Sri Lanka’s post-conflict future

Resettling the displaced, restore normality :

Text of the speech by Prof Rajiva Wijesinha at the Royal Commonwealth Society, London on September 17, 2010. First part of this article was published yesterday

It was obviously a priority for government to restore normality as soon as possible, which meant resettling the displaced and releasing the cadres, the vast majority of them, who had been victims of Tiger conscription. Unfortunately, those anxious to continue polarization claimed that government would continue to hold back the displaced, and treat the cadres as prisoners.

Such stories have now diminished, with the resettlement of over 250,000 of the displaced and the release of about half the cadres.

Returnees at work in the field by their shop, Kilinochchi, January 2010

With regard to the displaced, government had made it clear that resettlement could only happen after basic security checks, demining and the provision of basic infrastructure. This was achieved more quickly than expected and there is much more hope as well as development now in the Vanni, the area the Tigers had controlled, than the people there had experienced for decades. This parallels what had happened in the East, where infrastructural development has been rapid in the three years since the Tigers were expelled.

There a total of $ 1.7 billion was spent, with very obvious results, over the last three years, while the companion ‘Northern Spring’ program will cost the government over 2.5 dollars. I should note that aid and assistance for these programs is most welcome, but it must be provided with clear and measurable objectives, and without duplication. Currently, in addition to UN agencies, 45 National and International Non-Governmental Organizations are working in the North.

LTTE cadres

In the East the government had partners in the form of the former LTTE cadres who had left the organization in 2004. Their leader, Mr Muralitharan, is now the Junior Minister for Resettlement, and a member of the government party, the SLFP, while his former colleague, Mr Chandrakanthan, is the Chief Minister of the East. Incidentally, government was advised against having elections in the East by the European Union, which had been advised by the TNA that these would not be fair - the TNA having been the chief beneficiaries of the 2004 election that the European Union ruled was unfair, the Tigers having killed those members of the TNA slate who supported Mr Muralitharan, and replaced them with yes-men. I should note that the EU also funded individuals close to the main opposition party, the UNP, who of course told the EU what they - I think I mean the UNP - wanted to hear.

Sadly, the TNA refused after the Tigers were defeated to engage in constructive discussions with the government. They did not, despite repeated requests, come to discuss issues at the Peace Secretariat, instead claiming to be too busy because they had to see various ambassadors.

Ceasefire Agreement

This residual intransigence reached its apotheosis with the decision to support the former Army Commander - who had wanted to expand the army massively after the victory, and who had argued against swift release of the displaced - in the recent Presidential election. Sadly, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress also adopted this line, which seemed the precursor to further polarization, with many groups representing minorities ranging themselves against the government.

Fortunately, that situation has changed in the last couple of weeks. The Muslim Congress decided to support the recent constitutional amendments proposed by the government, as did almost all representatives of the Indian Tamil community. The government, which had a majority of Members of Parliament from the East, was strengthened further with the adherence of a member of the TNA.

And, though the TNA still represents a high proportion of the North, it is likely that they will participate more constructively now in discussions, given the increasingly pluralistic nature of the government majority. It should be noted, after all, that when the old TNA split before the 2010 General Election, with some individuals standing with the government, the extreme group that advocated a return to their approach when under LTTE control, the TNPF, was completely rejected at the polls.

To be continued