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Press Releases
17-01-2005
,yq;if: Rdhkpahy;
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(epA+NahHf;: [dthp 14> 2005) jkpoPo tpLjiyg;
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ghjpf;fg;gl;l rpwhHfis mkJ gilapdHfshfg; ghtpg;gjw;fhf gpbj;Jr; nry;fpd;wJ.
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`pA+kd; iwl;]; nthl;r; mikg;G njhptpf;fpd;wJ.
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nfhs;tjhf Nkyjpfkhd jfty;fs; `pA+kd; iwl;]; nthl;r; mikg;gpw;F fpilj;Js;sd.
"Rdhkp mdHj;jj;jpdhy; ,r; rpwhHfs; mehijfs;
Mf;fg;gl;Lk; ,lk; ngaHe;Jk; cs;s ,f;fl;lhdJk;> kpf mtykhdJkhd epiyikapid
tha;g;ghfg; gad;gLj;jp Gypfs; ,af;fkhdJ ,tHfis gyhj;fhukhf gpbj;Jr;
nry;Yk; eltbf;ifapy; <Lgl;ls;sJ" vd `pA+kd; iwl;]; nthl;r; mikg;gpd;
rpwhHfs; chpikfs; njhlHghd gpur;rhu gzpg;ghsH N[h ngf;fH njhptpj;jhH.
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Nkhrkhf gpbj;Jr; nry;Yk; ,k; kdr;rhl;rpapy;yhj eltbf;ifiaj; jLg;gjw;fhd
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jpUNfhzkiyapy; mike;Js;s mfjp Kfhnkhd;wpypUe;J
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gpbj;Jr; nry;yg;gl;Ls;shHfs; vd Rje;jpukhd kdpj chpikfs; fz;fhzpg;ghsHfs;
Mtzg;gLj;jpas;sdH.
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tplaj;jpy; Gypfs; ,af;fj;jpw;F XH epz;l tuyhW cz;L. 2002k; Mz;L Kw;gFjpapy;
eilKiwf;F te;j ,yq;if murhq;fj;jpw;Fk; Gypfs; ,af;fj;jpw;Fkhd Nkhjy;
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Nghd;w topKiwfis ghtpf;fpd;wdJ vd;gijAk; `pA+kd; iwl;]; nthl;r; mt;twpf;ifapy;
Fwpg;gpl;bUe;jJ. Nkhjy; jtpHg;G xg;ge;jj;jpw;F kd;dH rz;ilfs; kw;Wk;
jw;nfhiyj; jhf;Fjy; eltbf;iffs; vd;gtw;wpy; rpwHfs; njhlHr;rpahf ghtpf;fg;gl;L
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njhptpf;fpd;wd. Gypfs; ,af;fj;jpd; flw;gil mzpahdJ ghhpa ,og;ig re;jp;j;J
cs;sjhf ,yq;if murhq;fj;jpd; jfty;fs; njhptpf;fpd;wd.
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,t;thwhf Kfhk;fis ,lkhw;wpdhy; mq;fpUf;Fk; rpwhHfs; Gypfshy; gpbj;Jr;
nry;yg;glf;$ba Nkhrkhd Mgj;jpw;F Kfk; nfhLf;ff;$Lk; vd;gJ njhlHghfTk;
`pA+kd; iwl;]; nthl;r; mikg;ghdJ jdJ Mo;e;j mf;fiwiaj; njhptpf;fpwJ.
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iwl;]; nthl;r; Ntz;LNfhs; tpLf;fpwJ. ,yq;ifapy; ghjpf;fg;gl;l gpuNjrq;fSf;F
epjp cjtpfis toq;Ffpd;w rHtNjr murhq;fq;fs;> Gypfs; ,af;fj;jpdhy;
,r; rpwhHfs; gpbj;Jr; nry;yYk; eltbf;ifapid gfpuq;fkhf fz;bf;fpd;w mNjNtisapy;
Gypfs; ,af;fkhdJ jk gilazpfspy; cs;s rpwhHfis tpLjiy nra;a Ntz;Lk; vd;Wk;
Nfhu Ntz;Lk;. mehijfshf;fg;gl;l kw;Wk; FLk;gq;fspy; ,Ue;J gphpf;fg;gl;l
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fz;fhzpj;jy; vd;Dk; Adpnrg;((UNICEF) mikg;gpd; Kaw;rpfis ,t;tikg;G kpfTk;
tuNtw;fpd;wJ.
