12 Vaakarai refugees “missing” after security screening
December 23rd, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
At least twelve displaced persons from the Vaakarai region seeking refuge in Govt controlled areas of Batticaloa have reportedly gone missing allege informed sources from the district.
According to these sources the persons were youths suspected of being members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who were masquerading as Internally displaced persons from the Vaakarai region.
The youths had reportedly gone “missing” after security screening conducted by both the Karuna faction known as Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) and security forces.
All attempts to trace the missing persons by relatives and NGO officials have not been successful so far. Official sources have denied that any IDP has been detained.
With a large influx of refugees streaming in , security forces suspect that the LTTE may have infiltrated the IDP”s. Some feel that the tigers may have engineered the exodus to smuggle out cadres in the guise of refugees. These cadres could be a potential fifth column in GOSL areas.
So an elaborate screening process is underway. This is given priority. Instead of civilian Govt officials or UNHCR officials recording particulars of IDP’s the security screening is done first.
The Karuna faction or TMVP screens the IDP’s first. “Suspicious” persons are detained for further interrogation.. After the preliminary screening the security forces do another screening. Again people are detained on suspicion for more intensive questioning.
Those cleared at screenings are registered by the army and given light refreshments like tea and biscuits. Those in bad health are sent to hospitals. Others are sent to transit camps. The “shuttle” service provided by UNHCR, ZOA and IOM look after transport.
The Karuna faction has opened up temporary “posts” or offices to screen the IDP’s.
One of the stories troubling IDP’s is that at least twelve youths have gone “missing” after screening.
Since there is no official record of IDP arrivals prior to security screening it is quite possible for people to go missing. Any complaint by family members could be officially denied. Also the IDP”s themselves feel very insecure and would hesitate to pursue matters of this nature firmly. At present NGO”s catering to IDP needs are trying to ascertain the varacity of the story of “missing” persons. The danger of recurring “missing” instances is very real.
A fact – finding team comprising members of two NGO’s – INFORM and IMADR – undertook two field trips to Kantalai on Dec 12th and Batticaloa on Dec 13th – 15th. The preliminary report of INFORM draws attention to this security screening issue. The report also makes some concrete suggestions in this regard that should be actively considered by the authorities. Excerpts from the report are given below –
“There is no denying that people who have been at the receiving end of shelling by the LTTE and by the SL security forces have suffered tremendously, not only in terms of loss of lives and property but in terms of the psychological harm inflicted on them because of the insecurity and fear generated by the conflict. ”
“However, there is a clear difference between the IDPs in Kantalai and those in Valaichchenai and other locations in Batticaloa, due to the security situation. The IDPs coming out of Vaakarai are viewed with some degree of suspicion and fear by the security forces and by the paramilitaries. Thus, they have to undergo screening and interrogation by two separate groups – paramilitary and army – as they reach government-controlled territory”.
“While there should be no downplaying or undermining of the real security challenges confronted by the security forces in the East, especially in view of the on-going offensive in Vaakarai, humanitarian principles call for IDPs to be registered and their basic needs attended to first BEFORE they are handed over for interrogation. If not, there is well-founded fear that IDPs may disappear during interrogation and not be accounted for due to there being no ‘proof’ – i.e. registration document – that testifies to the fact that the person/s concerned had reached the interrogation point.”
“Security concerns from the perspective of the security forces may have been a criteria when selecting sites for temporary location of the IDPs from Vaakarai. However, it is clear that the safety and security concerns of the IDPs has not been given priority in making the decisions regarding the temporary relocation sites. ”
“As civil society organizations we feel we should lobby the government and the international community to ensure that IDPs from Vaakarai are treated with dignity and rights and are located in sites where there can be no threats to their safety and security.”
“Putting this process into action is all the more critical in view of the fact that the fighting in Vaakarai may continue for a few more weeks at least and thus generate more IDPs. “The observations made in this report should receive urgent priority.
There is no doubt that more IDP”s will arrive from the Vaakarai region in the days to come. Escalation of fighting could increase IDP traffic from other areas too. The GOSL has been cruel and callous in disregarding safety and security of Tamil civilians in the recent past. Its excuse has been that of security for all these acts of omission and commission.
Now these poor people are taking refuge in GOSL areas. Deprivation of basic rights and facilities along with denial of security/safety have compelled these persons to relocate to GOSL areas. If the Rajapakse regime wants to make some amends for its atrocious conduct and redeem itself to some degree here is an opportunity. The Government should address the needs of these IDP”s immediately and adequately.
LTTE shelling has caused thousands of Sinhala IDP”s in Seruwila and Serunuwara to flee to Kanthalai. The state machinery is working top gear to look after their needs. Such concern and care is missing in the case of these Tamil IDP”s.
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