Laura Storr has joined.
Niloo has joined.
me: me too?
Niloo: wheres buddhi
Laura Storr: no idea
You have invited dissanayake to this chat.
Laura Storr: no sign - doesn't look good
me: i'll just tell her to log out of gmail
Niloo: or send her the invitiaiton againa
me: she is logging out and loggin in again
will leave it to you laura to invite her back in - it may be too many of uswere inviting her [nose sad]
Laura Storr: ok - I've invited her twice already
Niloo: send her a invitiation once she logs in again
me: let her log out of gmail first
Laura Storr: Ok - I don't know when that is - but will wait
Niloo: tills she comes on line, can we decide what we will chat about .
for the 1 hour.
so that we may not waste time
me: well I would like Laura to comment on each of our stories
and saying something about their structure and content as well as what CAFOD particularly loks for
Laura Storr: Ok I can start then - I'll start with Niloo
me: ok laura can u now invite Buddi?
Niloo: yeah
Laura Storr: Given below is the story we included in the brochure
Story of Change- Batticaloa/ Kalmunai -EHED - Lending a helping hand to a hard worker.
When the tsunami hit Batticaloa, in the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Rasa Alatrees lost her house. “We had purchased the land with the money we managed to save,” says Mrs. Alatrees recalling the days she paddled the boat in the lagoon while her husband laid the nets for the catch. “We had borrowed from a money lender to build our house,” she continues.
The destruction of their house, and the pressure by the money lender to repay the loan, made her husband, who fell critically ill by gulping the brackish water of the Killer Wave, depressed as well. To earn their living, they set out on carrying passengers between Batticaloa and Kalmunai in their damaged boat, as the roads had been completely washed away.
She received a transitional shelter with the promise of a new house from Caritas Batticaloa/Kalmunai-EHED. “When my husband heard that EHED would provide us with a house, there was a considerable improvement in his condition. Had it not been for the assistance of EHED, my husband’s depression would have worsened and I could even have lost him,” she says with gratitude.
The staff of EHED had given her four designs of houses to choose from. “I chose a model which we liked very much. I hired a skilled mason who had built my previous house. EHED paid him through me,” says Mrs. Alatrees.
EHED also provided her with a loan and grant to start her business. She used this support to enhance her family trade of fishing, with training she received in leadership, group formation and savings prior to the Tsunami as a member of an animation group of EHED.
“I was fortunate to learn to read and write. I know the value of education and am determined to give my children a decent education.” says Mrs. Alatrees who learnt these skills only by observing the lessons her brothers followed in school.
OK here goes
me: did you invite Buddi Laura?
Laura Storr: The basic structure of this story is good.
I'll do it again
Ok - Niloo - It's important to start with the most interesting thing
Niloo: like?
Laura Storr: Tsunami stories - especially about housing are difficult now I think because they've all been told before
Therefore - I'd probably start it in a different way
Niloo: yeah, that where it gets boring even to write ir
it
Laura Storr: tell me abou tit
buddhi. dissanayake has joined.
Niloo: yeah, buddhi is in
Laura Storr: Anyway - the source info you had isn't great but I think you had two other options
me: wow at last Phew!
dissanayake: Am I join no
Laura Storr: You could have started with the depression of the husband as there are some good quotes in the source material
Or you could have focused on the livelihoods side of the story - the group she joined to improve her fishing business
I think this would have made a more interesting angle
Hi buddhi - glad you're in at last!
Niloo: o.k. but i didnt want to drag about the depression
Laura Storr: But I think the fact that the tsunami caused him despression is more interesting than them losing their house
me: whoops - we just had a 1 second power cut
not sure if I lost you
Laura Storr: I think you have to stop treating tsunami as the main event - and use it as part of the context
dissanayake: I read the stories of nioo and lauras as well and hope you did mine too
Laura Storr: For example - this person has the following problems, and the tsunami is just part of the history
Niloo: can you give me a sec, i have to run downstairs for a sec
Laura Storr: Don't worry buddhi - I have feedback for you too. Just started with Niloo's first
me: that's the beauty of an online chat ! [nose smile]
Laura Storr: I could start critiquing buddhi's work while Niloo is away?
dissanayake: Allright just watching your conversation and learning from it
me: well let's stay with Nillo's now as it will all be there on screen and she can reply when she gets back
Laura Storr: Ok fine
Another comment on your piece Niloo - It's always good to use the person's age and whether they've got any children as this builds up a little picture about them
It's also something they may have in common with the audience here
To vary the content you can do the following: Thirty-eight-year-old Rasa said "blah, blah".
Or "The mother of two was doing such and such at the time of the tsunami
Sent at 3:54 PM on Friday
Laura Storr: Also - in the UK we normally use first names in this type of feature instead of Mrs Altrees. I may use Rasa Altrees at some point in the story - but the rest of the time will call her Rasa. I think this is a cultural thing
me: it is good to learn those short cuts - rather than getting into detailed sentences
Niloo: im in
Laura Storr: It just means you don't have to repeat yourself as much - you can use the "she saids" to impart information
Niloo: o.k.
Laura Storr: If you look at the paragraph starting EHED also provided her with a loan
dissanayake: Niloo laura has given some feedback while you were away and have a look on above
Laura Storr: Wait I'll put it here
Niloo: i saw your comments
Laura Storr: EHED also provided her with a loan and grant to start her business. She used this support to enhance her family trade of fishing, with training she received in leadership, group formation and savings prior to the Tsunami as a member of an animation group of EHED.
“I was fortunate to learn to read and write. I know the value of education and am determined to give my children a decent education.” says Mrs. Alatrees who learnt these skills only by observing the lessons her brothers followed in school.
Right - this paragraph has a lot of jargon in it that a UK audience wouldn't understand
Niloo: what do you mena by jargon
what type of hjargon
Laura Storr: "She used support to enhance her family trade of fishing, with training in leadership etc" - how did she enhace her trade?
Niloo: o.k.
understand. i think i left out that part very convenint;ly
Laura Storr: What changed - did she employ people to work for her? How did the training help her? Did she make more money - I want to know more detail here
I think the problem you have is you're relying on other people's interviews which is hard - as you need to rely on them to ask the right questions
Niloo: yeah.
your right
if i asked the quesiotn it would be different
Laura Storr: It's always hard when you're trying to right something from source material that has lots of gaps
Niloo: maybe you should also start to critique buddhi's story
she may get bored
Laura Storr: Another tip - try to keep your sentences short. It makes it easier to read and helps keep attention. You can also use shorter sentences to create drama
Ok - I'll move to buddhi's now
Buddhi - as you did an interview first I'd like to critique that too.
me: I have noticed a tendency in web stories to make each sentence a paragraph on its own
really cutting up long paragraphs - what is CAFOD's style in this respect?
