Constructive engagement with Sri Lanka - Indian External Affairs
Minister S. M. Krishna
Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna in a statement in the
Rajya Sabha on Sri Lanka's situation said that the Indian government has
focused on the welfare of Tamils in India.
Full text:
"I rise to inform the House on 'The situation in Sri Lanka'. At the
outset, allow me to convey that I fully share the concerns and
sentiments raised by the members of this august House regarding the
welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils. The end of the long period of armed
conflict in Sri Lanka in May 2009 left around 300,000 Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in camps in Northern Sri Lanka and
general devastation of infrastructure in the affected areas. Since the
end of conflict in Sri Lanka the focus of government of India has been
on the welfare and well-being of the Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka. Their
resettlement and rehabilitation have been of the highest and most
immediate priority for the government.
The Prime Minister, in June 2009 immediately after the conflict
announced a grant of Rs. 500 crores for relief, rehabilitation and
resettlement work in Sri Lanka. The Government of India has implemented
and continues to implement a wide range of projects covering assistance
projects for IDPs in the areas of housing, de-mining, education,
connectivity, livelihood restoration, economic revival, etc. We have
been informed by representatives of Sri Lankan Tamils that the tractors,
seeds and agricultural implements gifted by the Government of India have
greatly benefited the people in the area.
India also announced the construction of 50,000 houses, mainly for
IDPs in Sri Lanka. During my visit to Sri Lanka in January 2012 I handed
over the first lot of completed houses to the beneficiaries at Ariyalai,
Jaffna and Kilinochchi. These houses have been constructed under a pilot
project for construction of 1000 houses. As of end February 2012, a
total of 365 houses had been completed, another 370 houses completed up
to roof level and 230 houses completed up to lintel level. It may also
be kept in mind that construction is taking place in largely
inaccessible areas, which in many cases have to be freed of mines and
other explosive ordnance and cleared of jungle.
In December 2011, the Cabinet approved the modalities for
construction and repair of the remaining 49,000 houses. A Memorandum of
Understanding for construction of these houses was signed between India
and Sri Lanka on 17th January 2012 in Colombo. The project is expected
to be completed within three years of commencement of work on the
ground.
In addition to houses I also gifted bicycles to IDPs and handed over
hospitals and schools rehabilitated under the assistance of the
Government of India in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.
I would like to underline that is mainly as a result of our
constructive engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka and our
considerable assistance programme that a modicum of normalcy is
beginning to return to the Tamil areas in Sri Lanka. There has also been
progress given the withdrawal of emergency regulations by the government
of Sri Lanka and the conduct of elections to local bodies in the
Northern Province of Sri Lanka.
Our primary objective in all that we are doing in Sri Lanka is to
ensure the welfare and well being of Sri Lankan Tamils, including IDPs,
and to assist in the reconstruction and development of areas affected by
the conflict.
Several Members of the House have raised the issue of alleged human
rights violations during the protracted conflict in Sri Lanka and on the
US-initiated draft resolution on 'Promoting Reconciliation and
Accountability in Sri Lanka' at the on-going 19th session of the UN
Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Concerns have been expressed by various quarters on allegations of
human rights violations, including as shown in the Channel 4
documentaries; it is the responsibility of the Sri Lankan Government, in
the first instance to investigate and inquire into them through a
transparent process.
We understand that the Government of Sri Lanka has initiated a series
of measures, including appointment of a cabinet sub-committee to monitor
implementation of the proposals in the National Human Rights Action Plan
(NHRAP) and reactivating the National Police Commission, in line with
the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission
(LLRC) report. Separately, the Sri Lankan defence authorities are
reported to have appointed a court of inquiry to look into allegations
of human rights violations as required by the LLRC report.
The Government of India has nonetheless, emphasized to the government
of Sri Lanka the importance of a genuine process of reconciliation to
address the grievances of the Tamil community. In this connection, we
have called for implementation of the recommendations in the Report of
the LLRC that has been tabled before the Sri Lankan parliament. These
include various constructive measures for healing the wounds of the
conflict and fostering a process of lasting peace and reconciliation in
Sri Lanka.
We have been assured by the government of Sri Lanka, including during
my visit to Sri Lanka in January this year, of its commitment towards
pursuit of a political process, through a broader dialogue with all
parties including the Tamil National Alliance leading to the full
implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution, so
as to achieve meaningful devolution of powers and genuine national
reconciliation. We hope that the government of Sri Lanka recognizing the
critical importance of this issue acts decisively and with vision in
this regard. We will remain engaged with them through this process and
in the spirit of partnership encourage them to take forward the dialogue
with the elected representatives of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
Members may be aware that the Sri Lankan authorities had said they
would be happy to receive an all party delegation of members of both
Houses of our parliament. We are working to undertake such a visit at
the earliest.
Hon. Chairman,
Several members have raised the issue of a draft resolution initiated
by USA at the ongoing 19th session of the UN Human Rights Council at
Geneva on the issue of reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.
I would like to highlight here that on such sensitive issues we will
need to consider the implications of our actions carefully. Any
assertions on our part may have implications on our historically
friendly relations with a neighbouring country. We would also need to
examine whether our actions will actually assist in the process of
reconciliation in Sri Lanka, and enhance the current dialogue between
the government of Sri Lanka and Tamil parties, including the Tamil
National Alliance.
As far as our position on the resolution is concerned, we are engaged
with all parties in an effort to achieve a forward looking outcome that
is based on reconciliation and accountability rather than deepening
confrontation and mistrust between the concerned parties. I may mention
that the issue of human rights allegations against Sri Lanka is yet to
come up for formal discussion at the 19th Session of the UN Human Rights
Council in Geneva. A view on this issue will be taken as and when the
time is finalized for consideration of the draft resolution on Sri Lanka
in the UN Human Rights Council.
I, therefore, would like to inform this House that our objectives, as
always, continue to remain the achievement of a future for the Tamil
community in Sri Lanka that is marked by equality, dignity, justice and
self respect.
I may assure the House that the government will bear in mind the
views and sentiments expressed in this House, and once a final view is
taken government will keep the parliament informed.
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