Challenges for military women

Ranaviru Family Counselling priority now

By Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Independence Day of Sri Lanka on 4th Feb this year denoted a very significant milestone with the capturing of Mullaitivu, the stronghold of LTTE terrorists by our Security Forces. Our National Flag was flying in every home in solidarity with our heroes.

Now comes the first International Women’s Day today (8), after that great event. This is an ideal time to appreciate the sacrifices made by our women in the military: Army, Navy and Air Force and the Police.

The number of women serving in the Security Forces and Police may be small compared with the women population of Sri Lanka. The total strength of serving women in these establishments at present exceed twenty five thousand. The retired number is much less. But the sacrifices they have made over the years are enormous which has not been appreciated to the extent that they deserve.

Reaching out for the needy : Attending to the needs of the IDPs; looking after the sick are prominent among the new roles and responsibilities of military women.

Early this year three women soldiers sacrificed their lives in the war zone, viz. Pte Ilanka Kumari from Haldummulla, T. Godakumbura from Hasalaka, Sevvandi from Welikanda as a result of a suicide attack at a road block in Mullaitivu.

Women in the Army were the most affected by the war compared to women in the other two services and Police. Twenty five young women soldiers have made the supreme sacrifice so far despite the fact that they play a non-combat role. Apart from that people may have seen through media how well they take care of innocent Tamil civilians pouring out from the LTTE areas, during recent times. There is nothing like a feminine touch in such situations.

Similarly at military hospitals women soldiers’ service for injured soldiers was invaluable. Not to underestimate the women soldiers in other fields such as clerical, communication and cultural troupe, military police in all three services, also did their best in their respective fields. Despite being mothers, wives and daughters they did face these challenges courageously. There are so many untold grievances in their lives which should be looked into from a human angle which may need amendments to the existing rules and regulations. Foreign armies have made such changes in the past. While leaving it at that the nation can have a hope that the war will definitely come to a complete stop very soon. But challenges in the post war scenario are yet to emerge or they have not come into the limelight yet. It is worthwhile to consider, how women in the military should be treated in the post war era.

The role of military women in Sri Lanka had been to serve in roles unique to women and relieve men from such duties so that they will be in the battle fields. It has been the area of men for many decades. Although the women in military fall in line with their male counterparts now, their roles during war and peace are very different. During a war, women may perform tasks usually performed by men, in addition to supporting the war effort more directly. But there are special situations in which such women find themselves after war.

When the war is over, women’s contributions during the conflict rarely receive recognition, one reason being that the needs and priorities of a post-conflict society are very different from those of a society at the war whereas men and women are encouraged to act out similar roles as fellow soldiers in the military, post-conflict society the situation is different in between the genders. This has important consequences for ex-military women in Sri Lanka. Our women in the military, who have broken rules of traditional behaviour and gender roles, risk being marginalized during the rebuilding process.

In many cases, the society forgets that they had been in the military as they revert to traditional Sri Lankan womenhood after their military service which is a pity in a way. Because they are ignorant about the outside world as they do not get such an exposure while serving in the Forces. So it is very important that they are given some counselling sessions, guidance and some form of vocational training immediately after leaving the service to build a civil existence, so they can take care of themselves and their children. It is ideal to link them to the Ex-Service Women’s Associations in their respective services.

The Ex-Service Women’s Associations of the three services should be strengthened by giving necessary support because that is the only link available to keep them together even to a certain extent after leaving the service. Otherwise the valuable experience they have gained in the service will be of no use when they are still young except for very few who have some influence in the outside world. This is very obvious among the members of ex-service women in Sri Lanka.

According to Alise Barth, a Researcher from America, men and women ex-soldiers who return to civil society, are not received in the same way. While men are perceived to have strengthened their gender role through military life, women are increasingly marginalized. The military women may at first receive gratitude from civil society. Gradually, however, women are pushed in the direction of a gender role more suitable in that particular society.

This is characteristic of women soldiers all over the world: Conduct encouraged during the war is not encouraged in peace time. Women are challenged in a totally different way, expected to return to roles very different from their war activities.

Ex-soldiers sometimes can be a serious threat to the political stability of a State if not properly handled. Accordingly, this group is a prioritized target for reintegration support. While this is true, Sri Lankan military women have never been perceived as a threat to the society. That may be one reason that, they are not considered as important.

Specific to women, there is an overall reluctance to recognise the importance of their participation in the war effort. Men have been unwilling to share veteran status with women, especially where women have been denied in direct combat. While serving also they were not treated justifiably in certain instances such as overseas training and promotions and peace-keeping missions. The specific needs of the ex service women also have not been properly identified even by their male counterparts at Ex-servicemen’s Association. There isn’t even a responsible forum at a higher level to bring out these issues in Sri Lanka.

The Seva Vanitha Units of the three services and Police are doing a commendable service for their respective establishments with regard to the welfare of disabled soldiers and the families of those killed in action. It may not be possible for them to support ex-service women due to the heavy workload. But if coordinated according to a plan the support of ex-service women also could be utilized in the rehabilitation process. But there are some ways to help ex-military women through difficult situations.

Assistance programs must first of all be aware that female ex-soldiers do exist, and then seek them out. To help these women on their way towards reintegration if not within their original community, then somewhere else of their choosing is a great challenge. Reintegration planners must also pay special attention to the ex-service women who have become widows as well when their husbands died in the battlefield. The majority of military women are married to war heroes in Sri Lanka and a number of them have become military widows.

They should get special attention. There are also some military women whose husbands have become disabled. Due to prevailing financial situation in the country extending support to ex-soldiers could be a difficult process. In spite of this, it is essential to reserve some assistance for ex-women soldiers as they need incentives for returning to society. It is also necessary to recognize the different needs of the various groups of people who have participated as soldiers. Because every women soldier will not have the same needs.

Women soldiers who have served in operational areas for a long time must be assisted in trying to find an alternative way of living. Most of them were born and bred in those areas under LTTE threats and therefore education and training is frequently what they lack, and these should be offered through assistance programs. Childcare opportunities are very important for the employment prospects of women ex-soldiers but a range of skills should be encouraged, not only typical female skills. Changing health aspects as the life goes on is another area that they should be educated.

After all it should not be forgotten that they are respected for holding the noble motherhood despite all these challenges they have faced. Ex-women soldiers have expertise of their own, they are well experienced, disciplined and courageous equally as men soldiers and can often be used to train and guide other ex-women soldiers in dealing with returning back to society. And they could be trained for counselling of thousands of injured soldiers and war widows in the rehabilitation process. This could be done through the Ranaviru Family Counselling Service, the flagship project of the Association of Flag Rank Officers.

Writer of this article Major Ramani Kangaraarachchi is the Founder President of Ex-Army Women’s Association and a committee member of Ranaviru family counselling service.