Surrendees..

breathing fresh air of freedom:

Govt. ready with rehab centre for surrendees

We fight against terrorism but not innocent people- Major Gen. Chandrasiri

by Dhaneshi Yatawara in Jaffna

[email protected]

"We had to obey them (LTTE), if not they would have hurt me and my family," said Dayanandan, a 24-year-old Tamil youth who was a former LTTE supporter. "My parents did not approve my supporting the Tigers. But they were helpless.

Those people (LTTE) were not bothered about our grievances. So, the sake of the security of my family I had to help them whenever they needed," he added. Dayanandan hailing from a very ordinary family, lived on the meagre earnings of their father who works as a driver. His sisters are still studying and his brothers have gone abroad, mainly due to the fear of forced conscription of the LTTE.

According to this youth, even during the Ceasefire Agreement time period the LTTE have not let them be in peace. Dayanandan has been supporting the LTTE since 2002. Then, he was just 18.

Dayanandan is one of the 52 members at the rehabilitation centre for the LTTE surrendees in Jaffna. Majority of them are between the ages of 20 and 25. And most of their teenage was wasted in the LTTE. Like Dayanandan, many of these youth aspired for foreign jobs. They fear the LTTE death threats on them and their families.

Life was hard for them; they were never able to enjoy their youth like any other young girl or boy. It is only now they are sharing their laughter and joy with their mates, in peace.

The team includes hardcore militants and 'soft' supporters of the Tiger terrorists. Yet there is no difference between them - except for wounds and scars, a reminder of a hated, dark history.

These aspiring youth could have contributed their strength and knowledge to the country, immensely.

"Apita LTTE eka den epawela thiyenne. Aye yanne ne. Apita okkoma den nethiwuna. (We do not like the LTTE anymore. We are not going back. We lost everything because of this.)," Dayanandan told me during our direct conversation at his new 'home'.

Do I know Tamil to communicate with him? No. At times I feel ashamed for not knowing the language of our fellow brethren. On the other hand he communicated with me in Sinhala and I really felt awkward for shortcoming.

The foundation

On February 26th a Court order was given in Jaffna, to transfer 44 persons of LTTE detainees who were in the prison at that time, to rehabilitation centres. These detainees confessed that they were either connected to LTTE directly or indirectly.

Hence, the new 'home' came up, with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Army personnel deployed in Jaffna on the 02nd of March - just four weeks ago.

Within this short period these aspiring group was given comfort and nourishment both physically and mentally. Instead of carrying weapons and ammunition hanging over their shoulders from head to toe, 24 x 7, these young men were now either glued to newspapers, books or the television, or if not, share a game with their mates or more appropriately I would call them friends.

Robinson (21) had come to this safe heaven exploring a new life, a new start. Like the Robinson Crusoe created by Daniel Defoe , he was lost and floating in all directions trying to find a steady set up for his future. In 2004, he was forcibly taken in by the LTTE while on his way to visit his sister.

Later he was sent by the LTTE to Jaffna to spy on the ongoing Government's development and social welfare services. After the message given by the Sri Lanka Army to the LTTE cadres to surrender with the assurance of safety, Robinson gave up with the LTTE and surrendered. "I could not reach my family at times they needed me.

They (LTTE) did not give permission to visit our families. That was the main reason for me to give up LTTE, he said, during our interpreter-assisted chat. "If I return home after giving up LTTE the terrorists will definitely harm my family. So I thought it is best to surrender to the Army," he added.

Robinson has once tried to escape from the LTTE, his so-called 'mates', shot him in his legs to stop him. If any of the cadres were stopped on their escape run they will be dragged back to the team or if they were unable to find him or her while escaping, most of them surely faced death, Robinson said.

Robinson had lost part of his left foot during the time of Operation 'Ranagosa' of the Sri Lanka Army. "We were taken to the battlefield blindfolded keeping us unaware of our whereabouts. When I was let loose, I was shot on my foot," he explained.

"I do not want to go abroad. But I want to do a job and look after my mother. She is alone now after my father's death," he said. He is also aware that the LTTE is on the look out for him if he does get back home. "Sometimes I feel I should try to go abroad," he added. With confidence Robinson added that he feels totally secure with the Government's protection.

At the centre, the surrendees are given a tight security by the Police and until the Government establishment totally takes control of the Institute for which the Sri Lanka Army is providing the infrastructure facilities. Officially, the Rehabilitation Commissioner General's office that is directly under the purview of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa is responsible for the functioning of this Institute.

I spoke to another 21-year-old youth, Vijey, a proud father of a two-year-old baby. He is too worried over the well-being of his wife and the baby. He hopes to find a steady job and to be with his family and his mother.

Vijey was abducted by the LTTE while he was in school along with several other students in 2001. Five years later he escaped from the terrorist group but yet again dragged back, shattering all his dreams. After hearing the announcement to surrender, Vijey decided to give up terrorism, hoping for a better future for himself and his family. Sundaram regrets now

Sundaram, (45), is the eldest among the crowd and a father of two schoolgoing children of ages ten and six, was a businessman at the time of surrendering. "I joined the LTTE in 1991 and that was during the height of the clashes at Elephant Pass.

I could drive so the Tigers wanted me as a driver in the movement. My job was to transport the injured to safety," said Sundaram. In one instance he was blown up by a bomb and he fractured his hand, unable to carry on with his job.