Laura Storr: Yep - thats the way to write for the web - long paragraphs on websites just don't look right
Niloo: id also like to learn on how to write for the web
Laura Storr: We do that at CAFOD - pretty much one sentence per paragraph
dissanayake: Yea I also noticed it
Laura Storr: Ok - well I'll note down web writing for the future. But will critique buddhi now
So - the first thing I want to say about your interview - is its a good idea to ask the person to tell you about someone that particularly sticks with them
dissanayake: Yea I am waiting for the feedback
Laura Storr: And the info you got on the incident itself is really good
me: as a useful aside - I have divided my screen in tow - the lef t half for the chat window and the right half for the blog with the stories
two [nose smile]
Laura Storr: Incident:
On 14th April 2007 night at about 11.00 p.m when I was staying at my home with my grandmother somebody knocked our door. When we ask who is knocking the door, the person said to open the door, if not will break it. As he didn’t tell his name we didn’t open the door. Then the person broke the door and came in. I recognize him, he hit my grandmother and she fell off at the floor and she could not stand in. I shouted him saying not to hit my grandmother, but he didn’t listen to us and he pick me with his both hands and came out of the house. While my grandmother and myself shouting and asking help without putting me down he ran into the road and there only he put me down. I tried lot to push him away but I failed and he raped me. Nobody came to help me. Then after raping me he ran along the road and could not see where went off. Hardly I got up and walk to one of my aunt’s home. I explain the incident to her and the following morning we went to the police and put a complaint. I told the whole story to the police and later on I get them a medical report also. But nothing had happen because of the power of the accused party. Everyday we got death threats from them and we had to leave our residence also. (Victims name is Dilrukshi Kumari / 19 years of age)
It would be even better to have some quotes from the girl about how she feels/felt - but for this you would have to interview her yourself. This would make a stronger story
If I was interviewing Asela I would have asked more personal questions about her like
What motivates you to do this type of work?
How do you feel when you manage to bring a case to court and get a conviction?
Niloo: yeah, i think so too
Laura Storr: What do you find personally difficult about this work?
The thing about stories is they have to have characters - and the more personal you can get the better.
Niloo: but espcially when it coes to sensitive stories like human rights etc., how personal can you get
me: yes I can see there are questions of ethics too - so can't we sometime use flase names?
Laura Storr: In this case - you didn't have access to the girl who was raped - so you couldn't get these emotional quotes from her. Therefore you need to get the emotion from the other "character" in the story - which is asela
dissanayake: Do you think we need to interview the victim always or to can we get the first hand information from the person who is handiling the case?
Laura Storr: To answer your questions - I think this is exactly the time to get personal - this could be a really moving story. As steve says, if something is sensitive then you can use a false name and declare it
Sent at 4:09 PM on Friday
me: ummm - a pause - or is it my internet connection?
dissanayake: This is not the only case of the rape victims. This is the pathetic side of all the women in sri lanka
Laura Storr: Your internet connection - I invited you back in
me: oh dear - hope I didn;t miss much - this is very helpful
Laura Storr: In a story though its important to focus in on one thing and make a real impact
As its come up - just a quick comment on language
Niloo: yes
Laura Storr: The word "pathetic" has different conotations here. I would very rarely use it.
dissanayake: Yes in my story i aimed the victim not the athetic situation of women in Sri Lanka
Laura Storr: sorry don't understand
Pathetic in the Uk is quite negative. It implies that the person you are talking about can't be bothered to do anything about the situation they are in. Other words to use would be difficult/tragic etc.
dissanayake: In my story I tryied to highlight the girls present status
Niloo: pathetic is not such a dramaic word here
dramatic
its quite a common word
Laura Storr: Buddhi - it may be better for you to write stories in your own language and have them translated into English as writing features requires quite an advanced knowledge of a language I think
dissanayake: It is good to learn some words from you laura. we here normally use the word "pathetic" if the situation is not good at all
Niloo: yeah,same meaning
but less importance given
like i said, its not such a dramatic word here
Laura Storr: Oh my god we're running out of time
me: well we can continue next week [nose smile]
i am learning
Niloo: o.k.
dissanayake: Yes that is true. When I write case studies from my own language it is more emotional and when I write it in Englished I do faile to get the emotional part
Niloo: can we decide on what we will chat about next week
so we can prepare
before hand
dissanayake: Yes it is good to have more training sessions
Niloo: or maybe you can communicate that to us through email
Laura Storr: I think I'm going to ask you both to rewrite your stories as the assignment for next week - but I need to give some more feedback
Yes - I think I can do it through email possibly
dissanayake: Yes with all the lessons that we gained today it is good to re-write the same story
Niloo: o.k. the only concern is we are closed office from next thursday
Laura Storr: Next week is not good though as we're off for easter. Can we make the next session in April?
Niloo: yeah
thats better
me: when does CAFOD come back?
Laura Storr: Steve - I can give a quick critique of yours if you like?
dissanayake: Yes we too closed for Easter
me: thanks - would be very helpful
Laura Storr: We come back on 26 March - but I'm running a photo workshop that day - would prefer to make it in April
me: 4th April?
Laura Storr: I found yours the hardest to critique to be honest - personal writing is much less structured.
me: umm - i will try to do an interview next time
Niloo: o.k. 4th april sounds good. do you think you could share some of the photo training with us too
dissanayake: 4th april is ok with me
Laura Storr: I think the subject is a bit difficult - talking about actors doing a play - even an interactive one is a barrier to the reader
You're describing something visual through a non visual medium and I felt detached.
Connecting the play to the wider reality
Niloo: maybe share some information on email. if you have
Laura Storr: Connecting the play to the wider reality was good - play is mirroring reality. but then I wanted to know more about the reality rather than the play
dissanayake: Yes we will learn through this chatting and e-mail. Specially we can share each others informations
Laura Storr: You could have used the play as a way in to talk about the conflict and your own experience of it possibly?
me: yes - have to say though my concern was to keep it short and not to becoing too boring - which I think i have a tendency to do
Laura Storr: Also - I wanted more about your feelings. Remember a story must have at least one character to make it engaging - you are the character in this one
me: Yes I see that
Laura Storr: Just as a finishing note a word about characters
me: yep
Laura Storr: This is for everyone! It's a good tip to think about your interviewees as characters when you're writing a story. There are two types - Micro characters - which is normally he main person in the story
dissanayake: Just one thing laura. can i highlight the victims character in my next story and the situation of her or the situation of sri lakan women
Laura Storr: They talk about their own situation - what's happened to them. So in today's examples they would be the girl that was raped, or Rasa who got a knew house
me: what's a wacro character then?
macro
Laura Storr: A full feature - will also have a macro character. This is someone who talks about the wider context. For example In Buddhi's story, Asela could be used as the macro character - you could use her interview to talk about the wider problems for women in sri lanka.
