It has been seven days since I got news that Muttur has been under siege. The conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE over the Mawilaru anicut resulted in massive ‘collateral damage’ (a phrase that is so frightening in its frequent use today, that it is almost dismissive) in the town of Muttur.

Residences, the hospital, ambulances, and schools, traditionally areas that are protected from attack in times of conflict, have been targets here. I will not quote Geneva Conventions or Human Rights Articles because at the end of the day, of what use are they? But I will ask "What civilisation do we belong to?

What rationale do we use that allows us to blatantly and persistently continue to have disregard for the civilian population that gets caught in the middle of conflict? If we are to be honest, has our 2500 year history of civilisation really deteriorated to one of barbarism?

Heavy fighting

I have never been to Muttur, I do not know how the land lies, what landmarks, tradition or heritage it possesses. From reports received I now know that Muttur is sandwiched between the sea, the river and land, which is adjoined by LTTE controlled areas. It has a majority of Muslims.

On the second of August we learnt that heavy fighting was taking place between the Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE in the Muttur area. Later the same day, the body of Muslim religious leaders urged us Muslims to make Dua and recite Quonooth for the safety and security of Muslims in the Muttur and Thoppur areas. By evening of that day, people started fleeing.

Today, I hear that thousands and thousands of people, mostly Muslims, have fled to Kantale. They have walked. We are obviously not a country that believes in evacuating its citizens during times of conflict or perhaps we are incapable of it. When it comes to issues like this we seem not to have the resources to rescue our citizens from war zones.

Living on the road

Eyewitness reports from people who were in Kantale over the weekend tell me that those who fled Muttur are living on the roadside, some are sleeping under trees, children have no milk, families have fled with only the clothes on their backs. Is this not a familiar scenario?

For the Muslims of Sri Lanka it is all too familiar, it is just the names of the towns that are different: Jaffna, Mannar, Kattankudi, Muttur. For the LTTE it is also familiar, a form of ethnic cleansing where a concerted effort is being made to drive out non-Tamils be they Sinhalese or Muslims from what they consider to be their rightful homeland. Whom should I appeal to? Whom can I appeal to? The LTTE is a separatist force, an illegitimate body that obeys no rules of war.

They flagrantly violate norms of decency. Would it be futile to appeal to them? However, I can and shall appeal to the Government of Sri Lanka.

We, Muslims are supposed to be full citizens of this country — we have lived here for centuries and generations, we have toiled and contributed to the progress of this nation, enjoying the successes and suffering the losses it has endured. But in times of crisis be it the tsunami or the armed conflict, I ask why the treatment of non-personhood?

Nowhere to go

Those who fled Muttur have no accommodation, inadequate sanitation, barely any food. The Government of Sri Lanka can hardly be surprised at such a situation. We have undergone more than 20 years of war, the least we can expect our government to be capable of is to react adequately in times of humanitarian crisis. And yet each time it happens, it is always as if it is happening for the first time. We are always unprepared, always un-coordinated and always too late!

Each time civil society has stepped in to pick up the pieces. It happened with the tsunami, it is happening yet again. For the tsunami, probably because it was an act of God or nature, civil society reacted with more dedication, more compassion, more action.

However, for crises that arise through war, we are an apathetic society. If it doesn’t affect us, we cease to be concerned. If it is not happening in Colombo, it is not worth it and if it happens to minorities, why then, they must deserve it!

Need to do more

I am sure I sound harsh and if some question me as to what I am doing, I would say I am doing what I know best, I am writing about it. I am making sure they would not be forgotten. It might be futile, it might be inadequate, and yes, may be I could do more.

I want us, as citizens, not to lose our humanity. Something has happened in Muttur, something awful! Think if it were you?

If you lost your home, if some of your loved ones were killed, if you had to flee with only what you were wearing, if you had to walk hundreds of miles through jungles and conflict, if you had no food, no shelter, no water, no medical aid and most importantly of all, if all these things happened to you and no one cared, what would you do?

Ameena Hussein is a writer and partner of Perera Hussein Publishing House .