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ed;wp :- `pA+kd; iwl;]; nthl;r;
Sri Lanka: Child Tsunami Victims Recruited
by Tamil Tigers
LTTE May Seek Children to Replace Lost Forces
(New York: January 14, 2005) -- The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE, or Tamil Tigers) are recruiting children affected by the
tsunami for use as soldiers, Human Rights Watch said today.
The Tamil Tigers are preying on the most vulnerable by taking
advantage of children who have been orphaned or displaced by the tsunami.
Every effort must be made to stop this unconscionable recruiting from
families who have already suffered so much.
Jo Becker, children’s rights advocacy director for Human Rights Watch.
Human Rights Watch said that the Tamil Tigers, who were already recruiting
large numbers of child soldiers, now may seek to replace forces lost
to the tsunami with child recruits.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported Thursday on three
cases of children recruited from camps for tsunami survivors in Batticaloa
and Ampara, on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast. Human Rights Watch has received
additional information on LTTE recruitment of children in Trincomalee
and Jaffna.
“The Tamil Tigers are preying on the most vulnerable by taking advantage
of children who have been orphaned or displaced by the tsunami,” said
Jo Becker, children’s rights advocacy director for Human Rights Watch.
“Every effort must be made to stop this unconscionable recruiting from
families who have already suffered so much.”
At a relief camp in Trincomalee, a 16-year old boy who had been recruited
prior to the tsunami and later escaped told credible sources that he
recently witnessed the LTTE recruit three girls from the camp. In Jaffna,
independent human rights monitors documented LTTE recruitment of two
13-year old boys on January 3.
The LTTE has a long history of recruiting children as soldiers. A Human
Rights Watch report published in November 2004 documented LTTE recruitment
of thousands of children since a ceasefire between the government and
LTTE took effect in early 2002. Human Rights Watch found that the LTTE
often used threats, intimidation and even abduction to bring children
into its ranks. Prior to the ceasefire, children were routinely used
in combat, and often deployed on suicide missions.
Various sources estimate that the LTTE lost between 700 and 2000 soldiers
during the tsunami, including nearly 400 women and girls who were washed
away from an LTTE training camp in Mullaitivu. Sri Lankan government
sources have reported that the LTTE navy suffered major losses.
“As the LTTE seeks to rebuild its forces after the tsunami, children
are at enormous risk,” said Becker. “Children have always been targeted,
but children who have lost their homes or families from the tsunami
now are even more susceptible to LTTE recruitment.”
The LTTE is reportedly pressuring many camps for tsunami victims to
relocate from government-held areas to LTTE-held territory. Human Rights
Watch expressed strong concern that such relocation will put children
at greater risk of recruitment.
Human Rights Watch called for intensive international monitoring of
camps for tsunami victims, with special attention to vulnerable children.
It urged international governments providing aid to affected areas in
Sri Lanka to publicly condemn the LTTE’s recruitment of children and
call on the LTTE to release the children in its ranks. The organization
welcomed UNICEF’s efforts to register all orphaned and separated children
and monitor under-age recruitment cases.
Cou
21.12.2004
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mikg;gpd; $l;lq;fSk; jkpo; murpay; fyhr;rhuKk
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Gyk; ngaHe;j jkpoHfs; kj;jpapy; Gypfs; tlf;F fpof;fpy; rpWtHfis gilazpfspy;
NrHg;gJ njhlHghd gpur;rpidfis Kd; itj;jJ. ,e;j fUj;juq;Ffs; rpWtH gilazp
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gy capHfs; gypahdJk; Aj;jj;jpd; tpiyahf [dehafk; mopj;njhopf;fg;gl;lJk;
Rje;jpukhd gd;Kfj;jd;ik nfhz;l r%f ,af;fq;fs; mtrpag;gLfpd;wd. me;j
,af;fk; [dehaf r%fj;ijak; r%f ePjpiaAk; jdpkdpj $l;L chpikfisAk; R je;jpuj;ijAk;
rkhjhdj;ijAk; rfy r%fq;fSf;Fk; Vw;gLj;Jtjw;F ghLgl Ntz;Lk;. ehq;fs;
xLf;fg;gl;l r%fj;jpd; ,iof;fg;gl;l fle;jfhy mePjpfs; nghUshjhu Vw;wj;jho;T
,d ghy; rhjp hPjpahd xLf;FKiwfSf;F vjpuhd Mjuit toq;FNthk;.
11.11.2004
Sri Lanka: Tamil Tigers Forcibly Recruit
Child Soldiers
Editor - SLDF Newire
(New York, November 11, 2004) - By abducting children or threatening
their
families, the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have recruited
thousands of child soldiers in Sri Lanka since active fighting ended
in
2002, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, or Tamil Tigers) use
intimidation and threats to pressure Tamil families in the north and
east of
Sri Lanka to provide sons and daughters for military service. When families
refuse, their children are sometimes abducted from their homes at night
or
forcibly recruited while walking to school. Parents who resist the
recruitment of their children face retribution from the Tamil Tigers,
including violence or detention.
