The Five R’s of peace and stability
Less than two weeks ago President Mahinda Rajapaksa told a group of
rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres, “We will not allow petty politics to harm
the communal harmony reinstated after defeat of terrorism.” He was
speaking to 1,250 former LTTE fighters who were being reintegrated into
society and given livelihood loans to enable them to move into society.
“You were forced to sacrifice your youth and happiness to cultivate
hatred and division among people and now it is the time for you to begin
a new life with hope and vigour for a brighter future. All of you are
equal stakeholders of the massive development Sri Lanka is witnessing
today and this initiative will provide the opportunity for you step into
the society as dignified individuals,” the President told the
ex-combatants.
Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa |
This seemed a prelude to how from Tuesday last the world was shown
the reality of the new changes taking place in Sri Lanka in the
post-conflict phase, in the Defence Seminar 2012 on the theme ‘Towards
lasting peace and stability’. This was the occasion for Defence
Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the keynote speaker, to state that “as we
step forward into a brighter future, we will do so together as Sri
Lankans and that is the greatest accolade that can be paid to the
success of Sri Lanka’s post-conflict development; that will be our
legacy to future generations.”
Speaking to an audience that included defence experts and analysts,
specialists on development, those knowledgeable in rehabilitation and
resettlement, and relevant aspects of humanitarian activity from many
foreign countries, in addition to our own specialists in these fields
and other observers, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa laid out the path that the
Security Forces of the country had taken in bringing the country to the
present level of peace and stability, which surpassed the expectations
of many who had good knowledge of the 30 year conflict the country had
been dragged through.
Defeat of terrorism
Recalling the situation the country faced after the defeat of the
LTTE in May 2009, in the midst of the outpourings of relief and joy at
the defeat of terrorism, he said the government was deeply aware of the
grave challenges and responsibilities it faced in the war’s aftermath,
which he detailed as:
• Demining needed to be carried out over approximately 5,000 square
kilometres of land
• Reconstruction had to take place in the former LTTE controlled areas
• Nearly 300,000 internally displaced people needed to be Resettled
• Close to 12,000 surrendered LTTE cadres had to be Rehabilitated and
then Reintegrated
• Normalcy had to be restored throughout the land; and
• Measures had to be taken to foster national Reconciliation and
economic development.
He thus laid down the Five R’s of the new strategy for peace
stability in the country, in the form of Reconstruction, Resettlement,
Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Reconciliation.
Vocational training for Northern youth |
The Defence Seminar was a detailed and important study, with good
interactions among participants on how the country, and especially the
Security Forces, had faced the new challenges with a detailed record of
the achievements made so far in the first four of the R’s and moving
steadily towards Reconciliation.
In a studied and detailed analysis of every aspect of the move to
ensure peace and stability, Mr. Rajapaksa showed how each aspect of the
process of restoration and peace building was done. On demining, which
was the major initial problem, he showed how as at end June 2012,
469,275 antipersonnel mines, 1,399 anti-tank mines, and 388,963
unexploded ordnance devices had been recovered. It is because of the
number of mines and IEDs laid by the LTTE was so very large that
demining in some areas continues to this day, he said.
As these excerpts from Mr. Rajapaksa’s address would show, he
explained how alongside the demining process, Reconstruction was
expedited in each area that was cleared of mines and rendered safe. As a
result of LTTE action and long neglect, many of the houses, business
premises, government offices, schools, hospitals, other facilities and
infrastructure were in need of significant repair and improvement.
New housing units
The renovation of houses and construction of new housing units was
one of the government’s first priorities in terms of reconstruction. The
Army has been involved in several programmes to renovate damaged houses
and construct new ones. Under a grant sponsored by the government of
India, 43,000 new houses will also be constructed in these regions. The
pilot project for this programme was launched in 2010, and 1,000 houses
have already been built and handed over to the beneficiaries. Through
the on-going programmes, the housing stock in the North will be greatly
increased and improved over the next few years.
Emphasizing the importance of agriculture related development in a
largely rural society, in areas where the rural livelihoods had been
destroyed, the Defence Secretary said: “Much of the irrigation
infrastructure, including canals and tanks, was restored early on to
revive agriculture and farming, while major programmes to upgrade
drinking water supply and sanitation are also underway.”
“The role played by the military in the reconstruction activities
just described deserves to be highlighted. For many of the projects
undertaken, especially those begun soon after the end of the war, the
military provided engineering expertise, construction plant and
equipment, as well as much of the necessary manpower.”
“While state owned institutions such as the State Engineering
Corporation and the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau undertook
several responsibilities, and while many private sector and foreign
organizations won contracts for certain projects, the fact remains that
the military was essential in facilitating the reconstruction
activities. At the same time, it also helped facilitate several other
important functions, including supporting the care of the internally
displaced.”
Rehabilitated LTTE cadres
Having explained in detail the measure taken to restore normalcy, Mr.
Rajapaksa was emphatic that the most fundamental requirement of the
people in the North and East is the opportunity to build a better life
for themselves. In this context, he was pleased to note the great deal
of work done by the military to help the civilians.
“The Army has renovated more than 6,000 houses and constructed nearly
7,000 new permanent or semi-permanent houses for the civilians being
resettled. It has constructed 19 schools, created 23 school playgrounds,
and renovated more than 55 old school buildings. Assistance has also
been provided through the provision of fishing gear, utilities for
farming and provision of livestock and seeds for agriculture. Medical
clinics are held from time to time, and assistance is provided for the
conduct of religious, cultural and other festivals. During this critical
period, as the newly resettled people are finding their feet, the role
played by the military in assisting the civilians has helped our Armed
Services win their hearts and minds.”
As he was winding up, it was with a measure of much confidence in the
future that Mr. Rajapaksa echoed what President Rajapaksa told the
rehabilitated LTTE cadres last week: “As the people of the North and
East resume their day-to-day lives in a peaceful and stable Sri Lanka,
they do so with fully restored democratic freedoms, greatly improved
standards of living and with unrestricted opportunities to make a better
future for themselves.
I have every confidence that as a result of the many beneficial
developments that have taken place since the end of the war, there will
be no space for the re-emergence of our previous problems.
It was the same note of optimism seen in his conclusion that: “Sri
Lanka’s journey during the three years since the dawn of peace has seen
the country transform itself from a nation at war to a country that is
amongst the most peaceful, stable and secure in the world.
The unwavering commitment and resolve of the government to swiftly
implement measures for Reconstruction, Resettlement, Rehabilitation,
Reintegration and Reconciliation has laid the foundation for a
prosperous future for all our citizens, irrespective of their diversity
and differences.
I have every confidence that as we step forward into this brighter
future, we will do so together as Sri Lankans. That is the greatest
accolade that can be paid to the success of Sri Lanka’s post-conflict
development; that will be our legacy to future generations.”
For text of Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa’s address visit:
http://www.info.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201208/20120808forward_together_as_sri_lankans.htm
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