Name: ______Class: ______Date: ______

Causes of the Sri Lankan Conflict

Questions:

(a) / Study Source A.
What is the cartoonist’s view about the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka? Explain your answer. / [5 marks]
(b) / Study Source B and Source C.
In what ways are Sources B and C similar in their assessments of the causes of the conflict in Sri Lanka? Explain your answer / [6 marks ]

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions.

Source AThis political cartoon is taken from the Muunaa Tamil Guardian in July 2006.

Source BA statement made by a retired Indian colonel in May 2000.

Source CA Tamil view on what caused the conflict in Sri Lanka, taken from the website of the Tamil Eelam movement, which seeks independence from Sri Lanka.

Source A: / Taken from:
Source B: / Adapted from an article featured in online Indian news portal, Rediff.com
Source C: / Adapted from an article on the Tamil Eelam, the official website of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,

SUGGESTED ANSWERS FOR Combined Humanities (SBQ)

Section A

Level of Response / Level Descriptor and Rubrics / Mark Allocation
1 / (a) / Study Source A
What is the cartoonist’s view about the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka? EYA (5 marks) / 5 m
Question Target: Student is able to pick up on significant symbols in the source, explain these symbols, and interpret the message of the source
L1 / Describes the source.
E.g. There is a lion with a sword in hand, sitting on top of a coffin with skulls inside.
E.g. This source tells me that the Sinhalese are bad.
E.g. This source tells me that a lot of people died. / 1 m
L2 / Makes inferences, unsupported
E.g. This source tells me that there is violence / 2 m
L3 / Makes inferences, supported
-one piece of support information
-two or more pieces of support information
E.g. This source tells me that the Sinhalese state uses violence against its people, as seen from the lion holding a sword which is actually the coat of arms of the Sinhalese state. The sword also symbolises violence.
E.g. This source also tells me that a lot of people died (it was a massacre) during the anti-Tamil riots in 1983, as seen from “1983” on the coffin, and the skulls inside the coffin which symbolises the victims. / 3 m
4 m
L4 / L3 + PURPOSE (supported)
E.g. Since the cartoon has been published in the Muuna Tamil Guardian, it would be pro-Tamil and the cartoonist is therefore trying to blame the Sri Lankan government for the violence against the people during the 1983 Anti-Tamil riots.
In doing so, it is probably trying to rally the Tamils to continue in their fight for independence, which the cartoonist feels is the only way in which the ethnic conflict, which has seen the persecution of the Tamils by the Sinhalese state, can finally come to an end. / 5 m
1 / (b) / Study Source B.
In what ways are Source B and Source C similarin their assessments of the causes of the conflict in Sri Lanka? Explain your answer. / 6 m
Question Target: Compare and contrast similarities and differences in points of view, Distinguish between fact, opinion and judgments
L1 / Identifies/ Describes, but no explanations
Failed cross-reference, i.e, the comparison is too vague or general
e.g. : Both sources blame the Sinhalese / 1 m
L2 / Similarities based on source content
(unsupported)
E.g.: Source B and Source C are similar as both agree that Sinhalese actions and policies as the reason for the Tamils taking to violence. / 2 m
L3 / Similarities based on source content, Supported
3m for 1 similarity
4m for 2 similarities
The two sources are similar in their assessment of the causes of the conflict as they agree that Sinhalese actions of discriminating against Tamils were the main reason behind ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka as it provoked a violent reaction from the Tamils. (Common criteria)
Source B points to the Sinhalese policy of “anti-Indianism” which favoured Sinhalese culture and discriminated against Indian ones, which eventually triggered a violent reaction from the Tamils. And Source C blamed the discriminatory policies of the Sri Lankan state, such as the removal of Tamil voting rights, the university admission policies which favoured the Sinhalese and the Sinhala-only Language policy. 3m
Moreover, both agree that the Tamils were the victims in this conflict. Source B says that the Tamils bore the “full brunt” of the policy of “anti-Indianism.” Source C also states that “the Sinhalese regularly organized physical attacks on the Tamil people to terrorise and intimidate them into submission.” 4m / 3 m
L4 / Similarity in tone/perspective, supported
e.g. 1: Both sources are similar in their perspectives as they appear to be biased against the Sinhalese by blaming them for the conflict and saying the Tamils had “no choice” but to resort to violence. Source B argues that the Sinhalese were racist and believed they were superior, while Source C says that the Sinhalese caused all the problems, were the first to resort to violence, and describes their rule as being “oppressive.” / 5 m
L5 / Similarity based on purpose/motive, supported
e.g. 1: Both sources are similar in purpose in that they are trying to rally public opinion against the Sinhalese majority by blaming them for the conflict. That Source B is by an Indian colonel is sympathetic to the Tamils in Sri Lanka may suggest that he too is a Tamil who wants to help his Tamil brothers in Sri Lanka. Source C is taken from a pro-Tamil Eelam website, and thus would be biased against the Sinhalese state. They both seek to justify the actions of the Tamils in resorting to violence, and may want to garner support for a separate Tamil Eelam state, in order to put an end to all the violence. / 6 m

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