"The ceasefire has brought an end to the fighting, but not to the
Tamil
Tigers' use of children as soldiers," said Jo Becker, children's
rights
advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, and a co-author of the report.
"Many Tamil families who expected a 'peace dividend' now expect
an unwelcome
visit from armed Tamil Tiger recruiters."
The 80-page report, "Living in Fear: Child Soldiers and the Tamil
Tigers in
Sri Lanka," includes firsthand testimonies from dozens of children
from
northeastern Sri Lanka who have been recruited by the Tamil Tigers since
the
ceasefire came into effect. Children described rigorous and sometimes
brutal
military training, including training with heavy weapons, bombs and
landmines. Children who try to escape are typically beaten in front
of their
entire unit as a warning to others.
The Tamil Tigers have recruited at least 3,516 children since the start
of
the February 2002 ceasefire with the government, according to cases
documented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The agency
states
that this figure represents only a portion of the total number of children
recruited.
Human Rights Watch also documented targeted re-recruitment drives of
children released from a breakaway LTTE faction earlier this year. In
March,
the LTTE's Eastern commander, Colonel Karuna, broke away from the main
LTTE
forces loyal to Vellupillai Prabhakaran, based in the northern region
known
as the Vanni. In April, Prabhakaran's forces, known as the Vanni LTTE,
attacked and defeated Karuna's Eastern forces, which quickly disbanded.
About 2,000 child soldiers fled Karuna's forces or were encouraged by
their
commanders to leave. Some died in the fighting.
The Vanni LTTE quickly began an intensive campaign to re-recruit Karuna's
former forces, including children. The Vanni forces have gone from house
to
house, organized village meetings, sent children letters and made
announcements from motorized vehicles to demand that the former child
soldiers return. They have taken many children by force.
"They took away my younger brother the other day. He was coming
home from
the market and he was taken away," said Vanji, who was recruited
by the LTTE
in 1997 at age 16. "They didn't release him, and they threatened
to shoot if
I reported his abduction. They also told me at the same time that I
had to
re-join."
International law prohibits the recruitment of children under the age
of 18
by non-state armed groups, and all participation of children in active
hostilities. The recruitment of children under the age of 15 is now
considered a war crime.
The LTTE denies recruiting children and claims that any children in
its
forces have joined because of poverty, lack of educational opportunities,
or
the loss of their parents and lack of alternative care. Although some
children do join because of socioeconomic factors or because they want
to
fight for an independent Tamil state, such "voluntary" recruitment
is also a
violation of international law.
In June 2003, the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government agreed to a formal
Action Plan on Children Affected by War. Under the Action Plan, the
Tamil
Tigers agreed to end their recruitment of children and to release children
from their forces, either directly to the children's families or to
new
transit centers that were constructed specifically for this purpose.
Since the Action Plan was signed, UNICEF figures show that the LTTE
has
recruited more than twice as many children as it has released. A transit
center opened in October 2003 received a total of only 172 children
in its
first year of operation. Although the center has capacity for 100 children,
it has never held more than 49, and for a six-week period in mid-2004,
was
completely empty. The other two centers never opened because of the
low
number of children released.
"Time and again, the Tamil Tigers have pledged to end their use
of child
soldiers, but each time they've broken those promises," said Becker.
"It's
time for the Tamil Tigers to live up to their legal responsibilities
and
stop recruiting children."
11.11.2004
Living in fear - Child soldiers and the
Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka
- Human Rights watch report.
Sri Lanka: Tamil Tigers Forcibly Recruit
Child Soldiers
(New York, November 11, 2004) - By abducting children or threatening
their families, the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have recruited
thousands of child soldiers in Sri Lanka since active fighting ended
in 2002, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, or Tamil Tigers) use
intimidation and threats to pressure Tamil families in the north and
east of Sri Lanka to provide sons and daughters for military service.
When families refuse, their children are sometimes abducted from their
homes at night or forcibly recruited while walking to school. Parents
who resist the recruitment of their children face retribution from the
Tamil Tigers, including violence or detention.
"The ceasefire has brought an end to the fighting, but not to
the TamilTigers' use of children as soldiers," said Jo Becker,
children's rights advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, and a co-author
of the report. "Many Tamil families who expected a 'peace dividend'
now expect an unwelcome visit from armed Tamil Tiger recruiters."
