For the 21 million people who live in Sri Lanka – a tear-shaped island in the Indian Ocean – many a tear has been shed over a quarter-century of conflict. The minority Tamils and majority Sinhalese just can't seem to find peace.
But now that a US president has forcefully spoken out against the war's tragic consequences for civilians, perhaps the world community will finally help bring about a settlement. "Sri Lanka must seek a peace that is secure and lasting and grounded in respect for all of its citizens," President Obama said this week.
Protecting some 50,000 Tamils now caught in a major and perhaps final battle between the government and rebel Tamil Tigers – let alone reconciling Tamils and Sinhalese after the conflict – won't be easy.
Too many global players have a stake in how this conflict ends.
By sheer geography, Sri Lanka has often been a strategic pawn for big powers. It sits astride the sea lanes that bring oil to Asia and Asian exports to Europe and the Middle East.
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