AI Statement on Sri Lankan
IDPs Subjective and Misleading
Ministry of Disaster Management
and Human Rights
383 Bauddhaloka Mawatha
Colombo 7.
MEDIA RELEASE
The statement by Amnesty International (AI) issued on Wednesday, 19
November, entitled "Sri Lankan Government Must Act Now to Protect
300,000 Displaced" is unfortunately yet another attempt to distort
the factual situation pertaining to the conditions in which civilians
in the north of Sri Lanka find themselves at present. Regrettably, AI
has failed to present an objective analysis of the challenges and successes
of the Sri Lankan Government in addressing the needs of Sri Lankan persons
affected by the conflict. The AI account is littered with misleading
innuendo compounded by outright falsehood and, upon a holistic reading
of their report, it becomes clear that the intent of the report is to
present a skewed picture unfavourable to the lawfully elected and popularly
mandated Government of Sri Lanka.
The statement, in its very title, implies that there are 300,000 persons
displaced in the Wanni. This exaggerated figure is called into question
by the figure of 230,000 mentioned later in the very same report as
being registered for the receipt of food assistance. Indeed, the nett
figure of displaced persons (displaced after April 2006) for the Districts
of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu is jointly estimated by UNCHR and Government
agencies to be 207,000 (estimated numbers as at end-September announced
in November). The AI statement also implies that WFP is the only source
of food for persons in areas of the Wanni which are yet to be cleared
of the unlawful presence of the LTTE (uncleared areas). This is totally
misleading and does not convey the true picture of the extent and scope
of food assistance sent to the uncleared areas.
The statement only refers to 3 convoys sent by the WFP which conducts
these relief operations in close coordination with the Ministry of Nation
Building and Estate Infrastructure Development. Since 02 October, the
WFP has sent in 6 convoys into uncleared areas - the latest being today
(21 November). The amount of food sent to the uncleared areas in a 6
to 7 week period exceeds 240 truckloads delivering 3,500 MT under this
Emergency Food Delivery Programme. The AI statement, however, does not
mention relief items sourced by the Government and delivered directly
through the Government Agents/District Secretaries as special food relief
amounting to over 700MT during this period, to complement the WFP supplies
and build up buffer stocks. Neither does it mention the almost daily
consignments of consumer items including food, textiles and kerosene
that are dispatched for sale to consumers in uncleared areas through
Government retail outlets. These supplies, over a 28 month period, which
are being consigned by the Commissioner-General for Essential Services,
amount to nearly 11,000 MT delivered by over 8,000 truckloads. The GA
convoy that left Vavuniya today included 106,000 litres of kerosene
and 126 MT of food supplies as a continuation of this initiative. The
AI statement also displays its acute lack of awareness of realities
in these areas by completely ignoring the supply of nearly 1,400 MT
for the fourth quarter of 2008, of food supplies to Kilinochchi and
Mullaitivu Districts by the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief
Services. These supplies are specifically targeted at IDPs in a situation
of protracted displacement (i.e. those displaced before April 2006).
The UN, who were facilitated by the Government of Sri Lanka to conduct
a multi-agency assessment of needs in mid-October have noted that the
food supply situation is satisfactory in terms of total calories supplied.
The also concluded that medical and educational services are being adequately
supplied and serviced by Government. Indeed the UN noted that despite
relocation of some medical facilities, all necessary supplies of medicines
have been dispatched by the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry
of Health, based on the requirements of regional health authorities.
Supplies for all four quarters of 2008 have been dispatched based on
annual projected needs by District health authorities. Furthermore,
supplementary supplies including anti-venom and anti-malaria medical
supplies have been dispatched upon request. In contrast the AI statements
hint of a dire situation and epidemics which the UN has found no evidence
of. As to the "acute shortage of safe drinking water" the
UN assessment mission found no such evidence although it noted improvements
were possible. The Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance
at its 25th Meeting today (21 November) took a decision to facilitate
the transport of large water tanks, with the assistance of UNICEF, to
be used primarily in schools for the benefit of IDPs and schoolchildren.
Another canard repeatedly used by interested parties with an anti-Government
of Sri Lanka agenda is that there is inadequate shelter. AI appears
to be no exception. Indeed their curiously worded sentence: "Many
families are living in the open under makeshift shelters", is evidence
of the illogic and antipathy of these parties. If persons are living
in shelters - makeshift or otherwise - how could they possibly be in
the "open"? The AI's disingenuous approach is typified by
their omission of mentioning that many IDPs are housed in schools and
other Government buildings. The UN mission did identify shelter as one
area in which greater attention is needed and the Chair of the CCHA,
the Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights, requested the
UN and Government agencies to further discuss the recommendations in
the report and take all possible steps to address the concerns including
shelter, water and sanitation. The cavalier dismissal of the Government's
proposal to transport woven coconut or palm-fronds (cadjan) for use
as shelter material is also indicative of AI's total unfamiliarity with
local conditions. Cadjan has been used by Sri Lankans in every part
of the nation as shelter materials for centuries. Logistical challenges
in transporting these materials are currently being discussed by Government
and its international partners. It should also be noted that these materials
could be sourced locally generating income and supporting livelihoods,
are environmentally friendly and biodegradable.
With regard to international monitoring that AI stridently calls for,
it appears that the organization is unaware or is wilfully disregarding
the presence of international personnel who have accompanied the consignments
of food to uncleared areas. Whilst purveying photographs of doubtful
provenance which creates the worst possible impression of the situation
AI should take pains to access and study photographic evidence prepared
by WFP which were widely disseminated last week showing local and international
cooperation in the transport of food supplies. The Government is fully
cognizant of the need to monitor distribution to forestall diversion
of food and other humanitarian supplies by the LTTE for its own uses.
It is working with its international partners to strengthen these measures.
Despite being aware of the LTTE appropriating some of these supplies
meant for the ordinary people for years, Sri Lankan Governments have
consistently supplied its people in these areas with essential goods
and services.
The AI statement does make mention of the LTTE's intransigence in allowing
the captive populace of the uncleared areas to leave for their safety
and in the interests of their own welfare. The Government has prepared
a site in Vavuniya away from the theatre of armed conflict and is prepared
to offer all Sri Lankan civilians who seek refuge there the full gamut
of services including food, shelter, sanitation and all other services.
It is the LTTE that is violating the rights of these innocent civilians
by denying them the freedom of movement and the right to physical safety
and security. This is the most gross violation of all. Instead of falsely
accusing the Government of failing in its duty to protect civilians,
it would be much more productive to put pressure on the LTTE to release
all civilian non-combatants held in the uncleared areas and to permit
them to seek avenues of safety and security offered by the Government.
AI would better serve the interests of the civilians that they purport
to espouse, by calling on all relevant parties to enable these persons
to seek safety.
[Ends]
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