Bringing peace to the children

By Ruth Sutton

700 children, whose young lives have been affected by conflict, and whose ideas of the world have been shaped by the prejudices of a violent environment came together last month in an effort to foster peace. 

The programme that brought them together took place for over three days in Puttalam. For the youngsters there were activities art, games, sports, speeches and discussions - but, they held a much deeper significance than a mere holiday or weekend camp. Organised by UNICEF and the Regional Development Fund, the "Peace Camp" united Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala children, some for the first time. 

During the camp, the children from schools in Mannar, Vavuniya and Puttalam achieved what governments and political groups rarely manage: To break down barriers, to learn about people on opposing sides of a conflict and to work and play together for peace.

"To foster peace and understanding between children is the world's only hope for lasting peace," said the UN official as he watched the eager kids preparing for a peace march. "These youngsters are the leading lights in the quest for peace. Their commitment to the ideals of the gathering and its aims will surely be the cornerstones of peace in the coming decades." 

"Today's children are tomorrow's wealth" and "Peace is more precious than a piece of land" read the banners made by the children.

"It is fun," said Sadun, a lively 14-year-old from Mannar, "but serious as well." 

The organizers were justifiably proud that they were able to provide a safe forum for children to share their experiences and learn about their contemporaries from other communities. Team activities, usually entered into, purely in a spirit of fun, for instance, took on a more profound meaning. The children had to learn to trust one another, - perhaps against years of conditioning to regard other communities with suspicion - and to respect and enjoy each other's company. 

Said Ashok from Puttalam, "I have learned a lot from my new friends.....life is very difficult for all children when there is violence." Added Ruana, "I will not believe people now when they say that all people from one group are bad. I will find out for myself, and show that we are peaceful."

The peace programme commenced in the town hall, with blessings by Buddhist, Catholic, Muslim and Hindu clerics in Sinhala and Tamil. Following a peace march to the Thillaiyadi school, the children were addressed by RDF officials and the chief guest Dr Yameed Mazumder from UNICEF. 

The three day programme included not only learning about the various human rights treaties, but, more importantly, using the articles to develop respect for each individual's rights.

The peace camp is part of the "Children as Zones of Peace Initiative" based on the Graca Machel report. Sri Lanka is one of the first countries in the world to effectively work on realising its aims, and integrating the ideas into workable practice. 

The initiative is part of a permanent strategy of on-going programmes built into everyday school and public life. Although there are specific training courses and peace camps, the fundamental ideal is to infuse all aspects of daily life with the recognition and practice of "children as zones of peace" . 

The overall process has been guided by a contact group of 14 agencies and individuals representing humanitarian and child related professions, including NGOs, key government and UN agencies, community leaders and clerics of all religions. A "call for action" - practical, sustainable measures based on the ethos of the Machel report, sees Sri Lanka playing a leading role in the arena of children's rights in conflict. It compels all Sri Lankans, whether military personnel, teachers, public officials, businessmen or the general public to fulfill their responsibilities by putting these ideals into practice in shielding children from both direct violence and its far reaching ramifications. 

The consequences of war are multi-faceted and reach beyond the territories experiencing ethnic clashes. Displacement, poor access to health services, disruption of education, lack of clean water, malnutrition, and daily exposure to a culture of violence all leave lasting effects on children.

Even without witnessing violent acts firsthand, "just the presence of checkpoints and armed personnel," says UNICEF's Dr Mazumder, "is not the kind of environment for children to grow up in. It teaches them that guns and violence are the norm, and the way to solve problems." 

The peace camp discussed The Global Movement for Children and their current campaign " Say Yes to Children". It is a movement of people and organizations dedicated to promoting the rights of the child, led by Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel. 

Pledges stating "I, ........, believe that all children should be free to grow in health, peace and dignity...." will be presented to the UN Special Session on Children in September 2001. They aim to give a voice to children, and to encourage all heads of government, NGOs, the media, individuals and the corporate sector to mobilize their resources to make the world a fit place for children. 

