I.D.P.'S Yearn to Get away from Their Barbed Wire Enclosures
Further Statement of Group of concerned Tamils of Sri Lanka
The Group of Concerned Tamils of Sri Lanka is disturbed by persistent reports of continuing lack of adequate shelter, privacy, water, toilet and bathing facilities, nutrition, and medical services as well as other grave ills, notably disappearances in several of the detention centres. In any case it is surely in the interest of all concerned that the detention centres become more accessible immediately and, progressively, converted in to welfare centres that contain only those few who may choose to remain for a short period. They may opt to remain briefly on account of any unavoidable delay in getting back to the homesteads that they had vacated and have no other home to move in to as an interim measure.
pic by: UNHCR
It should be clear to all that what the IDPs seek and yearn for, is to get away from their barbed wire enclosures. The first step towards restoring their sense of dignity is to erase their sense of being held captive. They are counting days when they will be released to get back to their homes in the locations of their original domicile and breathe an air of freedom. To facilitate their movement back to their villages and familiar surroundings, one imperative is to clearly identify un-mined or already de-mined areas. Resettlement can begin immediately in these areas. To initiate this process each family would need an initial grant of at least Rs.50,000 for essential minimal repairs, purchase of household effects, etc in addition to food rations for a limited period.
It is presumed that the delay in releasing IDPs from the detention centres is because they have not yet been screened for LTTE affiliation or else their homesteads and surroundings have not yet been de-mined. It is essential that these two processes should be planned and coordinated as per published time table so that detainees can be released in batches, many almost immediately and others as early as possible. Everyone will then be aware of the likely time of their release. If this is done AGA division by division, the congestion in the detention centres as well as the competition for resources among those due to be released subsequently will ease immediately and then continue to ease further week by week. Such a programme will immeasurably enhance the spirit of the IDPs by removing any fears of indefinite detention, generate good relationship between the IDPs and the camp authorities, and enable all concerned to plan ahead. It will also attract much resources and create considerable goodwill locally and oversees.
We know from the past experience of communities compelled to leave their homes on account of violence or fear of violence, that lengthy periods of temporary relocation could lead to unending social and political problems that may continue to undermine inter-ethnic relations and national unity. A planned, phased and transparent programme of resettlement in the original homesteads will also help to attract considerable resources to facilitate such resettlement and related rehabilitation and reconstruction.
23 June 2009
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah
Prof. Karthigesu Sivathambi
Subramaniam Sivathasan
S. Malavarayar
Dr. S. Nanthikesan
Dr. Anita Nesiah
Thangarajah Biriyanthan
Lanka Nesiah
S. Chinniah
Dr. Vasuki Nesiah
Dr. S. Ganesan
V. Ponnambalam
Kirupa Hoole
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
Prof. S. Ratnajeevan Hoole
Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvanandan
Dr. Rajan Hoole
Nagendra Subramaniam
Leela Isaac
Dr. T. Jayasingam
J.V. Thambar
D.B.S. Jeyaraj
R. Visagaperumal
C. Kanagasabai
Ehambaram Vivegananthan
Dr. S. V. Kasynathan
Bhawani Loganathan
Dr K Ganeswaran
Dr P Kandasamy
Dr C S Nachinarkinian
Dr T Pathmanathan
Mala Sabaratnam
E Saravanapavan
K Shanmugalingam
A Shanmugasamy
Related ~ on BBC: Plea for Sri Lanka Tamil refugees
8 Comments
This is a very reasonable and just demand(request). Why don't others offer assistance to the govt in this difficult task. What I want diaspora to understand is resettling the IDPs as speedily as possible is a priority over calls on "accountability". Any one who is expending energies over this exercise coupled with blocking any financial assistance to the govt has not fully realized the magnitude of the suffering of this innocent people.
If there is a process of screening in place what is the progress made and how many have passed and can be released. After 1-2 mths in confinement it is assumed that at least a few of thousands should have been processed and at least a few hundreds should be released from captivity.
Instead we have a wall of silence from the authorities and various excuses such as the clearing of mines etc. It is inhuman to continue keeping these people in captivity without any valid reason. They should be free to move and excercise their rights in other parts of Sri Lanka if demining of the affected parts is the reason. This is what is expected from any democratic government.
One can see a target of 60,000 IDPP getting back on an average monthly? Practically what would happen
now is when a part of a village gets back, and starts
rebuiling their broken houses, there will be a natural tendency to pick the wood-work etc. from
anothers house, who has yet to get back. This will
lead to more strife within the Village for sure.
Only a plan to resettle fully, Village by Village
basis will work smoothly, with the required Govt.
Officers assigned to supervise the resettlement
Village-wise, simulataneously in a large Sector.
THESE ARE ELECTRIFIED BARBED WIRE FENCED CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
THE UNITED NATION SHOULD CONDEMN THE SRI LANKAN GOVT. FOR THESE ATROCITIES COMMITING AGAINST THE INNOCENT TAMIL CIVILIANS. THE UN SHOULD IMPLEMENT IMMEDIATE SANCTIONS AGAINST THE GOVT. OF SRI LANKA.
SRI LANKA IS THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS IN THE WORLD FOLLOWING MYNAMAR.
This is a practical and wonderful plan of action. I wish that the government should implement this as early as possible.
Another important request from the government is that it should in all sincerity let know the whereabouts of the people they are detaining. There are many people who go through the pain and anxiety of the 'loss of their dear ones'.
There is a view that is found among the government officialsl that the all the IDPs are 'supporters of independence ' in their hearts. It may not be possible for the military or for the government to eradicate that desire for independence and freedom from the hearts of the Tamil people. To wait for such eradication, is a futile attempt on the part of the system.
My view on IDPs issue is that they all are HUMAN BEINGS AND PERSONS. They need to be treated that way. The onus is on the shoulder of the government.
May our political leaders come to grip with this UNDENIABLE REALITY and treat people as 'PROPERTIES' for their political ends.
Let us be concerned about our dear IDPs!
Dr. Kathir
What is the purpose of this exercise?
Have these people not learned anything from the Sri Lankan PEACE INDUSTRY's failure?
GOSL takes Astological predicitions seriously, so much so that even the Law Courts are brought into
deciding the truth!!
I wish some Astrologer predicts and MR sees a vision
of empty IDP camps one night and the next day GR
takes down the barbed wire and all go-home. It is
simple as that.
Long live Astrologers!
The plan makes perfect sense..
Hope the authors of this statement use their standing in the Tamil Diaspora community to lobby the govt. authoristies directly, esp, Mr. Gota - he is the 'one stop shop' for everything in Srilanka.
I presume these are also the conditions outlined by IMF with their loans, if NOT, the plans setout here should be attached to any foreign assistence to the GOVT of SL.
The next major worry is the planed President and Parliament elections (what a waste of resources!). The elections should be postponed until at least 80% of the IDPs are settled.
LET MY PEOPLE GO