Page 32 - 2022 Abstract Book RUICHSS_2022_11_17 after conference

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

Being Called a Terrorist in Capitalist Structure

Aruni Samarakoon and K.P.C. Dilhani
Department of Public Policy, University of Ruhuna
arunisamarakoon@gmail.com

The focus of contemporary Peace discourse is on ensuring the "Security" of territorial
integrity of the nation-state and the welfare of the citizens. However, the concept of
"Security" in the advanced capitalist structure was criticized by the School of
Socialist Feminism and Angela Davis is one of those school representations. Her
criticism of "Security" develops on the state definition of "Terrorism".

This research is a theoretical extension of Angela Davis's argument on "Security".
The research is, therefore, to deconstruct the predominate "Terrorist" discourse of the
state, through the narratives of the former combatants in the Tamil Liberation
movement of Sri Lanka. The research problem is, why do the former Tamil
combatants find themselves "being threatened and insecure" by the Sri Lankan
Government Post-War Peace Policy? One research question is set up with the
problem; how do the former Tamil combatants understand the "Security". Qualitative
data was collected in the research through semi-structured interviews with 25 former
Tamil combatants living in the United Kingdom. The ethnographic method of
participatory observation has also been utilized in collecting the narratives. The
former Tamil combat identity is associated with "Terrorism" and "Terrorist", which
has caused them to live in exile from their native land, Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan
State became a threat to their security as the former combatants described; the
Prevention of Terrorism Act is one of the cases. Their political consciousness was
organized for Peace though they are still recognized as "Terrorists", excluding their
voice on ethnicity, race, religion and gender.

Keywords: Capitalist Structure, Former Tamil Combatants, Security, Socialist
Feminism and Terrorism

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