Sunday, February 17, 2002

The Sri Lankan government has opened access on A9 -- the parts under their control. A9 is the main highway between the south and Jaffna, and the government and LTTE had fought bitterly to control it in recent years. Supplies will travel more freely to the embargoed Tamil areas than they have in many years. The rebels seem likely to reciprocate by opening up their part of the highway. Just keep knocking on wood... 4:15:12 AM comment(s)

Tuesday, January 22, 2002

Well, i wasn't expecting this, but now the Prime Minister is floating the idea of lifting the ban on the LTTE (by way of moreover.com's Sri Lanka RSS feed). I guess if there are no riots he might go ahead and try to do it. 2:31:07 AM comment(s)

The Sri Lankan government has matched the LTTE's one-month extension of the cease-fire. Maybe Jeyanthy and i will even be able to travel to Jaffna (a map if you're interested). 1:40:52 AM comment(s)

I should probably add that a lot of grassroots work went into getting things to this relatively hopeful point in Sri Lanka. That kind of work rarely is visible, and even the death and destruction in Sri Lanka is not so well covered, at least in the U.S. press i see. Many Sri Lankans here don't even know about all the peace work going on there, such as this 1999 peace conference. 12:13:31 AM comment(s)

Monday, January 21, 2002

Anyone who's followed the situation in Sri Lanka for more than a little while knows better than to assume this is the end of the war, but this is the most hopeful things have looked in a while, in terms of the big players. The ceasefire has been holding, and the LTTE has just extended it from their side for another month; the government seems likely to reciprocate. Jeyanthy is already checking out plane tickets for our upcoming visit there, to attend/help with a Nonviolent Communication International Intensive Training March 17-26. Want to come? I promise warm weather, warm people, and powerful & challenging learning. 11:46:40 PM comment(s)