The 80-page report, "Living in Fear: Child Soldiers and the Tamil
Tigers in Sri Lanka," includes firsthand testimonies from dozens
of children from northeastern Sri Lanka who have been recruited by the
Tamil Tigers since the ceasefire came into effect. Children described
rigorous and sometimes brutal military training, including training
with heavy weapons, bombs and landmines. Children who try to escape
are typically beaten in front of their entire unit as a warning to others.
The Tamil Tigers have recruited at least 3,516 children since the start
of the February 2002 ceasefire with the government, according to cases
documented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The agency
states that this figure represents only a portion of the total number
of children recruited.
Human Rights Watch also documented targeted re-recruitment drives of
children released from a breakaway LTTE faction earlier this year. In
March, the LTTE's Eastern commander, Colonel Karuna, broke away from
the main LTTE forces loyal to Vellupillai Prabhakaran, based in the
northern region known as the Vanni. In April, Prabhakaran's forces,
known as the Vanni LTTE, attacked and defeated Karuna's Eastern forces,
which quickly disbanded. About 2,000 child soldiers fled Karuna's forces
or were encouraged by their commanders to leave. Some died in the fighting.
The Vanni LTTE quickly began an intensive campaign to re-recruit Karuna's
former forces, including children. The Vanni forces have gone from houseto
house, organized village meetings, sent children letters and made announcements
from motorized vehicles to demand that the former child soldiers return.
They have taken many children by force.
"They took away my younger brother the other day. He was coming
home from the market and he was taken away," said Vanji, who was
recruited by the LTTE in 1997 at age 16. "They didn't release him,
and they threatened to shoot if I reported his abduction. They also
told me at the same time that I had to re-join."
International law prohibits the recruitment of children under the age
of 18 by non-state armed groups, and all participation of children in
active hostilities. The recruitment of children under the age of 15
is now considered a war crime.
The LTTE denies recruiting children and claims that any children in
its forces have joined because of poverty, lack of educational opportunities,
or the loss of their parents and lack of alternative care. Although
some children do join because of socioeconomic factors or because they
want to fight for an independent Tamil state, such "voluntary"
recruitment is also a violation of international law.
In June 2003, the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government agreed to a formal
Action Plan on Children Affected by War. Under the Action Plan, the
Tamil Tigers agreed to end their recruitment of children and to release
children from their forces, either directly to the children's families
or to new transit centers that were constructed specifically for this
purpose.
Since the Action Plan was signed, UNICEF figures show that the LTTE
has recruited more than twice as many children as it has released. A
transit center opened in October 2003 received a total of only 172 children
in its first year of operation. Although the center has capacity for
100 children, it has never held more than 49, and for a six-week period
in mid-2004, was completely empty. The other two centers never opened
because of the low number of children released.
"Time and again, the Tamil Tigers have pledged to end their use
of child soldiers, but each time they've broken those promises,"
said Becker. "It's time for the Tamil Tigers to live up to their
legal responsibilities and stop recruiting children."
For the full report: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/srilanka1104/
10.11.2004
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nraw;gLj;j Ntz;Lk;.
vy;NyhUk; ,d;Gw;wpUf;fNt
,t; cyF
<o kf;fs; Gul;rpfu tpLjiy Kd;dzp- gj;kehgh
09.11.2004
tlGy K];ypk;fs; ntspNaw;wg;gl;ljid
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(tTdpah> kd;dhh;> Ky;iyj;jPT> fpspnehr;rp kw;Wk; aho;g;ghzk;)
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fpspnehr;rp kw;Wk; kd;dhh; Nghd;w khtl;lq;fspy; K];ypk;fs; mjpfstpy;
tho;e;Jte;jhh;fs;.
me;jf; nfhLikahd ehspy; 75>000-80>000 K];ypk;fs; tlf;F khfhzj;jpypUe;J
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mikjp eltbf;iffSf;fhd ve;j epjpAjtpAk; tlGy K];ypk;fspd; murpay; mf;fiwfis
ftdj;jpy;nfhs;sg;gl Ntz;Lnkd;gij fl;lhakhd epge;jidahf nfhz;bUf;f Ntz;Lnkd
,yq;if [dehaf muq;fk; Nfl;Lf;nfhs;fpd;wJ. tlf;fpdJk; fpof;fpdJk; kPs;f;fl;Lkhdg;gzpfSf;fhf
gpupj;jspf;fg;gLk; epjpfs; fl;lhakhf vy;yh rpWghd;ikapdiuAk; Fwpg;ghf
tlGy K];ypk;fisAk; milaf;$bajhf ,Uf;fNtz;Lk;.
