|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 16 May 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
From War to Peace by Elmo Leonard The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), based in 98 member states is in the process of transforming ex-Sri Lanka army soldiers and past combatants of the LTTE into civilian life. This is in response to calls from government and the LTTE. Currently, 300 ex-army soldiers and an equal number of past combatants of the LTTE have been identified for rehabilitation, IOM chief of mission, here, Mary Sheehan told the media. IOM now appeals to the Sri Lanka private sector to provide employment to these ex-combatants. The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) has heeded the call and its members are in the process of matching skills needed with those available, Ms Nirmala Samaratunge, deputy chairman, of the chamber, said. Not all local ex-combatants want to be employed in the security services, the media was told. Some do not wish to be identified in their new workplace as ex-army personnel while some want to start small scale or cottage industries, and a number are already engaged in such activities while some others want to take up agriculture. IOM experiences have shown that assisting former combatants to reintegrate into civilian life accelerates the process of peace and national reconciliation, thereby building a positive environment for the resumption of economic activity, IOM's national program officer, Shankar Kulasekara said. Sheehan added that, IOM does not pretend to take precedence over the implementation of longer-term and more costly rehabilitation projects, which are the essence of any developing or stable economy. IOM's `Reclaim' programme, a work substituted for rehabilitation, is designed to help the wounded, widowed and others to get over their respected traumas until larger development projects can be initiated, Mary Sheehan said. IOM was established in 1951, is headquartered in Geneva and is works with UN organisations. Worldwide, a total of 283,110 combatants and over 1 million dependants have benefited from IOM programmes, since 1992, Kulasekara said. To date, the total value of the programmes have totalled USD 149.7 million with some projects still ongoing, Shehan said. The average per-capita cost per beneficiary being both ex-combatants and their depends has been USD 109. Recent IOM post conflict intervention around the world count, Mozambique, Haiti, Angola, Mali, Guatemala, Philippines, Kosovo and East Timor. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
