On Politicized Black July

By Malinda Seneviratne -July 29, 2013 

Malinda Seneviratne

Last week The Nation commented on the events of July 1983, referring inter alia, to the context and how it helped shape the larger tragedy that unfolded. July 1983, referred to as ‘Black July’ has been politicized to the point where the victims have receded into a statistical figure, a rhetorician’s convenience to be debated about, to be manipulated for political ends.  Inevitable, one might say.

It was black, that July.

There were other Julys that followed, in many ways as or more tragic, as or more violent, as or more dark, but strangely forgotten.   On July 24, 1996 was a black day.  The Dehiwala train bombing.  Sixty four is less than 300+, but death is death, the loved ones of the victims would not have wept less.  No commemoration, though. No ‘Never Again!’

There was a July in 2001. Katunayake.  Twenty four aircraft were damaged or destroyed in an audacious LTTEattack which had a tremendous and negative impact on the economy. It paved the way for ‘regime-change’ and the Ceasefire Agreement on February 22, 2002, the ill-effects of which, including the massive loss of lives, are well documented.  Unremembered.  No ‘Never Again!’

And if only numbers matted, we had a July in 1990. Thousands were killed in that month by vigilante groups who did the bidding of the then Government.  If July 1983 was black, then a darker color to describe the July of 1990 is yet to be named.  No commemoration.  No ‘Never Again!’      Read More