Niloo: who should be my macro character then
Laura Storr: However - if the feature was about her personal feelings about her work then she would become the micro character - because she would be the main focus, and you probably wouldn't have a macro in this case
Niloo: can I, make general statements and talk about the wider context
dissanayake: Umm I find this training is very much intresting
me: that also seems to be an inversion of macro verses micro??
Laura Storr: You don't have one as there isn't another character in the story. But you could make one up. For example I would probably write a quote talking about the wider problems with depression for example in Sri Lanka post tsunami and attribute it to a programme manager - then get them to sign it off
me: [nose smile] now how often has that been done in my name....
Laura Storr: You can make general statements - but in feature writing you should try and expand on your statements - usually through quotes. But be careful not to repeat yoursefl
Don't worry steve - it means your important!
me: [cool]
Laura Storr: I just noticed its 11am - I guess you're all going ready to go home now you lucky people.
I have another meeting so I will have to go.
I'll send more feedback via email - and some more tips about how to structure your stories
How do people feel this session has gone?
me: thanks Laura - can we all agree on a date to continue?
Niloo: im anyway going to view his chat later in the night
o.k. 4th april
me: well except for the early problem of getting Buddi in the room - it has gone well
Laura Storr: Someone mentioned 4 April - that's fine by me. Same time?
me: amazing how quickly time flies
dissanayake: so we are going to meet on 4th april at the same time. thank you very much laura steve and niloo. i feel this is a great opportunity for me
me: OK - 4th is in my diary
Laura Storr: I feel like we haven't had enough time.
Niloo: mine too
me: will await your instructions on the assignment -
Laura Storr: Do people learn from eachother's feedback? Or are you bored when I'm critiquing someone else?
Niloo: no, its good to follow online
me: well I ceraitnly felt I learnt - but useful to ahve it in the chat box now and we can save it to read again later
Niloo: sometimes.
dissanayake: Yes i myself learnt a lot from each other. great. each one had different experiences
Laura Storr: ok - have to go to my meeting. See you on 4 April.
me: Ciao Laura
Niloo: bye and thanks
dissanayake: See you all bye . thanks again
me: Bye Niloo and Buddi - have a nice weekend albeit thundering here as I type
Niloo: yes. have a good weekend too, all of you
dissanayake: steve will this text save automatically or we have do?
me: umm I am not sure - i think automaticall but to be safe type cntrl a
highlight the text - then copy and save into word
Sent at 4:35 PM on Friday
me: ah Cntrl a does n't work so you'll have to highlight the wole box then right menu click and copy - save into word
Friday, March 14, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
3rd Year tsunami commemoration housing story
Here's is the housing story -
Given below is the story I received from Batticaloa - unedited.
Lending a helping hand to a hard worker
“Had not Caritas EHED assisted me with a new House in place of the house I lost during the tsunami, I would have lost my husband through depression of mind” says Mrs. Rasa Alatrees of Periya Kallar.
Hers is a very pathetic but courageous story. She is from a very poor fishermen family in Periya Kallar. Who had no schooling at all due to her parents abject poverty. However both her parents are hardworking people. From the age of 13 that is school going stage for other children of her own age, highly duty conscious Alatrees began to assist her parents in their family trade that is fishing.“ In the mornings I used to take my three brother to the near by school and wait outside the class room to ensure that they will not get frighten and cry out for me. It was at this time that I learnt to read and write by observing the class” says Mrs. Alatrees.
At the age of 17 she married a neighbor who him self was from a very poor family. Parents of her are very poor and they have no means to give her a dowry. Her husband’s parents had no means to assist him financially to start his married life. After they were married she went out to the lagoon with her husband for fishing just as she went out with her father before marriage. She used to paddle the boat while her husband handles the fishing net.
We managed to safe some money and purchase a piece of land for ourselves. There after we obtained a loan from the village money lender and commenced building our house” said Mrs. Alatrees while relating the history of their house which was washed away by the tsunami.
Their house was a large one with five rooms, a drawing room and a kitchen. They managed to build this house purely with their savings and also repaying the loan they had obtained initially. At this juncture she came to know about Caritas EHED’s National Animation Programme. “I heard about the activities of Caritas EHED in Periya kallar during the year 2000 and what I heard pleased me very much and I decided to join as a group member not because Caritas EHED was assisting its members with Grant or loan but because of the high values it taught its members.” When she joined as a member of Caritas EHED group, EHED was engaged in training its group members in leadership, group formation, saving habits etc…..
“It was 26th December 2004, we had been living in our new house for the past three years. All though it was day after Christmas, my hardworking husband had already left for beach to pull the ‘beach sciene’. I had come home from the Sunday mass carrying my infant son while my two other children were still in the church. Suddenly there was big commotion in the street and I saw people crying out that very large wave was approaching the shore” says Mrs. Alatrees while describing her frightful experience of seeing the tsunami for the first time.
Having seen the approaching killer wave, she had run with her infant son to the church and collected the two other children and sought refuge in the nearby Gov school. She thought that her husband had fallen victim to the tsunami. But fortunately he had survived it with his long experience in the sea. However he had gulped the brackish water several times and consequently he fell seriously ill and learning about the loss of his house that was built by his hard earned money he became depressed too.
The family spent a period of three months in a refugee camp amidst many hardships and they were provided with a tent by a NGO which they pitched at the site of their house. At this time those who had given loans previously to them began to press them to return their money because they themselves were hard pressed for money as they had become destitute by the tsunami. “Periya Kallar causeway which connected Periya Kallar and onthachimadam on the Batticalao Kalmunai road had been completely washed away and my husband and my self began the trade of transporting passengers between Periya Kallar and onthachimadam by our boat which was damaged by the tsunami. The day’s earnings were substantial and it helped us to repay the loan and also to fulfill our daily needs.” Says Mrs. Alatrees while describing her post tsunami experiences which consisted of many hardships.
