The three-decade-long war in Sri Lanka maybe over, but the hardship and suffering of over 270,000 Tamils living in temporary welfare villages in the north continues.
A recent statement by the Human Rights Watch vehemently condemned the promises made recently by the Sri Lankan government that it would resettle half of the displaced population by the end of this year. "Enough is enough," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "It is well past time to release civilians detained in the camps. Sri Lanka's international friends should tell the government that they will not accept any more broken promises."
Earlier this year - in May - the government had promised that it would resettle 80% of the displaced Tamils by the end of 2009. However the government has only released 24,000 people so far, leaving more than 240,000 people in camps. The statement released on the HRW website also lists the broken promises made by the government throughout the year.
The international community has been coercing the government for long to step up the resettlement process of the displaced in the welfare villages. The United Nations and the International Monetary Fund as well as countries such as United States, Russia, United Kingdom and India, have provided the Sri Lankan government with financial aid and support for this purpose. However, over the last few months the government has been criticized widely as it has failed to keep its word. On September 29th the United Nations also issued the strongest criticism yet as the government was not making sufficient progress in implementing a promise made to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in May to resettle the refugees within six months.
Since the Sri Lankan military defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) in May 2009, over 300,000 civilians have been held in temporary welfare camps in the north. Apart from the camps being poorly set up, the civilians were also tightly guarded as it restricted their freedom of movement which violates their human rights under international law. Officials, media personnel, and international and local aid workers were denied access to these camps unless they were accompanied by the military.
According to the government, during the last few months almost 55,000 persons have been resettled in the northern and eastern parts of the country or sent to host families. The resettlement process only began after demining in those areas had been completed. The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were subjected to a screening process in order to weed out suspected LTTE carders. They were also provided with special identity cards designed by the government.
Despite such efforts, the personal accounts of those released are saddening. Testimonials on Citizen Journalist website Groundviews and several other media reports stated that about 200 persons who were recently taken out of the biggest camp, Manik Farm, were asked to leave without any assistance provided. No transport was provided and no proper documents were handed out in support of their release.
Within the camps the situation is worsening. Tensions between the displaced persons and aid workers have led to the IDP’s being abused or mistreated by the military. In another recent incident, as the troops prevented a group of IDP’s from moving between camps, two children sustained injuries - of whom one is now paralyzed – as security forces opened fire to control the crowd. However, details of the incident released by the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the UNHCR vary. Furthermore, with the onset of the north-east monsoon
heavy winds have destroyed more than 2000 temporary shelters holding IDP’s. In mid-August, rains flooded the camps destroying tents and roads which made it difficult for cooking and also transporting essentials such as drinking water. The government had assured that they were ready to face the monsoon; however, concerns are mounting as the heavy rains could flood the overcrowded camps and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, UK Minister for International Development, Mike Foster who visited Manik Farm on October 6th said that when the monsoon was over, they would withdraw all but life saving emergency interventions in the camps. According to the minister, 70% of the displaced should be able to leave and stay with host families. The people in the camps have told him that the conditions are poor, with inadequate drinking water and drains; most of them are pleading to be sent home. Here is a documented video of the minister’s visit.
With funds being restricted and the monsoon setting in, the future of these Sri Lankans living in the welfare villages appears bleak. Their only hope is to be released and resettled immediately so that they, too, like the rest of the country, can begin to enjoy a life of peace and unity. However, their fate lies eventually in the hands of the Sri Lankan government.
A recent statement by the Human Rights Watch vehemently condemned the promises made recently by the Sri Lankan government that it would resettle half of the displaced population by the end of this year. "Enough is enough," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "It is well past time to release civilians detained in the camps. Sri Lanka's international friends should tell the government that they will not accept any more broken promises."
Earlier this year - in May - the government had promised that it would resettle 80% of the displaced Tamils by the end of 2009. However the government has only released 24,000 people so far, leaving more than 240,000 people in camps. The statement released on the HRW website also lists the broken promises made by the government throughout the year.
The international community has been coercing the government for long to step up the resettlement process of the displaced in the welfare villages. The United Nations and the International Monetary Fund as well as countries such as United States, Russia, United Kingdom and India, have provided the Sri Lankan government with financial aid and support for this purpose. However, over the last few months the government has been criticized widely as it has failed to keep its word. On September 29th the United Nations also issued the strongest criticism yet as the government was not making sufficient progress in implementing a promise made to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in May to resettle the refugees within six months.
Since the Sri Lankan military defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) in May 2009, over 300,000 civilians have been held in temporary welfare camps in the north. Apart from the camps being poorly set up, the civilians were also tightly guarded as it restricted their freedom of movement which violates their human rights under international law. Officials, media personnel, and international and local aid workers were denied access to these camps unless they were accompanied by the military.
According to the government, during the last few months almost 55,000 persons have been resettled in the northern and eastern parts of the country or sent to host families. The resettlement process only began after demining in those areas had been completed. The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were subjected to a screening process in order to weed out suspected LTTE carders. They were also provided with special identity cards designed by the government.
Despite such efforts, the personal accounts of those released are saddening. Testimonials on Citizen Journalist website Groundviews and several other media reports stated that about 200 persons who were recently taken out of the biggest camp, Manik Farm, were asked to leave without any assistance provided. No transport was provided and no proper documents were handed out in support of their release.
Within the camps the situation is worsening. Tensions between the displaced persons and aid workers have led to the IDP’s being abused or mistreated by the military. In another recent incident, as the troops prevented a group of IDP’s from moving between camps, two children sustained injuries - of whom one is now paralyzed – as security forces opened fire to control the crowd. However, details of the incident released by the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the UNHCR vary. Furthermore, with the onset of the north-east monsoon
heavy winds have destroyed more than 2000 temporary shelters holding IDP’s. In mid-August, rains flooded the camps destroying tents and roads which made it difficult for cooking and also transporting essentials such as drinking water. The government had assured that they were ready to face the monsoon; however, concerns are mounting as the heavy rains could flood the overcrowded camps and surrounding areas.Meanwhile, UK Minister for International Development, Mike Foster who visited Manik Farm on October 6th said that when the monsoon was over, they would withdraw all but life saving emergency interventions in the camps. According to the minister, 70% of the displaced should be able to leave and stay with host families. The people in the camps have told him that the conditions are poor, with inadequate drinking water and drains; most of them are pleading to be sent home. Here is a documented video of the minister’s visit.
With funds being restricted and the monsoon setting in, the future of these Sri Lankans living in the welfare villages appears bleak. Their only hope is to be released and resettled immediately so that they, too, like the rest of the country, can begin to enjoy a life of peace and unity. However, their fate lies eventually in the hands of the Sri Lankan government.
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