Human Rights Watch report A malicious document

Chaminda PERERA

While Refusing the report issued by Anna Neistat of Human Rights Watch, Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa yesterday said the HRW throughout its history has not acted against terrorism.

This type of organisations are engaged in aiding and abetting terrorism when the Security Forces are fighting the most ruthless terrorist outfits in the world.

The Minister said the Government has made all arrangements to ensure that civilians fleeing from the uncleared areas are provided with better welfare facilities. “The Government has ensured the security and welfare of all civilians and our efforts have earned acclaim from the international community.

The Colombo based diplomatic community hailed the Government’s efforts in providing basic facilities to the civilians now living in welfare camps.

“We have set up schools and vocational training centres for the youth in these camps and their safety and health have also been ensured.

The HRW report on the condition of civilians in welfare camps is based on malice.

The Government will not keep the civilians coming from the uncleared areas any longer they will be resettled in their original dwellings after the mines are cleared from the area.

According Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, these civilians will enjoy complete freedom after they are resettled in their original abodes.

The Minister said there may be some shortcomings in providing facilities when 2,000 or 3,000 civilians coming into the cleared area a day. But Government has taken every possible effort to minimize such shortcomings and provide better service to them.

The Civilians fleeing from uncleared areas are subjected to security screening as LTTE suicide cadres among civilians are targeting Security Forces and their fellow citizens coming from uncleared areas.