Since she was a member of Caritas EHED SHG, animators from Caritas EHED visited her at this juncture and recorded her history. Thereafter she was provided with a temporary shelter and a permanent house was promised to her by Caritas EHED in view of her plight. “when my husband learnt that Caritas EHED was about to provide us with a permanent house in place of the one we lost to the tsunami there was a considerable improvement in the state of his mind”.
Since Mrs. Alatrees fell in the category of beneficiaries who deserved to be assisted with a new house in accordance with the selection criteria of Caritas EHED, Animators from EHED showed her four model houses to choose from and she did accordingly. “I chose a model which we liked very much and Caritas EHED introduced it’s self built scheme which was greatly appealing to me. I hired a skilled mason who built my house and Caritas EHED paid him through me”
During the building process the Animators and the Technical officers of Caritas EHED were constantly monitoring the building activities which I witnessed. “Whenever I pointed out certain modification that could be convenient to me, the technical staff of Caritas EHED acceded to my request and the skill mason made necessary alternations.” Said Mrs. Alatrees gratefully
In addition to being assisted with a brand new house build according to her wishes with certain alternation that suited her convenience, Caritas EHED also gave livelihood assistance by way of loan and grant. She used the financial assistance to enhance her family trade of sea fishing. With the proceeds of the sale she was able beautify her house and also purchase certain house hold electrical appliances.
“Although my husband is illiterate and I was fortunate to learn to read and write without going to school, I know the value of education and am determined to give my children a decent education with in my means”
Given below is the story we included in the brochure
Story of Change- Batticaloa/ Kalmunai -EHED - Lending a helping hand to a hard worker.
When the tsunami hit Batticaloa, in the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Rasa Alatrees lost her house. “We had purchased the land with the money we managed to save,” says Mrs. Alatrees recalling the days she paddled the boat in the lagoon while her husband laid the nets for the catch. “We had borrowed from a money lender to build our house,” she continues.
The destruction of their house, and the pressure by the money lender to repay the loan, made her husband, who fell critically ill by gulping the brackish water of the Killer Wave, depressed as well. To earn their living, they set out on carrying passengers between Batticaloa and Kalmunai in their damaged boat, as the roads had been completely washed away.
She received a transitional shelter with the promise of a new house from Caritas Batticaloa/Kalmunai-EHED. “When my husband heard that EHED would provide us with a house, there was a considerable improvement in his condition. Had it not been for the assistance of EHED, my husband’s depression would have worsened and I could even have lost him,” she says with gratitude.
The staff of EHED had given her four designs of houses to choose from. “I chose a model which we liked very much. I hired a skilled mason who had built my previous house. EHED paid him through me,” says Mrs. Alatrees.
EHED also provided her with a loan and grant to start her business. She used this support to enhance her family trade of fishing, with training she received in leadership, group formation and savings prior to the Tsunami as a member of an animation group of EHED.
“I was fortunate to learn to read and write. I know the value of education and am determined to give my children a decent education.” says Mrs. Alatrees who learnt these skills only by observing the lessons her brothers followed in school.
When the tsunami hit Batticaloa, in the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Rasa Alatrees lost her house. “We had purchased the land with the money we managed to save,” says Mrs. Alatrees recalling the days she paddled the boat in the lagoon while her husband laid the nets for the catch. “We had borrowed from a money lender to build our house,” she continues.The destruction of their house, and the pressure by the money lender to repay the loan, made her husband, who fell critically ill by gulping the brackish water of the Killer Wave, depressed as well. To earn their living, they set out on carrying passengers between Batticaloa and Kalmunai in their damaged boat, as the roads had been completely washed away.
She received a transitional shelter with the promise of a new house from Caritas Batticaloa/Kalmunai-EHED. “When my husband heard that EHED would provide us with a house, there was a considerable improvement in his condition. Had it not been for the assistance of EHED, my husband’s depression would have worsened and I could even have lost him,” she says with gratitude.
The staff of EHED had given her four designs of houses to choose from. “I chose a model which we liked very much. I hired a skilled mason who had built my previous house. EHED paid him through me,” says Mrs. Alatrees.
EHED also provided her with a loan and grant to start her business. She used this support to enhance her family trade of fishing, with training she received in leadership, group formation and savings prior to the Tsunami as a member of an animation group of EHED.
“I was fortunate to learn to read and write. I know the value of education and am determined to give my children a decent education.” says Mrs. Alatrees who learnt these skills only by observing the lessons her brothers followed in school.
Posted by Buddhi
Interview Transcript
Buddhi: Asela I am on an assignment to do an interview with one of our beneficiaries or staff member. Will you help me?
Asela: Yes definitely,
B: Can you briefly tell me about your role and about your background?
A: I am Aselan Bandara and I am the Co-ordinator of the Human Rights unit of Setik organization. We are manly working with the torture and raped victims in Sri Lanka.
B: That look fine and can you share with me one of the case study of a raped victim?
A: Yes, I came to know abut this case during the 2005 general election time. This young girl was raped by one of the deputy ministers’ personal body guard influencing all his power and this girls’ family was continually threatened not to reveal anything to out. Because of the death threats it was quite difficult for me to trace this family and victim.
B: Sorry to interrupt you. Didn’t you feel it is too risky to handle this case
A: No, we always took up such challenges and this was not a new thing to me.
So when I went to meet her family at her residence I came to know that they have already left their residence because of the death threats of the accused party. At last with lot of difficulties I was able to trace her new residence with the help of one of her relations.
When I met her she was very much reluctant to come out with her story. But finally she made up her mind and started to tell everything what she under went at that particular night.
Incident:
On 14th April 2007 night at about 11.00 p.m when I was staying at my home with my grandmother somebody knocked our door. When we ask who is knocking the door, the person said to open the door, if not will break it. As he didn’t tell his name we didn’t open the door. Then the person broke the door and came in. I recognize him, he hit my grandmother and she fell off at the floor and she could not stand in. I shouted him saying not to hit my grandmother, but he didn’t listen to us and he pick me with his both hands and came out of the house. While my grandmother and myself shouting and asking help without putting me down he ran into the road and there only he put me down. I tried lot to push him away but I failed and he raped me. Nobody came to help me. Then after raping me he ran along the road and could not see where went off. Hardly I got up and walk to one of my aunt’s home. I explain the incident to her and the following morning we went to the police and put a complaint. I told the whole story to the police and later on I get them a medical report also. But nothing had happen because of the power of the accused party. Everyday we got death threats from them and we had to leave our residence also. (Victims name is Dilrukshi Kumari / 19 years of age)
Buddhi: As an organization how did you help the victim?
A: After discussing and studying this case carefully with the lawyer as an organization we decided to handle this case and help the victim as well as to her family. We talked to the O.I.C of the relevant police station and then after they carried out the relevant inquiries.
