| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, May 10, 2012 | 2:00PM - 4:00PM | The Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility, Munk Centre For International Studies - 1 Devonshire Place |
South Asia in the Media
PROGRAM:
2:00-4:00 Lecture & Discussion
4:00-6:00 Reception
The final phase of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009 is probably one of the most costly conflicts in terms of human lives this century and yet few have even heard of it. Experts working for the UN Secretary General concluded that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed and up to 40,000 people were killed in just 5 months. The death toll could be far higher. Three years later we still don’t know.
Journalist, writer and former head of news for Amnesty International Frances Harrison has been gathering information on the denouement of the war – a period in which the distinction between civilians and combatants was blurred and there were few independent witnesses. Her research and interviews with survivors of the war paint a picture of unimaginable suffering, accounts which should not be silenced if substantive peace is to be sustained in Sri Lanka. Drawing attention to what the victorious government calls a “Sri Lankan model” for wiping out terrorism, she will highlight her investigation of what happened in the name of crushing terrorism in Sri Lanka.
The former BBC Correspondent in Sri Lanka, Harrison has spent the last year and a half tracking down eyewitnesses to the 2009 war in Sri Lanka for a new book called “Still Counting the Dead” to be published later this year by Portobello Books in London. The book attempts to piece together accounts to convey what it was like in the war zone in those final months for those who were defeated.
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Asian Heritage Month
If you are attending a Munk School event and require accommodation(s), please email the event contact listed above to make appropriate arrangements.
Disclaimer: Please note that events posted on this website are considered to be public events – unless otherwise stated – and you are choosing to enter a space where your image and/or voice may be captured as part of event proceedings that may be made public as part of a broadcast, webcast, or publication (online and in print). We make every effort to ensure your personal information is kept and used in compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). If you have any questions please get in touch with our office at munkschool@utoronto.ca or 416-946-8900.