Reintegration of the combatants

by P.Krishnaswamy

Safeguarding the human rights of ex-combatants in accordance with the Sri Lankan constitution, minimising their risk of socio-economic marginalisation and increasing opportunities for their employability are some of the humanitarian gestures envisaged for the rehabilitation of ex-LTTE cadres under the National Framework Proposal on the Reintegration of Ex-combatants into Civilian Life (NFP), developed by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, it was stated at a media conference held in Colombo on Thursday. The proposal was endorsed at a validation workshop chaired by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, it was stated.

The other goals of the NFP include sustainable peace, reconciliation and social cohesion and economic revitalisation in post-war Sri Lanka.

"The reconciliation program needs to be put into place so that peace which has been won can be made sustainable, and a very important initiative which has to be embodied in such a program is to forgive and forget and look towards the future. This includes the Sri Lankan citizens who took up arms to destabilise the country and engage in terrorist acts. They have to be part of the reconciliation process so that that kind of an experience would never have to be faced by Sri Lankans in the future. This is what the NFP is designed to achieve", it was also stated.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Daya Ratnayake who has been appointed Commissioner General of Rehabilitation told the "Sunday Observer" that top priority would be given for the rehabilitation of the over 10,000 ex-LTTE cadres who have surrendered upto now. A majority of them are in the age group of 20-30 and belong to fisher and agricultural families. They have been separated and their antecedents, professions, likings, educational background and ideas have been recorded to facilitate their future rehabilitation.