Buddhi: What is the reason for non-functioning of the police in this regard?
A: It is mainly because of the power of the accused party. And usually the police does not handle the rape victims in a favorable manner.
Buddhi: What is the next step you have taken?
A: Then with all the relevant documents we file a case at the Magistrate court of Gampola. After the first inquiry at the court the case was taken to the high court in Kandy.
Buddhi: So, now the case is hearing at the high court in Kandy?
A: Yes
Buddhi: Now it is almost one year left after the incident. So what is the situation of the victim?
A: From the beginning the victimized girl was mentally gone down, so we provide her counseling service to get back to her normalcy. Few months later Dilrukshi got a marriage proposal and she got marry. Her husband is a member of our HR supporting committee.
Buddhi: What is the HR supporting committee?
A: The supporting committee is a group of volunteers who help us to carry out our HR work. There are grass root level groups, lawyers, government officers, graduates, in the committee.
Buddhi: Now what is the situation of the victim?
A: She is now pregnant and also she is confident to face the court.
Buddhi: What is the outcome of your involvement in this case?
A: First thing is, we were able to get this case soon to the high court. After her marriage because of her pregnancy our lawyer requested to judge giving short date for the trial and the state counselor also agreed for that. Now the case is hearing once in two weeks. 14th of March the prospecting the witnesses of the victim will be finalizing and there after the victim does not need to come to the court until she gets the final decision of the court. Normally court gets quite a long time to do this type of witness prospecting, but due to our involvement we were able to do that so quickly. So, I think this is a good achievement of our involvement.
Buddhi: What do you expect in the future with regard to this case?
A: We, as human rights activist and as an organization we hope we will get the final decision favorably very soon in the court against the perpetrator.
Write up
“A young girl was raped by one of the deputy minister’s personal body guard influencing all his power” said Asela, Setik Human Rights programme Coordinator. He further said this girl and her family was continually threatened not to reveal anything out. He tried to explain the pathetic situation of the powerless grass root level people in Sri Lanka.
The raped poor girl is only 19 years old when she underwent this desperate experience in the year 2005 at the general election period. She was raped in the road at night while she was staying with her grand mother. The perpetrator not only raped the girl he also hit her grand mother hard. After raping the girl the persona had ran away and the girl had gone to one of her aunt’s home. At the following morning the victim and her aunt went to the police to make a complaint the police. While the police was taking down the complaint when they heard that the perpetrator is a personal body guard of the deputy minister they tried to slip off from the complaint and asked the victim to get a medical report. Though she handed over the medical report she and her family found that the police are not very much interesting to do the inquiry. The victimized family had to leave their residence due to the death threats of the accused party.
When Asela - Setik Human Rights programme coordinator found the girl she had mentally gone down with the traumatic experience that she under went. She refused to come out to tell the story. Though it is risky to handle this case with the influence of the politician, counsellor of the HR unit of Setik was able to provide the victim with counseling sessions and to get her back to her normal life. When she built up the confidence and after studying the case carefully Asela said they filed a case against the perpetrator.
“Now the victim got married another person and her husband also involve in this case helping her to bring justice” Asela explained. Normally in Sri Lanka rape cases take quite a long time to get the final decision from the court. But this case was taken to the Supreme Court very soon with the involvement of Setik HR unit. Because of the victims pregnancy “With the request of our lawyer the judge and the state counselor agreed for short date for the trial and the prospecting the witnesses of the victim will be finishing on 14th March 2008” Asela informed. He mentioned that this is a great achievement and also this will be a great help for the victim to get ready for her delivery.
This is just one of the cases handled by SETIK’s human rights programme which is funded by Cafod. Violation of basic rights is a major issue in the present context in Sri Lanka. “We tried to prevent torture at least to some extend and we make the civilians aware on their rights with our human rights activities” explained Asela with the main objective of their human rights programme.
Buddhi: Asela I am on an assignment to do an interview with one of our beneficiaries or staff member. Will you help me?
Asela: Yes definitely,
B: Can you briefly tell me about your role and about your background?
A: I am Aselan Bandara and I am the Co-ordinator of the Human Rights unit of Setik organization. We are manly working with the torture and raped victims in Sri Lanka.
B: That look fine and can you share with me one of the case study of a raped victim?
A: Yes, I came to know abut this case during the 2005 general election time. This young girl was raped by one of the deputy ministers’ personal body guard influencing all his power and this girls’ family was continually threatened not to reveal anything to out. Because of the death threats it was quite difficult for me to trace this family and victim.
B: Sorry to interrupt you. Didn’t you feel it is too risky to handle this case
A: No, we always took up such challenges and this was not a new thing to me.
So when I went to meet her family at her residence I came to know that they have already left their residence because of the death threats of the accused party. At last with lot of difficulties I was able to trace her new residence with the help of one of her relations.
When I met her she was very much reluctant to come out with her story. But finally she made up her mind and started to tell everything what she under went at that particular night.
Incident:
On 14th April 2007 night at about 11.00 p.m when I was staying at my home with my grandmother somebody knocked our door. When we ask who is knocking the door, the person said to open the door, if not will break it. As he didn’t tell his name we didn’t open the door. Then the person broke the door and came in. I recognize him, he hit my grandmother and she fell off at the floor and she could not stand in. I shouted him saying not to hit my grandmother, but he didn’t listen to us and he pick me with his both hands and came out of the house. While my grandmother and myself shouting and asking help without putting me down he ran into the road and there only he put me down. I tried lot to push him away but I failed and he raped me. Nobody came to help me. Then after raping me he ran along the road and could not see where went off. Hardly I got up and walk to one of my aunt’s home. I explain the incident to her and the following morning we went to the police and put a complaint. I told the whole story to the police and later on I get them a medical report also. But nothing had happen because of the power of the accused party. Everyday we got death threats from them and we had to leave our residence also. (Victims name is Dilrukshi Kumari / 19 years of age)
Buddhi: As an organization how did you help the victim?
A: After discussing and studying this case carefully with the lawyer as an organization we decided to handle this case and help the victim as well as to her family. We talked to the O.I.C of the relevant police station and then after they carried out the relevant inquiries.
Buddhi: What is the reason for non-functioning of the police in this regard?
A: It is mainly because of the power of the accused party. And usually the police does not handle the rape victims in a favorable manner.
Buddhi: What is the next step you have taken?
A: Then with all the relevant documents we file a case at the Magistrate court of Gampola. After the first inquiry at the court the case was taken to the high court in Kandy.
