(1) One conflict among many - An outsider's comments on the Sri Lankan conflict

At the last strip of land held by the Tamil Tigers falls to the Sri Lankan army, Rochbane has several observations about the conflict, starting with this, the first of twelve posts.

First, a few provisos.

Roachbane is not Sri Lankan, but has significant contacts, including highly-placed Sinhalese and Tamils, both inside Sri Lanka and internationally.

My first-hand experience of the conflict is inevitably more limited than that of Sri Lankans, and its emotional significance is less personally profound. Nonetheless, as with current affairs anywhere in the world, outside views have their place.

And at least I hope not to be pigeon-holed as belonging to one side or the other.

For readers who don't know much about the conflict, these twelve posts will provide you with a useful summary of its origins, and where things are now.

For Sri Lankans, please read the posts as an outsider's view, without feeling too sensitive. I am critical of all sides, at times in robust language; but I would not have written the posts if I did not revere Sri Lanka and all its peoples.

Now to my comments.

The Sri Lankan conflict is one in a long line of ethno-nationalist conflicts that arose in the second half of the twentieth century, when colonial powers departed (as per the British) or old orders died (as per the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia).

The departing powers left poison behind, in the form of nationalist sentiments, and states - centralised states for the most part, when in many cases states had not even existed before the colonial era.

In the rush for power, ethnic and religious groups became more consolidated and self-aware, often through the leadership of racial zealots or power-hungry fools. Rival groups vied for control, or sought self-determination and secession. Either way, war followed.

Some Sri Lankans like to feel that their war is special and unique, and that outsiders cannot understand it. But while every conflict has unique features, the Sri Lankan civil war can be understood as just one more postcolonial bloodbath.