There is growing violence against women in Sri Lanka – especially those who are working with NGOs. Threats have been issued by various agencies of LTTE.

Sithara Shreen, a Sri Lankan social activist and organizer forwarded this article from the May issue of Tamil Week.

The last few months seems to be a time of disturbance for Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). From the alleged Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation abductions near Welikanda to present day threats against women NGO workers. At present in both the Batticaloa and Ampara districts there has been increased pressure for women to stop working in NGOs. Some of the details of these incidents are as follows:

• As reported by the Virakesari, on the 2nd April a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Ariyanendran had commented upon the increase in abortions in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts at a meeting held in Thirukkovil on “Women and Culture.” He claimed that Batticaloa had 183 illegal abortions carried out, while Ampara had 163 carried out in private clinics.

• This meeting was an LTTE organised meeting to which was attended by the area commander Ram.

• At this meeting he had insinuated that Tamil culture was being spoilt because of these illegal activities and that women working in NGOs were strongly implicated as having abortions.

• Subsequent to his speech, there seems to have been the circulation of leaflets in both Tamil and Muslim areas asking women not to work in NGOs. While the mosque leaders have not directly issued a statement asking women to stop working, there have been leaflets stuck outside the mosque walls threatening women.

• One of these leaflets have been written by the Tamil Eela Pengal Elluchchi Padayani, of the Tamil women’s eelam liberation force. This document has been widely circulated in the Batticaloa and Ampara regions.

• This specific leaflet states clearly that all women working in NGOs must stop working there by the 15th of April or “your future life may be endangered.”

• Some of the complaints of this and other leaflets of the same kind are that women working in NGOs are sexually harassed and have become increasingly promiscuous. They have commenced having sexual activities with both local and foreign men, have started traveling freely.

• One of main consequences of these activities is that there has been a rapid increase in the number of abortions in the region as these unmarried ngo women have become pregnant. The leaflets also claim that those who have not succeeded in accessing abortions are nearing delivery of children now.

• Another claim is that some women working in NGOs have agreed to star in pornography films with foreign men. In Akkaraipattu, these films are circulating freely and are available on sale.

• While no specific persons have been recognised in these films, it is claimed that the women are from the region.

• These activities have resulted in a massive increase in harassment for women. While the TNA has released a statement stating they do not wish to ban Tamil women working in NGOs as long as they behave according to Tamil culture, many people feel that the circular is an LTTE effort to control all spaces in the region.

• This has resulted in an increase in fear for women to report to work. For example, families are said to be asking women not to report to work in NGos. Secondly, as reported by many women in the region, this has resulted in men increasingly harassing women on the streets.

Furthermore, the armed forces like the STF are also using this opportunity to harass Tamil women.

• Finally, while the LTTE has disclaimed any ownership over the leaflets circulated, it is interesting that the TNA have had many comments on the employment of women in NGOs. Recent statements by the TNA suggests the reactionary and patriarchal politics of the LTTE. They claim that women ‘may’ work in NGOs as long as they behave appropriately. Of course, one figures that appropriate behaviour will be defined by the LTTE who claim constantly to liberate Tamil women in Sri Lanka.

This public distribution of leaflets is but part of the package of intimidation against feminists in the East. Women’s organizations that have remained independent demanding peace have recently come under attack. These have come in the form of public threats through leaflets, threatening phone calls and abductions. This signals the quickly shrinking spaces for activists in the East, as they are caught between the 3 devils, the SL forces, the LTTE and the Karuna Faction (TMVP) and the deep blue sea.

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