Buddhi: So, now the case is hearing at the high court in Kandy?
A: Yes
Buddhi: Now it is almost one year left after the incident. So what is the situation of the victim?
A: From the beginning the victimized girl was mentally gone down, so we provide her counseling service to get back to her normalcy. Few months later Dilrukshi got a marriage proposal and she got marry. Her husband is a member of our HR supporting committee.
Buddhi: What is the HR supporting committee?
A: The supporting committee is a group of volunteers who help us to carry out our HR work. There are grass root level groups, lawyers, government officers, graduates, in the committee.
Buddhi: Now what is the situation of the victim?
A: She is now pregnant and also she is confident to face the court.
Buddhi: What is the outcome of your involvement in this case?
A: First thing is, we were able to get this case soon to the high court. After her marriage because of her pregnancy our lawyer requested to judge giving short date for the trial and the state counselor also agreed for that. Now the case is hearing once in two weeks. 14th of March the prospecting the witnesses of the victim will be finalizing and there after the victim does not need to come to the court until she gets the final decision of the court. Normally court gets quite a long time to do this type of witness prospecting, but due to our involvement we were able to do that so quickly. So, I think this is a good achievement of our involvement.
Buddhi: What do you expect in the future with regard to this case?
A: We, as human rights activist and as an organization we hope we will get the final decision favorably very soon in the court against the perpetrator.
Write up
“A young girl was raped by one of the deputy minister’s personal body guard influencing all his power” said Asela, Setik Human Rights programme Coordinator. He further said this girl and her family was continually threatened not to reveal anything out. He tried to explain the pathetic situation of the powerless grass root level people in Sri Lanka.
The raped poor girl is only 19 years old when she underwent this desperate experience in the year 2005 at the general election period. She was raped in the road at night while she was staying with her grand mother. The perpetrator not only raped the girl he also hit her grand mother hard. After raping the girl the persona had ran away and the girl had gone to one of her aunt’s home. At the following morning the victim and her aunt went to the police to make a complaint the police. While the police was taking down the complaint when they heard that the perpetrator is a personal body guard of the deputy minister they tried to slip off from the complaint and asked the victim to get a medical report. Though she handed over the medical report she and her family found that the police are not very much interesting to do the inquiry. The victimized family had to leave their residence due to the death threats of the accused party.
When Asela - Setik Human Rights programme coordinator found the girl she had mentally gone down with the traumatic experience that she under went. She refused to come out to tell the story. Though it is risky to handle this case with the influence of the politician, counsellor of the HR unit of Setik was able to provide the victim with counseling sessions and to get her back to her normal life. When she built up the confidence and after studying the case carefully Asela said they filed a case against the perpetrator.
“Now the victim got married another person and her husband also involve in this case helping her to bring justice” Asela explained. Normally in Sri Lanka rape cases take quite a long time to get the final decision from the court. But this case was taken to the Supreme Court very soon with the involvement of Setik HR unit. Because of the victims pregnancy “With the request of our lawyer the judge and the state counselor agreed for short date for the trial and the prospecting the witnesses of the victim will be finishing on 14th March 2008” Asela informed. He mentioned that this is a great achievement and also this will be a great help for the victim to get ready for her delivery.
This is just one of the cases handled by SETIK’s human rights programme which is funded by Cafod. Violation of basic rights is a major issue in the present context in Sri Lanka. “We tried to prevent torture at least to some extend and we make the civilians aware on their rights with our human rights activities” explained Asela with the main objective of their human rights programme.
Livelihood story
Given below is a livelihood story from Batticaloa. I have included the original story
I received from Batticaloa below and the edited version that we included into the tsunami brochure. We had to limit the amount of words in the brochure to around 300 per story.
Holistic approach of EHED
My name Nishanthi and I am 32 years of age. My mother is engaged in the sewing trade ever since I can remember. Hence I too followed her example and I am reasonably good in that trade. After I became established in the business, my mother started a small business of selling fruits in the market while assisting me in my trade during her spare time. I married in the year 2004. Unfortunately one month after marriage my husband left me. Since I was left without any help I thought it prudent to become an expert in my trade to earn maximum income.
On Sunday the 26th of Dec 2004 I was getting ready to go shopping from my home which was written in my name as dowry on the occasion of my marriage where I lived with my aged mother. My mother was at the market, tending her fruit stall. Suddenly I heard people crying a loud and running here and there, in a state of panic and I too ran, not knowing the direction, where people were heading for.
Only later I came to know that a big wave was coming towards the land from the sea. My mother too had heard the story and came looking for us in a frenzy. We met each other on the street and ran together to the nearby school.
My self, my mother and my elder sister who also survived with her two children are members of Caritas EHED National Animation group. Hence EHED provided us with a Temporary shelter initially after we spent about 6 months in a refugee camp and under went many hardships. The temporary shelter was comparatively more comfortable than the refugee camp because we had privacy, it was well built with cement paved floor, roof with tiles, kitchen and with barrier walls.
Animators from Caritas EHED carried out a survey of beneficiaries and in early 2006 I was given sewing machine since I had declared my livelihood was tailoring. On the day of the tsunami I had many orders, which were not delivered and all of them were washed away. Subsequently some of those who ordered new clothes began to press me to return their money or to replace their orders.
Because of this situation I felt that the timely assistance of Caritas EHED with the brand new sewing machine was a God send to get me out of my plight. I started my livelihood once again with the new sewing machine and earned sufficient money to repay my debts little by little.
Since my house was totally destroyed I obtained Gov compensation of Rs 21/2 lakhs. I commenced building a new house at the site of my old house with the Gov compensation and the savings from my trade and built it up to the lintel level. There after I appeal to Caritas EHED for more assistance, since I was destituted by the tsunami. Having received my appeal the Director of Caritas EHED visited my place and inspected the half built house and observed my plight. I was requested by Caritas EHED to continue to build my house and informed that they would pay me by stages. I completed my house out of my own savings and kept the financial assistance from EHED for my self. Although the house was build under my own plan, Animators and technical staff from EHED constantly monitored the building process; I was inspired to see EHED staff in the site, where I was always there during construction and supervised the people involved. When the house was completed I made use of some of the balance money and a further loan obtained for the purpose of constructing a sunshade and also purchasing few household utensils.
Since my mother’s fruit stall at the market was lost to the tsunami and she is of advancing age, she is assisting me in my trade. People of her age bring orders to her. I am also getting orders from my own customers. As a result, our joint income has increased. I was able to repair my old sewing machine and bought a new sewing machine without any outside contribution. My income which was once Rs.5,000 has now increased to about Rs.15,000. I am getting more and more orders from individuals and from ready made wholesale dealers.