cWjpahdnjhU mikjpia Nehf;fp
mikjpf;Fk; epue;ju jPh;nthd;wpw;Fkhd ve;j Ngr;Rthh;j;ijfspYk; tlGy K];ypk;fs;
Nrh;j;Jf;nfhs;sg;gl Ntz;Lnkd ,yq;if [dehaf muq;fk; typAWj;Jfpd;wJ. tlGy
K];ypk;fspd; murpay;> nghUshjhu kw;Wk; fyhr;rhu cupikfs; mikjp Kaw;rpfis
jlk;Gul;Lkstpw;F mq;fPfupf;fg;glhkYk; ,Jtiu Gwf;fzpf;fg;l;LKs;sjhf Njhd;Wfpd;wd.
mikjpf;fhd nraw;ghLfs; mh;j;jKs;s rkhjhdj;jpy; <LgLtjhapd;> tlGy
K];ypk;fs; Nghd;W Xuq;fl;lg;gl;l r%fq;fspd; murpay; me;j];jpidAk; Jd;GWj;jy;>
tuptpjpg;G kw;Wk; ntspNaw;wg;gly; vd;gtw;wpypUe;J tpLgl;L mth;fspd;
nrhe;j tPLfspy; tho;tjw;fhd mth;fsJ cupikiaAk; ftdj;jpnyLf;fNtz;Lk;
vd;gijj;jhd; ehq;fs; Fwpg;ghfr; nrhy;Yfpd;Nwhk;. tlGy K];ypk;fspd; cupikf;Fk;
ePjpf;fhfTk; nraw;gLkhW ,yq;ifapd; gpui[fshd rpq;fs> jkpo;> K];ypk;fSf;F
,yq;if [dehaf muq;fk; miog;GtpLf;fpd;wJ.
,yq;if [dehaf muq;fk;
30-10-2004
05.11.2004
On the initiative of Human Rights Commission:
Relief for victims of disappearances
Recently Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Chairperson of the Human Rights
Commission, presided over a discussion regarding the implementation
of the recommendations for relief to victims of disappearances. Representatives
of several ministries and other officials concerned with these recommendations
were present.
These recommendations had been made by a Committee on Disappearances
appointed by the HRC to look into disappearances in the Jaffna region
during the period 1990 to 1998.
Costs of war: a
displaced Northern woman and her child
This committee had adopted the recommendations already made in 1997
by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances and had
made certain specific recommendations regarding relief to the victims
of the disappearances in the Jaffna region.
M. D. W. Ariyawansa, Additional Secretary to the President, attended
this meeting along with Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Jezima Ismail who
were members of the Committee on Disappearances in the Jaffna region
and Ms Manouri Muttetuwegama and H. G. Dharmadasa who were members of
the last Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances.
Need for relief measures
Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy explained to those present the need to see
that the implementation of the relief measures recommended are not delayed
any longer as many of the victims are in dire circumstances and they
from a marginalised group of persons in society.
Some of them are destitute consequent to the disappearances of the
breadwinner in the family. She further added that a speedy implementation
of the relief recommended could help in the healing process of the wounds
left behind by the regrettable incidents of the past.
M. C. M. Iqbal, a consultant at the HRC and the former Secretary of
the Committee of Disappearances in the Jaffna region and the Presidential
Commissions, highlighted some of the recommendations for relief made
in the Reports of the Committee on Disappearances and the President
Commission.
Ms. Manouri Muttetuwegama, former chairperson of the Presidential Commission
and Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, former Chairman of the Committee on Disappearances,
also participated in the discussions and reiterated the need for the
implementation of the recommendations without delay.
Important recommendation
The most important recommendation discussed at this meeting was the
need to re-enact the Registration of Deaths (Temporary Provisions) Act
which had lapsed in 2001.
This Act enabled many victims of disappeared persons who held certificates
of confirmation of disappearance from a Presidential Commission of Inquiry
to easily obtain a death certificate in respect of such person on a
presumption of death.
The absence of such a facility now has led to many of the families
of disappeared persons confirmed subsequently being unable to get the
benefits of any of the relief measures already available even though
they hold certificates issued by Presidential Commissions or the Human
Rights Commission.
An amendment has to be included to this Act when it is re-enacted to
enable holders of confirmations of disappearances issued by the Human
Rights Commission too, to enjoy the same privilege as those who complained
to Presidential Commissions.
