militarisation of state and society, the renewed force of nationalist mobilisation and the polarisation of communities along ethnic, religious and regional lines. The current moment calls for broad intellectual and political engagement aimed at democratisation and social and economic transformation.

dissenting dialogues makes its appearance against this backdrop, initiated by the Sri Lanka Democracy Forum and others, with the aim of expanding the space for dissent and critical dialogue on relevant issues relating to the past, present and future of Sri Lanka. The magazine hopes to highlight views and analyses that all too often become marginalised from mainstream discourse. At a time when both hegemonic international and state-sponsored agendas seek to dominate research, analysis and reportage, the emphasis in these pages is of necessity on critical writing and a commitment to social justice, pluralism and democratisation. Although currently facilitated by SLDF, it is hoped that at a future date, dissenting dialogues will evolve into an independent entity.

Click here to download the pdf file of Issue No 3, May 2011
Click here to download the pdf file of Issue No 2, February 2011
Click here to download the pdf file of Issue No 1, November 2010

About SLDF

SLDF is a multi-ethnic forum of expatriate Sri Lankan human rights and democracy activists, with activists in North America, Europe, India and Australia. The SLDF positions are determined by an international Steering Committee of 22 members. While SLDF's strongest presence is in London, there are informal chapters in Toronto, New York and Berlin. SLDF has continued as a non-funded network of voluntary activists. Over the last six years, since its inception in November 2002, SLDF has campaigned to stop the use of child soldiers, to stop political killings, to protect Muslim rights, for equitable post-tsunami reconstruction, for free and fair elections, and a permanent political solution that meets the aspirations of the Tamil and Muslim communities. SLDF was initiated with the aim to bring in human rights and democratization into a sustainable and just peace in Sri Lanka.

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