I have designed a few readymade garments and placed them for show in the window of my tailoring parlor. I have also decided to expand my business by recruiting two skilled tsunami affected tailors.
I am thankful to Caritas EHED for the support extended to me from which I benefited immensely and I am now leading a fruitful & useful life with a bright future.
Given below is what we edited and included into the 3rd year tsunami brochure
Story of Change- Caritas Batticaloa/Kalmunai-EHED
Nishanthi goes back to dressmaking
Nishanthi(32) became a dressmaker following her mother’s footsteps. “I am reasonably good in that trade,” says Nishanthi proudly. Her only ambition was to become an expert in this trade since the day her husband left her a month after her marriage in the year 2004.
Marking one catastrophe after another, the tsunami destroyed everything she owned. Nishanthi had earlier received a Temporary Shelter from Caritas Batticaloa/Kalmunai-EHED as a member of their Animation group, prior to the tsunami.
In early 2006 Batticaloa-EHED provided her with a sewing machine to replace the one she lost in the disaster. “On the day of the tsunami, I had many sewing orders which were not delivered. All of them were washed away,” she says. “I started my livelihood once again with the new sewing machine and earned sufficiently to repay my debts little by little,” she explains of how she repaid the cost of the orders of her customers.
Nishanthi received the compensation of Rupees two hundred and fifty thousand (LKR250, 000) from the government for her completely destroyed house. She then appealed to Batticaloa-EHED for more support. “I was requested by Batticaloa-EHED to continue the construction and that they would pay me in stages,” says Nisahnthi of the Batticaloa-EHED’s response. “Although the house was built under my own plan, Animators and technical staff from Batticaloa-EHED constantly monitored the building process,” she continues.
Nishanthi’s mother is now assisting her in the trade. “As a result, our joint income has increased. I was able to repair my old sewing machine and also bought a new sewing machine without external support,” says Nisahanthi who is still a member of her Animation group. “I am getting more and more orders, both from individuals and from wholesale dealers of readymade garments,” she continues. “I have also decided to expand my business by recruiting two skilled tailors who are themselves tsunami affected,” concludes Nishanthi.
I received from Batticaloa below and the edited version that we included into the tsunami brochure. We had to limit the amount of words in the brochure to around 300 per story.
Holistic approach of EHED
My name Nishanthi and I am 32 years of age. My mother is engaged in the sewing trade ever since I can remember. Hence I too followed her example and I am reasonably good in that trade. After I became established in the business, my mother started a small business of selling fruits in the market while assisting me in my trade during her spare time. I married in the year 2004. Unfortunately one month after marriage my husband left me. Since I was left without any help I thought it prudent to become an expert in my trade to earn maximum income.
On Sunday the 26th of Dec 2004 I was getting ready to go shopping from my home which was written in my name as dowry on the occasion of my marriage where I lived with my aged mother. My mother was at the market, tending her fruit stall. Suddenly I heard people crying a loud and running here and there, in a state of panic and I too ran, not knowing the direction, where people were heading for.
Only later I came to know that a big wave was coming towards the land from the sea. My mother too had heard the story and came looking for us in a frenzy. We met each other on the street and ran together to the nearby school.
My self, my mother and my elder sister who also survived with her two children are members of Caritas EHED National Animation group. Hence EHED provided us with a Temporary shelter initially after we spent about 6 months in a refugee camp and under went many hardships. The temporary shelter was comparatively more comfortable than the refugee camp because we had privacy, it was well built with cement paved floor, roof with tiles, kitchen and with barrier walls.
Animators from Caritas EHED carried out a survey of beneficiaries and in early 2006 I was given sewing machine since I had declared my livelihood was tailoring. On the day of the tsunami I had many orders, which were not delivered and all of them were washed away. Subsequently some of those who ordered new clothes began to press me to return their money or to replace their orders.
Because of this situation I felt that the timely assistance of Caritas EHED with the brand new sewing machine was a God send to get me out of my plight. I started my livelihood once again with the new sewing machine and earned sufficient money to repay my debts little by little.
Since my house was totally destroyed I obtained Gov compensation of Rs 21/2 lakhs. I commenced building a new house at the site of my old house with the Gov compensation and the savings from my trade and built it up to the lintel level. There after I appeal to Caritas EHED for more assistance, since I was destituted by the tsunami. Having received my appeal the Director of Caritas EHED visited my place and inspected the half built house and observed my plight. I was requested by Caritas EHED to continue to build my house and informed that they would pay me by stages. I completed my house out of my own savings and kept the financial assistance from EHED for my self. Although the house was build under my own plan, Animators and technical staff from EHED constantly monitored the building process; I was inspired to see EHED staff in the site, where I was always there during construction and supervised the people involved. When the house was completed I made use of some of the balance money and a further loan obtained for the purpose of constructing a sunshade and also purchasing few household utensils.
Since my mother’s fruit stall at the market was lost to the tsunami and she is of advancing age, she is assisting me in my trade. People of her age bring orders to her. I am also getting orders from my own customers. As a result, our joint income has increased. I was able to repair my old sewing machine and bought a new sewing machine without any outside contribution. My income which was once Rs.5,000 has now increased to about Rs.15,000. I am getting more and more orders from individuals and from ready made wholesale dealers.
I have designed a few readymade garments and placed them for show in the window of my tailoring parlor. I have also decided to expand my business by recruiting two skilled tsunami affected tailors.
I am thankful to Caritas EHED for the support extended to me from which I benefited immensely and I am now leading a fruitful & useful life with a bright future.
Given below is what we edited and included into the 3rd year tsunami brochure
Story of Change- Caritas Batticaloa/Kalmunai-EHED
Nishanthi goes back to dressmaking
Nishanthi(32) became a dressmaker following her mother’s footsteps. “I am reasonably good in that trade,” says Nishanthi proudly. Her only ambition was to become an expert in this trade since the day her husband left her a month after her marriage in the year 2004.
Marking one catastrophe after another, the tsunami destroyed everything she owned. Nishanthi had earlier received a Temporary Shelter from Caritas Batticaloa/Kalmunai-EHED as a member of their Animation group, prior to the tsunami.
In early 2006 Batticaloa-EHED provided her with a sewing machine to replace the one she lost in the disaster. “On the day of the tsunami, I had many sewing orders which were not delivered. All of them were washed away,” she says. “I started my livelihood once again with the new sewing machine and earned sufficiently to repay my debts little by little,” she explains of how she repaid the cost of the orders of her customers.