To add your support to the Global Movement for Children, make a pledge, volunteer or find out more, contact UNICEF at No. 5, Githanjali Place, Colombo 5, or visit the website www.unicef.org and follow the hyperlink (a logo of a palm print) to the Global Movement for Children.

Tower home for museum

By Gamini G. Punchihewa

During the time when our island was under the rule of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, the colonial powers built forts and ramparts along the coast to prevent invasions.

The main builders of these forts were the Dutch. 

The British later built miniature fortifications to prevent internal revolts like the famed but abortive revolt of Uva-Wellassa (1817-18) led by Veera Keppettipola Disawe. 

The Martello Tower is believed to have been built by the British during the years 1801-1803. 

It stands on the tip of the rocky headland overlooking the sea at Hambantota, alongside the lighthouse. 

Its purpose was to help their troops guard against any Kandyan infiltration into the Hambantota area where pitched battles were fought between the Kandyan forces and the British army. 

The Kandyan forces had to retreat into the interior. 

In his book 'Seeing Ceylon', Dr. R.L. Brohier notes that its builder was a British captain named Goper. He quotes from a diary entry made by Sir Alexander Johnston in 1806, when he was the Acting Chief Justice. "Hambantota was reached at 11.00 a.m. on Monday, the 17th November 1806. 

"The journey from Batticaloa, 158 miles had taken days. 

"Went to look at Mr. Smythe's house, the Collector, built at his own expense... and went over to the Tower built by Captain Goper of the Engineers. Saw- a big brig 2 miles off at 4.00 p.m. with no colours."

Dr. Brohier confirms that the Martello Tower dates back to early British times. 

Such towers had been typical of the British during the Napoleonic wars and were erected along the southeast coast of England to prevent invasions from the sea. The towers were of Corsican origin. A tower named Cape Martello was captured by the English Fleet in 1794. 

In the past, the Martello Tower formed part of an office of the Hambantota Kachcheri where the Land Registry branch was housed. Today it houses a Fisheries Museum that is administered by Sri Lanka Salterns (Pvt) Ltd. 

I was taken around the museum by the Officer-In-Charge, Mr. Kapila.

The exhibits are not just within the building but outside it as well. What catches the eye in the front compound are the models of fishermen hauling in their nets.

On the verandah a board spells out the objectives of the Fisheries Museum which was opened by Minister Mahinda Rajapakse in 1999. 

Walking through the galleries one sees models of fishermen, portraying their skills, and the traditional crafts and methods used by them from ages past.

At the entrance to the lower terrace is the model of a fisherman wearing his traditional straw hat, lamp in hand and carrying his fishing gear. The backdrop is a painting of a fishing scene with the typical fisherman's cadjan hut.

Among the exhibits displayed in glass show cases are model fishing boats, motor-boats, trawlers and other implements like the diyalowa (a vessel to bail out water from the boat), vallam steppams, attangus, fishing rods and line fishing gear (yoth panna). Also on display is the 'darawa lampuwa' that fishermen used to catch Kelawallas (tuna fish). When fishermen go out in their boats to the fishing grounds, this lamp is set afloat in the sea and the fish lured towards the light get trapped in the nets.

Climbing up the ladder in the Martello Tower to the upper floor you can let your imagination run wild and picture how the British sentries in the days of old, would have stood guard peering through the square peep holes into the sea for any sign of the enemy.

Here the exhibits are sea-fauna. Shells and molluscs of all kinds among them the cabbage conchs, star corals and the staghorns with branches like a sambhur's antlers. Preserved in bottles of formalin are varieties of local fish such as milk-fish, mudubana, kumbalawa, star gazer, shrimps and giant prawns and lobsters. Along with these exhibits are prawn nets and fish traps. The fish traps called 'barak gediya' are made of sticks or coconut branches while the prawn traps have a suspended net to be kept in the sea or river with live bait. The lobster nets are shaped like a pouch.

The exhibits displayed on the lower terrace are explained in Sinhala only while on the upper terrace the descriptions are both in Sinhala and English. 

Since the aim of the museum is to educate people on the country's fishing history and given the number of foreign tourists who visit this museum, the authorities should consider having an English explanation as well.

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