Other matters
Among the other matters discussed at this meeting were the following:
* The difficulties encountered by members of families of disappeared
public officers, teachers, employees in semi-government institutions
such as cooperatives to get the salaries of disappeared and other benefits;
* The problems faced by internally displaced persons when making their
applications for relief in respect of the disappeared IDPs as they have
to do so through the office of the Divisional Secretary of the area
where they usually resided;
* The non-payment of compensation by Reppia due to non allocation of
funds by the Treasury;
* The grant of scholarships to children of disappeared persons;
* The need for providing vocational training to members of the families
of disappeared persons;
* The inability of the heirs of disappeared persons to claim life insurance
benefits from Insurance Companies as the policy is treated to have lapsed
for non-payment the premium after the disappearances of the person so
insured;
* The problems of families of disappeared persons not being able to
continue to cultivate on LDO permit lands of the disappeared persons;
* And the plight of elderly parents of disappeared persons who were
dependents of such persons who are now in dire circumstances.
* The need to provide a means of livelihood to widows of disappeared
persons.
Progress review
The attention of the representatives of the respective Ministries especially
the Ministry of Rehabilitation, the Ministry of Social Services, the
Ministry of Vocational Training and other officials such as the Registrar-General,
was drawn to take whatever steps possible to provide assistance to the
victims of disappeared persons on the basis of the recommendations made.
The Additional Secretary to the President suggested that these officials
should meet at regular intervals to review the progress. The Chairperson
of the HRC accepted this suggestion and requested Mr. Iqbal to follow
it up by calling for progress reports regularly.
Lack of funds
When the lack of funds to implement many of the recommendations was
pointed out, Mr. Iqbal drew the attention of those present to the recommendation
made by the Presidential Commission which had taken this fact into consideration
and had recommended the establishment of a fund for this purpose.
It was suggested that donations to this fund should be sought both
from State and non - State institutions both local and foreign Jeevan
Thiagarajah, the executive Director of the Consortium of Humanitarian
agencies, who was present, stated that he would take this matter up
with relevant authorities.
Necessary action
The following lists extracted from the reports of the Presidential
Commission and the Committee on Disappearance were provided to the relevant
officers at the end of the discussion for necessary action:
* Classified list of victims of disappeared in Jaffna who have sought
of assistance for their livelihood;
* List of complainants from the Jaffna region to whom payment of compensations
is pending: * List of victims to disappeared in the Jaffna region who
are in dire circumstances to whom urgent assistance is recommended;
* List of victims who have been widowed by the disappearances in the
Jaffna region;
* List of complainants to the All Island Presidential Commission on
Disappearances to whom counselling is recommended; * List of disappeared
persons whose children have been recommended for the award of scholarships
by the Presidential Commission (All Island).
The attention of the officials present was drawn of the need to implement
other recommendations for relief contained in the Reports of the Presidential
Commissions of Inquiry into Disappearances which have already been published.
(Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka)
Source Daily news-04.11. 2004
Sri Lanka Democracy Forum (SLDF)
30 th October 2004
For Immediate Release
Remembering the Eviction and Recognizing
the Rights of the Northern Muslims
On the 30th of October 1990, fourteen years ago to this day the forced
eviction of the Northern Muslims tore apart the social fabric of Northern
Sri Lanka, and brought grief and trauma to tens of thousands of Muslim
families. As we remember that day, we voice our sorrow and outrage that
fourteen years after that cruel act of ethnic cleansing, and two and
a
half years into the signing the Ceasefire Agreement, the Northern Muslims
have still not been able to return home, have not featured significantly
in the peace process and have not had their political rights substantively
affirmed by any of the major actors.
The Ethnic Cleansing of Northern Muslims by the LTTE
In 1990, the LTTE expelled all Muslims from the five districts (Vavuniya,
Mannar, Mullaithivu, Kilinochchi & Jaffna) of the Northern Province.
Muslims represented about 7 percent of Sri Lanka's total population,
and
had historically been concentrated in Northern Sri Lanka, Eastern Sri
Lanka, and in the cities of Colombo, Kandy and Puttalam. In the Northern
Province, substantial concentrations of Muslims resided in the Jaffna,
Kilinochchi and Mannar districts.
On that terrible day 75,000-80,000 Muslims were given just 24-48 hours
to
leave the Northern Province (some residents in Jaffna Town were forced
out
in only two hours), or meet the fate of Muslims in the Eastern Province
who had been massacred in the hundreds in August and September of that
year. They were stripped of their belongings and houses and permitted
to
take only Rupees 500 with them. The plundering of the possessions from
their homes followed soon after their enforced departure. The physical,
economic, social and psychological suffering to which the entire Northern
Muslim population was subjected was immeasurable and continues to this
day. Since then the majority of Northern Muslims have been living in
a
variety of refugee settlements in the Puttalam district.