Nishanthi received the compensation of Rupees two hundred and fifty thousand (LKR250, 000) from the government for her completely destroyed house. She then appealed to Batticaloa-EHED for more support. “I was requested by Batticaloa-EHED to continue the construction and that they would pay me in stages,” says Nisahnthi of the Batticaloa-EHED’s response. “Although the house was built under my own plan, Animators and technical staff from Batticaloa-EHED constantly monitored the building process,” she continues.
Nishanthi’s mother is now assisting her in the trade. “As a result, our joint income has increased. I was able to repair my old sewing machine and also bought a new sewing machine without external support,” says Nisahanthi who is still a member of her Animation group. “I am getting more and more orders, both from individuals and from wholesale dealers of readymade garments,” she continues. “I have also decided to expand my business by recruiting two skilled tailors who are themselves tsunami affected,” concludes Nishanthi.
My Contribution
I did an interview with Sarath but with my schedules yesterday and today I am not realistically going to have time to transcribe it then piece an article together. But I was drawn late last night to say something about my evening out on my own blog. So could I use this article, reproduced below? Not based on an interview but a personal experience?
As you see Laura I would like to participate on Friday rather than be a spectator......
As you see Laura I would like to participate on Friday rather than be a spectator......
Someone Took Me to The Forum
Wow! Well an interesting evening! Rather shrouded by thunderous unseasonal monsoon rain but going to the theater this evening with Francesca was quite an experience.
The scene on stage was a family home. A teenage girl comes home upset after being threatened by a group of boys standing on the street corner. She is Hindu Tamil and they are Buddhist Sinhalese lads. Their threatening behavior has been building over the months now they have stopped her on the way to classes and tried to examine her shoulder bag saying she might be a suicide bomber.
Of course the wider reality is that this type of scene is happening daily in Sri Lanka. With terrorism being exercised by all sides in a long and bitter civil conflict it is surprising that more inter-communal violence doesn't take place. But this drama is based on a true story and we the audience, after the first scene, and in the tradition of Brazilian dramatist, Augusto Boal's 'theater of the oppressed', are asked to think of what should happen next.
Mohan, the Tamil Father, is castigated by his daughter for seemingly not doing anything to protect her from this mob of young lads. Their family friend, Charith, a university pal of Mohan's and Sinhalese, has stepped in in earlier incidents, and remonstrated with the lads. "Hey man let's go deal witht he buggers, you and me?". Mohan described this as macho behaviour and it clearly makes him feel weak and undermined. His wife too scolds him for not being more proactive in protecting the family. She is clearly bitter that years ago he had not taken the opportunity of migrating with the whole family to escape this hostile environment.
We the audience are asked to try to resolve the problem; suggest the motivation and neurosis of the various characters and propose what might happen next. The Director, Ruwanthi de Chickera, skilfully develops a consensus from the audience and the actors huddle together and quickly discuss how to dramatize the next scene. The crowd of lads are brought on to say something about their interests in assaulting this young girl on her way to classes.
Shouldn't we know more about Mohan's reluctance to intervene, his hostile reaction to his wife, his fear of confrontation and his obvious painful early experiences in reporting incidence to the local police station? My suggestion of a stage soliloquy by Mohan, a neat device I thought to get him to spill the beans on his 'history', is quietly laid aside by the Director. This theatrical device is not the style of FORUM where the interaction between characters and the motivations 'we' give them is a vital part of the methodology.
The evening closes on stage, an eerily on-cue thunder storm outside, with Charith realising that his interventions are simply serving to further undermine Mohan's family. The problem is much larger than local bullying. Many youths are being drawn into a conflict ridden society in which under employment and lack of opportunity slips easily into scapegoat-ism. May be for Mohan's family and certainly for his daughter, the answer is to leave and study overseas. In reality only an option to the rich few in Sri Lanka or those lucky to have connections.
A challenging evening out. Not the kind of drama where you just sit back and watch a pre-determined plot unfold before you.
The Punchi Borella is a plucky little theatre.
The scene on stage was a family home. A teenage girl comes home upset after being threatened by a group of boys standing on the street corner. She is Hindu Tamil and they are Buddhist Sinhalese lads. Their threatening behavior has been building over the months now they have stopped her on the way to classes and tried to examine her shoulder bag saying she might be a suicide bomber.
Of course the wider reality is that this type of scene is happening daily in Sri Lanka. With terrorism being exercised by all sides in a long and bitter civil conflict it is surprising that more inter-communal violence doesn't take place. But this drama is based on a true story and we the audience, after the first scene, and in the tradition of Brazilian dramatist, Augusto Boal's 'theater of the oppressed', are asked to think of what should happen next.
Mohan, the Tamil Father, is castigated by his daughter for seemingly not doing anything to protect her from this mob of young lads. Their family friend, Charith, a university pal of Mohan's and Sinhalese, has stepped in in earlier incidents, and remonstrated with the lads. "Hey man let's go deal witht he buggers, you and me?". Mohan described this as macho behaviour and it clearly makes him feel weak and undermined. His wife too scolds him for not being more proactive in protecting the family. She is clearly bitter that years ago he had not taken the opportunity of migrating with the whole family to escape this hostile environment.
We the audience are asked to try to resolve the problem; suggest the motivation and neurosis of the various characters and propose what might happen next. The Director, Ruwanthi de Chickera, skilfully develops a consensus from the audience and the actors huddle together and quickly discuss how to dramatize the next scene. The crowd of lads are brought on to say something about their interests in assaulting this young girl on her way to classes.
Shouldn't we know more about Mohan's reluctance to intervene, his hostile reaction to his wife, his fear of confrontation and his obvious painful early experiences in reporting incidence to the local police station? My suggestion of a stage soliloquy by Mohan, a neat device I thought to get him to spill the beans on his 'history', is quietly laid aside by the Director. This theatrical device is not the style of FORUM where the interaction between characters and the motivations 'we' give them is a vital part of the methodology.
The evening closes on stage, an eerily on-cue thunder storm outside, with Charith realising that his interventions are simply serving to further undermine Mohan's family. The problem is much larger than local bullying. Many youths are being drawn into a conflict ridden society in which under employment and lack of opportunity slips easily into scapegoat-ism. May be for Mohan's family and certainly for his daughter, the answer is to leave and study overseas. In reality only an option to the rich few in Sri Lanka or those lucky to have connections.
A challenging evening out. Not the kind of drama where you just sit back and watch a pre-determined plot unfold before you.
The Punchi Borella is a plucky little theatre.
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