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This question has come because of the protests by Sri Lankan’s Tamil people in London recently and also other cases of hunger strike in the past. The people of Sri Lanka, I understand are protesting against the violence and killing of civilians by their government. But what do you think about hunger strike as a form of protest? Would you go on hunger strike as a form of political protest?

I feel sorry for the people of Sri Lanka, especially with the way civilians are being killed. As a Zimbabwean myself I have seen a lot from the situation back home.

In Sri Lanka there has been civil war which has been going on for years between the Tamil Tigers and the government. That reminds me of the situation in Zimbabwe during the ‘Gukurahundi’ times when a thousands of civilians were killed in an operation by the government of Robert Mugabe in the Matebeleland region.

The problem I see with hunger strikes is that after a few days, those on strike will be so weak and unable to fight for their cause. Depending with the situation and the reason of protest, chances are these politicians will not listen and you may die unless someone forcibly intervenes to save your life. So how good a fighter are you when you are dead?

I know people who go on hunger strike say they are prepared to die for whatever they are protesting about. But isn’t it better to be alive and that way you can continue to represent the voice of the oppressed?

In Sri Lanka’s case, their government is recognised by the international community and the Tamil Tigers are consider to be rebels. In fact the Tamil Tigers group is banned in Britain. So hunger protest in London, is it going to change how the British government view the Tamil Tigers group? Is the British government going to be influenced by these protesters, even if those on hunger strike die? Chances are the British government will not change how they view and deal with the Tamil Tigers.

So, what do you think about hunger strike as a way of political protest? Feel free to share your views.

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