This collective uprooting of tens of thousand of families was a cruel
and
calculated act directed against a group of people based purely on the
fact
that they were Muslims, from areas where Tamils and Muslims had lived
together for centuries. It was also an act done without any popular
support. Ordinary Tamil people were outraged and revolted, but they
remained silent out of fear of LTTE retribution. The enforced evacuation
of defenceless Muslim families was systematically carried out by LTTE
cadres who went about in vehicles fitted with loud-hailers, ordering
them
to leave or face retribution. In the Jaffna town, Muslim males were
ordered to gather at the grounds of the Mosque and told they and their
families should 'leave the boundaries of Eelam' within 24 hours. The
movement of LTTE cadres from one local area to another, the way in which
roads were blocked off to herd people through certain routes, and the
systematic way in which people's possessions were expropriated, sorted,
and sold or distributed among the LTTE's chosen followers, revealed
that
this was a premeditated and well-planned operation, executed with menacing
military precision and ruthlessness.
The LTTE has never given an official reason for carrying out this enforced
evacuation, leading us to conclude that it was purely an exercise in
ethnic cleansing, driven by the bigotry of exclusivist Tamil nationalist
militarism.
After the Eviction, the Northern Muslims have attempted to rebuild
their
lives, mainly in Puttalam. Even though they arrived with nothing, they
have struggled to give their children education, they sought employment
under hard conditions to support their families, and they have rebuilt
mosques, new village settlements and maintained their sense of dignity.
Even as a new generation has been born in exile that has no memory of
their parents' homes or their relationship with the Tamil community,
Northern Muslims have reached out to the Tamil community in their former
homes. Their efforts to maintain relationships when possible with their
former neighbours testify to their eagerness to rebuild Muslim Tamil
relations.
Duty of the Tamils
The Tamil people have a responsibility to help and facilitate the return
of the Northern Muslims to their homes. Civil society organizations
including churches, schools, associations (fisher and agricultural and
trader unions) among others must take the initiative in inviting Northern
Muslims to visit their homes and engage in dialogue with a view to helping
them to rebuild their lives there. Tamil people in the Diaspora, many
of
whom left the country due to violations of their own rights, must even
belatedly recognise the predicament of the Northern Muslims, and champion
their case for the restoration of their shattered lives. This includes
their right to return to their own homes in the North, and their
entitlement to substantial reparations for their inhuman and unlawful
eviction, for the material losses they suffered in the process, and
for
the continuing suffering to which they have been subjected to all these
years.
This outrage against the Muslim people, which was carried out by the
LTTE
in the name of Tamils will continue to remain one of the darkest episodes
in the annals of our history. The Tamil people must call upon the LTTE
and its leader Velupillai Pirpaharan in particular to make an unqualified
public apology for the crime they have committed against the Muslim
people.
The Muslim people, just as much as their Tamil compatriots, are entitled
to representation that ensures that their legitimate and reasonable
aspirations are satisfied, and their interests protected. Hence, the
Tamil people must reject as deplorable any attempt by the LTTE to prevent
separate representation for the Muslim community at peace talks aimed
at
finding a political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
The LTTE
Just as majoritarian Sinhala nationalists sought to deny the legitimate
rights of the Tamil people based on the spurious claim that Sri Lanka
was
the 'homeland of Sinhala-Buddhists only', the LTTE seeks to deny the
legitimate rights of the Muslims based on the claim that the North and
East is the 'homeland of the Tamils only'. The LTTE must recognize that
the North and East is the homeland of all people who have made it their
home.
To this day, Vellupillai Pirapaharan has offered no apology or any
guarantee that if the evicted Muslims were to return to their homes
en
masse they would not be evicted again. Muslims who have attempted to
return to the North have been discouraged from doing so. Some who have
taken the risk and returned to restart their business ventures have
been
taxed heavily and their freedom to operate has been severely curtailed.
In some instances, these businesses have been taken over by the LTTE.
It is the height of hypocrisy on the part of the LTTE to demand that
the
displaced Tamils from the High Security Zones should be allowed to return
to their homes, when they will not permit the return of Muslims they
themselves forcibly evicted some 14 years ago.
It is high time that the LTTE acknowledged its responsibility, making
a
public apology for the crimes it has committed against the Muslim people
and subjecting itself to a process by which reparations could be
considered. It also should give a public guarantee that if and when
the
evicted Muslim people return to their homes, they would be allowed the
right and freedom to occupy them without any fear of threats, harassment
or violence in the future.
Government of Sri Lanka
The Government of Sri Lanka must offer the Northern Muslims who wish
to
return resources to enable them and their children born in exile to
resettle in the North. It must ensure protection against further
expulsions and provide constitutional guarantees for the political,
economic and cultural rights of the Muslim community. The Northern Muslim
question must be considered a significant part of the GOSL's negotiation
of any interim arrangement or permanent political solution.
