SL Ambassador tells European Parliament :
Don’t use IDPs as political tools
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Ravinatha
Aryasinha has urged that the displaced persons in Sri Lanka be not used
as a political tool, but instead that those being critical, step up and
help the Government to overcome the difficulties faced in looking after
them and re-settling them. He said “these are our people, successive
governments fed them, provided medicines, ensured education through the
30 years when the LTTE dominated their lives. We will ensure that they
get back to their homes in safety, not because anybody tells us to do
so, but because we want them to do so”.
Ravinatha Aryasinha |
The Ambassador made these observations when he addressed a hearing
held on Sri Lanka by the Human Rights Sub Committee of the European
Parliament, chaired by MEP Heidi Hautala of the Finnish Green Party on
Thursday.
Responding to the comments made by panellists about the situation in
the IDP centres Ambassador Aryasinha outlined the procedures that the
government had presently undertaken to streamline the resettlement
process. He said that around 1/6 of the displaced who were originally
from the Jaffna district and the Eastern province had been sent back to
these areas, while the displaced from the Mannar district are presently
being resettled. Additionally, advertisements have been placed,
informing the public that they could host any relatives who might be in
the Welfare Villages.
Refuting a suggestion that “demining has been used as a political
tool to confine the IDPs to the camps”, and that they “would be held
indefinitely”, the Ambassador showed on a map of the main population
centers of the Northern Province with adjacent farm land that had been
de-mined or ear marked for de-mining on a priority basis.
He said the Government of Sri Lanka had imported the most
sophisticated technology for this purpose, which was evidence of its
commitment to re-settle the people as fast as possible.
The Ambassador also said he was shocked at the suggestion made by one
MEP that the IDPs should be “allowed to go and take the risk of
landmines”, and remarked that GOSL had not rescued them from being held
as human shields by the LTTE, to have them knowingly risk their lives
due to left over LTTE mines.
He said the security concerns were not imagined, but very real, as it
was well known that many LTTE cadres had come into the camps mingling
with civilians, and the GOSL didn’t want them to go back and connect
with hidden weapons and re-start terrorist acts. About 10,000 ex-LTTE
cadres had already surrendered and many others had been identified on
the basis of information. So far, out of approximately 290,000 people
liberated from the LTTE, over 150,000 had been registered and 110,000
issued with ID cards. This would help gradually ensure freedom of
movement.
Responding to comments that humanitarian agencies are not allowed
into the camps, the Ambassador pointed out that there are 54
International agencies, INGOs and NGOs currently engaged in humanitarian
work in the welfare villages. He said within the last week alone two
high level UN officials visited these areas.
On GSP+, Ambassador Aryasinha said the Government had not accepted
the process of GSP+ investigation and a request for experts to visit Sri
Lanka as a matter of principle, as it was felt inappropriate and
unnecessary and the Government was not willing to compromise on its
sovereignty.
However, the Government has continued to engage with the European
Commission on the relevant human rights conventions - through meetings
at senior officials’ level both in Brussels and Colombo, by providing
material which showed Sri Lanka’s compliance with these conventions,
refute unfounded allegations, and above all provided periodic reviews to
UN bodies which monitor these conventions. Responding to a query whether
the 4 member Ministerial Committee appointed recently by the President
of Sri Lanka would be providing a response to the GSP+ investigation
expert’s report, the Ambassador said there would be no response to the
expert’s report from Government. The Government will continue to engage
on the issues of concern with the Commission.
Responding to comments made on the judgment in the Tissainayagam
case, the Ambassador said one cannot on the one hand demand separation
of powers and an independent Judiciary, and on the other hand press for
the executive to overrule the judicial system.
He added that while speakers gave the impression that Tissainayagam
was convicted by the High Court for writing two articles which in the
view of the prosecution had the effect of inciting communal disharmony,
they forget the more serious charge proved, which was that he had
accepted funds from the LTTE. He asked whether journalists in Europe
accepting a cheque from Al Quida, would be acceptable?
Andrew Stroelheim of the International Crisis Group, Sunanda
Deshapriya, Journalist, Antoine Gerard of the UN/Humanitarian Affairs
Office in Belgium, David Tirr and Rolf Timmens, of the European
Commission, and several MEPs addressed the two hour session. |