Inquiry into allegations against
UNICEF
Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika
Range and Sandasen Marasinghe
Courtesy The Daily News (Sri Lanka)
Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday
told Parliament that the Government has commenced a full scale investigation
whether the UNICEF through the TRO has directly or indirectly given
funds to the LTTE.
Responding to a special statement made by JVP MP Wimal
Weerawansa, the Minister said investigations will reveal whether the
TRO has given money or any other resources to the LTTE. Investigations
will also disclose if the UNICEF has released any funds to the TRO.
During Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, a decision was
taken to ban TRO activities in Sri Lanka. “In future the Government
will be more cautious on the various goods imported to Sri Lanka through
the UN or other Non-Governmental Organisations,” the Minister added.
Weerawansa said a huge container with 5,640 packets of
dry rations worth over US $ 54,800 has been imported to Sri Lanka with
UNICEF approval .
According to Weerawansa, the UNICEF has ordered this consignment
of dry foods from a French company named Economai Des Armess.
The UNICEF has said they have imported these goods for
the consumption of United Nations (UN) workers serving in the North
and East in case of an emergency.
These foods items have been packed by using a cover similar
to an Army Commando kit. “These kind of food items are not used
for the consumption of the civilians. These foods are used for the consumption
of the Armed Forces. Specially these kind of food items are required
for the Armed Forces engaged in guerrilla operations. Therefore, these
kind of food packets are known as “combat ration”.
According to the import documents of the UNICEF, they
have introduced these food parcels as “Ready to eat meal”.
The UNICEF has followed this move to mislead both the Customs and our
Security Forces, he said.
Weerawansa questioned if the UN workers need food, what
is the purpose of purchasing such food items from a company named Economat
Des Armees which comes under the purview of the French Defence Ministry.
Has the UNICEF authorities judged that Sri Lanka will
tread into a severe food shortage where combat rations will have to
be given to the UN workers.
He said the UNICEF has not imported these food items for
the benefit of their workers.
“The UNICEF will provide these food items to the
terrorists. At present the UN is engaging in an international operation
to bring disrepute to the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
These food items may be transported to Kilinochchi because
the vehicles belonging to the UNICEF or UN are not subjected to large
scale checking. Therefore, it is not a difficult task to provide the
food packs to the LTTE terrorists.”
Weerawansa said the UNICEF has guessed that there will
be 300,000 displaced people in Sri Lanka and obtained money from its
parent organisation. This clearly indicates that the UNICEF has launched
counter attacks against the military operations launched by our Armed
Forces to liberate the Vanni and Kilinochchi from the LTTE, he added.
“We don’t believe UNICEF Colombo has launched
this operation without the knowledge of the UN. It is the responsibility
of the Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry and the Government to take
stern action regarding this.
The Government should take measures to expel LTTE friendly
UNICEF officers and steps should also be taken to stop deals made between
Kilinochchi and Colombo. The view of the JVP is that the Government
should temporarily close down their offices in Kilinochchi.”
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