political statement of support & solidarity from sri lanka to the usa
<*On Hurricane Katrina*
>From those who have been fighting for justice in Sri Lanka and other
Earthquake/Tsunami affected countries
It is clear that waters of tsunami, hurricanes, and floods do not wash
away injustices. In fact, in the wake of two global disasters of
catastrophic proportions, we have witnessed nothing less than the
abandonment of the poorest.
In Sri Lanka and the Tsunami-affected countries, we have seen
reconstruction and relief efforts deepen the wounds of those already
vulnerable before the disaster-communities who have suffered years of war
and poverty. We have witnessed the exploitation of national heartache,
destruction, and loss-seeing it used as an opportunity to rebuild Sri
Lanka for the rich, tourism, and big industry. We have witnessed the
exacerbation of inter-ethnic conflict, caste and racial bigotry, and
heightened violence particularly against Women and Transgender, Lesbian,
Bisexual, Gay and Queer (TLGBQ) peoples. As we continue to rage against
these injustices in Sri Lanka and other Earthquake/Tsunami affected
countries we stand in solidarity with the people of New Orleans and the
Gulf Coast region.
We are appalled at the ineffective and disorganized response of the
richest country in the world to the devastation of the people of New
Orleans. The flooding of New Orleans was not due to heavy rains but to
neglect-a levee unmaintained due to funding cuts. No support network or
assistance was provided for people who lacked the means to evacuate. While
we now witness scores of individuals crammed into buses and separated from
their families, we recognize that the current response exists within the
context and legacy of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow laws, and
incarceration. It exists within present day racism, classism, sexism,
able-ism, transphobia and homophobia. And it exists within the context of
a right wing agenda accelerated by the War on Terror.
After the tsunami, the Sri Lankan government failed to recognize the
rights of women, TLGBQ people, people living with physical and/or mental
disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, the youth, and the
elderly in refugee camps and relief efforts. Numerous reports confirmed
rape and other acts of brutal violence in the days and weeks following the
disaster. Similar acts have been reported in New Orleans and the
surrounding areas. We understand that these acts, exacerbated by extreme
conditions, are the product of a patriarchal structure that promotes,
conceals, and glorifies violence. Yet we also hold the US government
directly culpable for the heightened violence in New Orleans primarily
because of the lack of a swift, present and organized federal disaster
response. We remain outraged as government leaders call for more death
through zero tolerance and shoot to kill policies.
We are angered by the racist and classist media coverage of New Orleans
and the Gulf Coast area, post-hurricane. We clearly recall our deep
frustration after the tsunami hit as the Western media networks focused
the brunt of their coverage on the stories of American and European
tourists who had survived or lost lives in the tsunami. Local peoples in
Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and other affected countries were
consistently portrayed in an emotionally detached manner-as faceless
victims. The coverage of Hurricane Katrina has maintained similar
patterns-amidst the images of shattered landscapes video captures of
"looting" are frequently and cyclically interspersed-a tactic employed by
the media to imply "criminality" in the behavior of the poor, mostly Black
community. Meanwhile the majority of resource commandeering by people of
all races was to satisfy essential life-sustaining needs and the numerous
stories of Black people's strength, courage, and survival remain ignored.
Over the following months and years we anticipate that the city of New
Orleans as well as the rest of the Gulf Coast region will be rebuilt. As
peoples of Sri Lanka who have seen our own countries, communities, and
peoples devastated by natural disaster - a disaster made more deadly by
poverty, racism, sexism, and war - we stand in solidarity with the people
of the American South. As we dream of rebuilding a Sri Lanka and Southeast
Asia free of economic exploitation, bigotry and violence we also stand in
solidarity with the dreams of the people of New Orleans, their friends and
their family as they call for: an immediate, safe, and organized
evacuation of the city, respectable housing, food, and care for people
until they can safely return to their homes, the just distribution of aid,
rebuilding New Orleans through public investment, creation of stable union
jobs, new schools, cultural programs, and restoration of existing housing
or construction of new, high quality housing for low
income peoples.
We call for increased accountability from the US president and his
administration for their role in the displacement of the people of New
Orleans.
We call for increased involvement of Southern communities of color,
low-income grassroots groups, neighborhoods, families, churches, and
individuals in the decision-making processes of relief and rebuilding.
We call for "private and individual aide" to focus on grassroots
communities in need, and on the long-term process of rebuilding a just and
equitable South, rather than simply throwing money and supplies at the
crisis.
We call for the media to turns its cameras over to the people affected by
the Hurricane, rather than objectifying them.
We call for a "human process" in helping those displaced by the Hurricane.
Immediate efforts should be made to reunite separated families, loved
ones, and communities - prioritizing healing in the rebuilding effort.
We know that we cannot expect governments and big businesses to solve the
problems of people in struggle. We recognize and support the autonomous
work of volunteers, individuals and communities who have stepped forward
to save, support, and sustain those affected by Hurricane Katrina and the
government's failure to save lives.
We are committed to building links and relationships between the survivors
of Hurricane Katrina and those who survived the Tsunami. We are committed
to sharing our resources and our struggles, with all individuals, groups,
collectives, and organizations committed to rebuilding a finer world. We
are committed to helping you rebuild sustainable communities, among many
others around the world.
