The Politics of Omanthai Checkpoint
Four years have passed since the end of the war. Indeed, the scenes from this year’s victory celebration event are still fresh in our minds. We are told that the country is free. But, little has changed for the ‘liberated’ people. One only has to travel via Omanthai (on A9) in public transport to understand what I mean.
It was 9 pm when the bus stopped at the Omanthai checkpoint yesterday. I was on my way to Kalmunai, and I had four large bags. Since dragging all the bags through the checking counter was practically impossible I decided to stay inside the bus. (Travelers, travelling towards south, are expected to get-off the bus, show ID cards, answer random questions in a language they don’t speak, open up their bags for inspection and so on regardless of the time.) Two army officers climbed inside the bus and began checking the ID cards of those who had stayed behind - except a few very elderly ladies all the others were army personnel. I told one of the officers that I am a university student and explained in Singlish that I have too many bags to carry through the checking counter. Right away, I was rudely asked to get off the bus. When I pleaded, the officer went through three of the bags bar the biggest one and asked me to carry that bag and walk through the checking counter. I did so.
The question to ask is 'why does the Omanthai checkpoint exist?’
Well, the official reason, as announced by way of a notice at the entrance of the checking counter, is that 'valuable artefacts from Hindu temples are being smuggled to the south to be auctioned’ and the checkpoint is functioning 'to stop’ this.
It is true that many valuable things from Hindu temples in the Vanni were stolen after the end of the war. In fact, someone (a Tamil) made a submission before the LLRC on the matter(1). However, the point to note is that this trade started right after the end of the war. That is, even before the locals were allowed to resettle, statues and other valuable things from Hindu temples in the Vanni were on sale in Colombo. Moreover, if one wants to smuggle something out of Vanni one can easily do so by travelling on A32 (Pooneryn-Mannar). The official reason, therefore, rings hollow.
Those who are familiar with history would instantly recall that Omanthai was the army front-line before the final war began. Omanthai checkpoint, thus, serves as a landmark that divides the conquered area from the rest of the country. It serves as a reminder for Tamils that they have been 'conquered’. The way in which most army officers treat Tamils, as noted above, also confirms this.
When one compares the treatment Sinhalese tourists travelling north (mostly, they use their private vehicles) receive at the checkpoint with the Tamil experience, the message is telling. So much for peace and freedom.
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1. See Namini Wijedasa’s report:
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