Human Rights in Sri Lanka

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the social turbulence, political instability and human rights violations that are a part of life in the country of Sri Lanka. The paper presents a brief history of the country, some background information on human rights violations there and then takes a look at how minority grievances, claims and rights are central to the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. The paper proposes that though the Tigers are the minority, and have been oppressed in significant ways for many years, both sides in the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka have committed - and continue to commit - egregious human rights violations; as long as this continues, so will the suffering and killing of all ethnicities.

Human Rights and Political Realities in Sri Lanka Today:
Facts and Background
What do the Tigers (LTTE) Say is their Main Issue?
What are the Main Minority / Ethnic Issues that History will Show
are Legitimate, Insofar as the Tigers (LTTE) Grievances are
Concerned?
Evidence that the Sinhalese Government Commits Human Rights
Violations
Evidence that the LTTE Commits Human Rights Violations

From the Paper:

"The island nation of Sri Lanka is located in Southern Asia, in the Indian Ocean south of India. The island's size is 64,610 square miles (which about the size of West Virginia) and its coastline is 1,340 km. The population of Sri Lanka is approximately 19,905,165, of which 68.2% are between the ages of 15 and 64; only 7% are over 65 and 24.8% are fourteen years of age or less, according to CIA data. The main environmental problems facing the island's peoples include: heavy deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife species threatened by urban sprawl and poachers; pollution caused by mining activities, sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation and serious air pollution in Colombo."

More papers on Human Rights in Sri Lanka:

• Research Paper # 58169 : "The Tamil in Sri Lanka"
• Essay # 84481 : "Arranged Marriage in Sri Lanka and Japan "
• Research Paper # 119235 : "Child Soldiers in Sri Lanka"

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