We ask all committed organizers and individuals from Tsunami affected
countries or engaged in post-Tsunami grassroots based reconstruction and
community healing to sign onto this statement of solidarity. Please
contact us at resist@mindspring.com
Thomas Mariadason
Marian Yalini Thambynayagam
M. Mayuran Tiruchelvam
Varuni Tiruchelvam>
>From those who have been fighting for justice in Sri Lanka and other
Earthquake/Tsunami affected countries
It is clear that waters of tsunami, hurricanes, and floods do not wash
away injustices. In fact, in the wake of two global disasters of
catastrophic proportions, we have witnessed nothing less than the
abandonment of the poorest.
In Sri Lanka and the Tsunami-affected countries, we have seen
reconstruction and relief efforts deepen the wounds of those already
vulnerable before the disaster-communities who have suffered years of war
and poverty. We have witnessed the exploitation of national heartache,
destruction, and loss-seeing it used as an opportunity to rebuild Sri
Lanka for the rich, tourism, and big industry. We have witnessed the
exacerbation of inter-ethnic conflict, caste and racial bigotry, and
heightened violence particularly against Women and Transgender, Lesbian,
Bisexual, Gay and Queer (TLGBQ) peoples. As we continue to rage against
these injustices in Sri Lanka and other Earthquake/Tsunami affected
countries we stand in solidarity with the people of New Orleans and the
Gulf Coast region.
We are appalled at the ineffective and disorganized response of the
richest country in the world to the devastation of the people of New
Orleans. The flooding of New Orleans was not due to heavy rains but to
neglect-a levee unmaintained due to funding cuts. No support network or
assistance was provided for people who lacked the means to evacuate. While
we now witness scores of individuals crammed into buses and separated from
their families, we recognize that the current response exists within the
context and legacy of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow laws, and
incarceration. It exists within present day racism, classism, sexism,
able-ism, transphobia and homophobia. And it exists within the context of
a right wing agenda accelerated by the War on Terror.
After the tsunami, the Sri Lankan government failed to recognize the
rights of women, TLGBQ people, people living with physical and/or mental
disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, the youth, and the
elderly in refugee camps and relief efforts. Numerous reports confirmed
rape and other acts of brutal violence in the days and weeks following the
disaster. Similar acts have been reported in New Orleans and the
surrounding areas. We understand that these acts, exacerbated by extreme
conditions, are the product of a patriarchal structure that promotes,
conceals, and glorifies violence. Yet we also hold the US government
directly culpable for the heightened violence in New Orleans primarily
because of the lack of a swift, present and organized federal disaster
response. We remain outraged as government leaders call for more death
through zero tolerance and shoot to kill policies.
We are angered by the racist and classist media coverage of New Orleans
and the Gulf Coast area, post-hurricane. We clearly recall our deep
frustration after the tsunami hit as the Western media networks focused
the brunt of their coverage on the stories of American and European
tourists who had survived or lost lives in the tsunami. Local peoples in
Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and other affected countries were
consistently portrayed in an emotionally detached manner-as faceless
victims. The coverage of Hurricane Katrina has maintained similar
patterns-amidst the images of shattered landscapes video captures of
"looting" are frequently and cyclically interspersed-a tactic employed by
the media to imply "criminality" in the behavior of the poor, mostly Black
community. Meanwhile the majority of resource commandeering by people of
all races was to satisfy essential life-sustaining needs and the numerous
stories of Black people's strength, courage, and survival remain ignored.
Over the following months and years we anticipate that the city of New
Orleans as well as the rest of the Gulf Coast region will be rebuilt. As
peoples of Sri Lanka who have seen our own countries, communities, and
peoples devastated by natural disaster - a disaster made more deadly by
poverty, racism, sexism, and war - we stand in solidarity with the people
of the American South. As we dream of rebuilding a Sri Lanka and Southeast
Asia free of economic exploitation, bigotry and violence we also stand in
solidarity with the dreams of the people of New Orleans, their friends and
their family as they call for: an immediate, safe, and organized
evacuation of the city, respectable housing, food, and care for people
until they can safely return to their homes, the just distribution of aid,
rebuilding New Orleans through public investment, creation of stable union
jobs, new schools, cultural programs, and restoration of existing housing
or construction of new, high quality housing for low
income peoples.
We call for increased accountability from the US president and his
administration for their role in the displacement of the people of New
Orleans.
We call for increased involvement of Southern communities of color,
low-income grassroots groups, neighborhoods, families, churches, and
individuals in the decision-making processes of relief and rebuilding.
We call for "private and individual aide" to focus on grassroots
communities in need, and on the long-term process of rebuilding a just and
equitable South, rather than simply throwing money and supplies at the
crisis.
We call for the media to turns its cameras over to the people affected by
the Hurricane, rather than objectifying them.
We call for a "human process" in helping those displaced by the Hurricane.
Immediate efforts should be made to reunite separated families, loved
ones, and communities - prioritizing healing in the rebuilding effort.
We know that we cannot expect governments and big businesses to solve the
problems of people in struggle. We recognize and support the autonomous
work of volunteers, individuals and communities who have stepped forward
to save, support, and sustain those affected by Hurricane Katrina and the
government's failure to save lives.
We are committed to building links and relationships between the survivors
of Hurricane Katrina and those who survived the Tsunami. We are committed
to sharing our resources and our struggles, with all individuals, groups,
collectives, and organizations committed to rebuilding a finer world. We
are committed to helping you rebuild sustainable communities, among many
others around the world.
We ask all committed organizers and individuals from Tsunami affected
countries or engaged in post-Tsunami grassroots based reconstruction and
community healing to sign onto this statement of solidarity. Please
contact us at resist@mindspring.com
Thomas Mariadason
Marian Yalini Thambynayagam
M. Mayuran Tiruchelvam
Varuni Tiruchelvam>