The SLDF supports the call by the Muslim Peoples Action Front (Muslim
Makkal Seyalani) for the appointment of a Special Presidential Commission
with terms of reference to investigate the forcible eviction of the
Northern Muslims and consider and assess all forms of damage that they
have suffered during the intervening years and make appropriate
recommendations including for the award of adequate compensation for
the
victims.
The Peace Talks
The Northern Muslims came up in the peace talks only as a humanitarian
issue relating to the resettlement of internally displaced people. It
was
formally part of the mandate given to SIHRN (Sub Committee on Immediate
Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs). SIHRN was confirmed in the fourth
round of Peace talks to be the primary decision making body dealing
with
humanitarian and rehabilitation needs in the North and East. Subsequently,
SIHRN virtually ceased functioning when the LTTE withdrew from the peace
talks in April 2003. As a result even the Northern Muslims' humanitarian
needs have been neglected, much less their political right to return.
Because the major actors in the peace process have failed to support
the
Northern Muslims' political right to return home, Northern Muslims are
placed in the position of having to individually negotiate their return
home with local LTTE cadres. However, we note that in the fourth round
of
talks that 'the parties agreed that a Muslim delegation will be invited
to
the peace talks at an appropriate time for deliberations on relevant
substantive political issues'. SLDF demands a Muslim delegation including
Northern Muslim representatives should be invited to any further peace
talks. We demand that the substantive political rights of Northern
Muslims to return to their homes and live without fear should be affirmed
and incorporated into any peace process that aims for a just peace in
Sri
Lanka.
International Community
The International community has been playing a critical role in the
Sri
Lankan Peace Process. However, it has not engaged sufficiently with
Northern Muslims on issues relating to their right to return, their
right
to be represented at the peace talks and their participation in
rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The Norwegian Facilitators should ensure a Muslim delegation at the
peace
talks. This Muslim delegation should comprise representatives from the
Northern Muslims. The SLMM should investigate and report ongoing
violations against Northern Muslims attempting to return with the
commitment to ending such atrocities.
The Sri Lanka Donor Co-chairs on 1 June 2004 noted 'that a peace
settlement can only be sustained if it respects the legitimate rights
and
involvement of all ethnic groups. The Co-chairs encouraged the parties
to
agree on the modalities to invite a Muslim delegation to the peace talks
at an appropriate time for the deliberation on relevant substantive
political issues'. SLDF demands that any donor assistance to the peace
process must be conditional on addressing the political concerns of
the
Northern Muslims. Funds being dispersed to the North and East for
reconstruction must be accessible by all minorities and particularly
the
Northern Muslims.
Towards a just peace
SLDF demands that the Northern Muslims be integrated into any negotiations
for peace and a permanent political solution. It appears that Northern
Muslims' political, economic and cultural rights have not been recognized
as important enough to derail the peace process, and thus have been
neglected. We say that it is precisely the political status of
marginalised communities such as the Northern Muslims and their right
to
live in their homes free from harassment, extortion and eviction that
the
peace process if it is to committed to meaningful peace should address.
SLDF calls on all of Sri Lanka's citizens, Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese
to work towards the rights of and justice for the Northern Muslims.
Sri Lanka Democracy Forum
www.lankademocracy.org
Sri Lanka Democracy Forum is a community that shares a commitment to
a
democratic and pluralistic vision of Sri Lanka. We recognize that in
addition to the loss of lives, the costs of war also entailed the erosion
of democracy, the demobilization of pluralistic and independent social
movements, and the further victimization of marginalized communities.
In
that context, we believe that movement towards a just and sustainable
peace must be accompanied by the reconstruction of a democratic community
that protects and promotes social justice, and the individual and
collective rights and freedoms of all communities in Sri Lanka. We are
in
solidarity with, and have a commitment to support the efforts of
marginalized communities to address past injustices, whether such
injustice was based on the suppression of dissent, economic
disempowerment, and/or on ethnic, gender or caste discrimination at
the
national or regional level. Among other efforts, we seek to proactively
support grass roots movements that seek to expand and revitalize
conditions for a vibrant, pluralistic and independent civil society
that
nurtures freedom of conscience, diverse political affiliations and an
independent media. Thus, we believe that the terrain for engagement
is
not merely macro-political policy, but also economic decision-making,
cultural production, and diverse local struggles furthering
democratization in all spheres of life.
The Sri Lanka Democracy Forum had its inaugural meeting in Toronto,
Canada
in 2002.
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