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Draft 6
Posted on: Sunday, August 2, 2009 Posted at: Draft 6
Memories of the past flickered vividly through Alan’s mind like a black and white filmstrip when he saw the scars on his both hands. This incident left an indelible mark in his mind forever.
“All I could hear and see were the bullets and bombs. Dead bodies scattered around…” Alan recalled.
Alan lived in Colombo, where predominantly Sinhalese lived. After Sri Lanka had gained independence in 1948, Alan’s life started to change and danger was impending.
Alan had scored good grades. However, he was not able to enter University. He had to score even better grades than the Sinhalese in order to secure a place in the same University course.
“I feel so sorry for you,” his friend mention with sarcasm. That remark had caused the rift between his congenial Sinhalese friend and him deepened. Usually, both of them would go home together. However, that day Alan went straight home from school alone, without bothering his Sinhalese friend.
“Why are you not working today?” Alan questioned his brother as he removed his socks.
“I had been fired…” Bala muttered with tears welled up in his brown eyes, “The Sinhalese government had made Sinhala the only language of administration. It’s impossible for me to learn the language within three years…”
Alan flew into a paroxysm of rage and hollowed, “This is unfair!”
“Alan, nothing in this world is fair. You have to remember this,” Alan’s father whom spoke with wisdom and calmness.
Alan was no longer able to attend school because both his dad and brother had been retrenched from their work and were not able to afford Alan’s school fees. Worse still, the family of four had been chased out of their home in unwilling acknowledgement of them being stateless.
“Dad, where are we supposed to go now? Even our house has been taken by the Sri Lanka government,” Alan asked in dejection.
“Don’t worry, my son. We’ll slowly figure out where to seek food and shelter,” Alan’s dad assured, “Meanwhile, we must have the indomitable spirit to keep ourselves alive.”
Walking past streets, Alan and his family saw some assailants carrying out arson attacks such as setting the cars, buses and motorcycles on fire. Alan and his family had to remain vigilant at all circumstances when they were under siege. Alan and his family members decided to seek help from the nearby refugee camp.
Alan was flabbergasted when he saw the numbers of people were injured. He could feel a mood of melancholy descended on them. Bala decided to join the terrorist organization called Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) to fight the rights for Indian Tamils.
Other countries were trying to think of some plans to ameliorate the situation. Alan and his family members, except Bala, decided to extricate themselves from the overcrowded conditions in refugee camps. They fled to Tamil Nadu in South India, vowing not to return back to Colombo, unless the Sri Lankan government had ended the civil war and redressed the injustice. However, Alan and his dad went back to find Bala. Fortunately, they found him. Bala persuaded them to stay and they gave in, albeit, the situation had not improved.
There was peace because Norway decided to intervene. However, peace was short-termed as Norway withdrew and so the conflicts came alive again.
“Are you Indian Tamil?” The Sri Lankan police pointed the gun at Alan’s temple. This had stirred Alan back to the normal.
“Not again.” Alan closed his eyes and held both his hands up. “Yes, I am. What do you want from me now?”