The LTTE later put him to work in the kitchen in one of the training camps. "My mother was crying whenever I go to see her she begs me to get away from the terrorists," he added. Somehow he managed to return home and was carrying on with his meagre business of selling sweets, door-to-door.

Last year a group of unidentified armed men, suspected to be LTTE, had raided his house looking for him. Luckily he was not there. Fearing for his life Sundaram sought protection through the Human Rights Commission. "We are very happy with the security and the support the Army is providing us and I am looking forward to go back to my family as I am the breadwinner and live a normal life," he added.

"I joined the LTTE in my youth due to my friends' persuasion. But now I have realised that decision had totally destroyed my life," Sundaram admitted. "I beg of these young girls and boys not to join the LTTE. It is an utter waste of our lives," he stressed.

Benedict (25), pleads other young LTTE cadres and supporters to surrender giving up the guerilla warfare. He is waiting for his beloved wife to come and visit him at the Centre along with his parents.

Dayanandan, Sundaram, Vijey, Benedict, Kumar, Mutthusami and all the other surrendees at the Rehabilitation Centre in Tellipalai, Jaffna have now grabbed the opportunity to smell and enjoy the real fragrance of life. There is nothing extraordinary about these men. They also feel pain, sorrow, happiness.

They are also waiting for someone to care for them and love them. They also love their parents, wives and kids.

They are nothing but ordinary people just like you and me living peacefully. The LTTE have misused their innocence and weaknesses to achieve their ulterior motives. It is their 'modus oparendi'.

But, now these men are focussed on improving themselves and their skills and dream for a bright future instead of the aimless warfare they were engaged in previously, which gave them nothing but death and distress.

Above all, they hope and pray for a world where they can live in peace and harmony.

More expected

According to reports, 317 Tamil civilians have surrendered to the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in Jaffna from January 2007 to February 2008 period. And the security forces find that this is continuing and the numbers are increasing.

***

Major General G. A. Chandrasiri, Commander - Security Forces (Jaffna)

"We fight against terrorism but we do not fight against innocent civilians and it is our duty to protect civilians," Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General G. A. Chandrasiri told us when we met him during our tour of Jaffna recently.

Commenting on LTTE cadres surrendering to relevant authorities, Maj. Gen. Chandrasiri pointed out that this is a turning point since these people admit they had directly or indirectly supported the terrorist group. 'This is a unique situation," he said.

"The LTTE problem is in existence in Jaffna for the past twenty-five years. Its origin is here in Jaffna and deeply rooted as well", he added.

Major. Gen. Chandrasiri pointed out that anyone can make allegations against the security forces accusing that they are responsible for all the missing and abduction cases within the peninsula, because in Jaffna, the situation is such that the security forces have to safeguard the law and order of the area as well.

"But as a disciplined group we go according to systems, norms and procedures to maintain law and order, the rules we are supposed to follow,' he explained.

"Hence, there will always be problems with the LTTE till the last day they are bonded to terrorism. And they will always try to find fault with the Security Forces," Major. Gen. Chandrasiri added.

***

The rehab process

The centre where the LTTE surrendees undergo rehabilitation officially comes under the office of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, Suhada Gamlath. The Assistant Commissioner for Rehabilitation (Administration and Project), Major B. D. C. Jayawardane was in Jaffna the time of our visit, to organize the proper functioning of the institution, under his wing.

"We have already discussed with the Jaffna Technical College authorities on giving these youth vocational training. We have identified about five areas that include carpentry, masonry, house wiring and repairing of fishing boats," Major. Jayawardane said. He has already met and had fruitful discussions with the surrendees.

"We have planned to start teaching English and Sinhala languages immediately to these youth and we will be inviting people of moderate thinking in the society to carry out induction programmes to inspire the youth," he explained.

According to the Government Gazette in relevance to the rehabilitation of armed cadres of 1989 (Activated in 1990), a period of twelve months is given for rehabilitation process, Major. Jayawardane further explained. "Jaffna Technical College conducts eight-month courses that will suit us," he said.According to him this process is not confined to Jaffna alone but is active at several centres in other parts of the country as well.

Accordingly, the Jaffna Rehabilitation Centre was active since 1997 hence this is not an alien project to the system. "These young people could not get proper education because they were forcibly conscripted to the LTTE at a very young age. They are well trained only to use arms. Hence we have a special training program for these groups that is successfully going on," he said.

This dedicated office focuses on enhancing skills of this group through training and familiarizing them with more practical knowledge. At the end of their training period these people will receive qualifying certificates.

"We will be assisting these people to seek foreign employment or help them to start self-employment if they are interested," Mjr. Jayawardane added.

***

The Government's contribution to the surrendees includes a utility pack worth around Rs. 5000, which will be given to each member who surrenders, with clothes (casual and formal wear) and other utilities like soap, tooth paste, cups and plates etc. This is in addition to the continuous supply of day-to-day items given to them.

The LTTE surrendees at the Jaffna rehabilitation centre received these goods. Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General G.A. Chandrasiri was in charge of the event and distributed the items among the youth.

While saying few words to the group of youth, Major Gen. Chandrasiri said, "Till now I was focusing solely on the enemy. But now I have you and your future, that needs my attention and I welcome that change."

Commenting on the benefits the officials are planning to give these young men, Major Gen. Chandrasiri said that the officials are seeking the possibilities of getting opportunities for these youth to temporarily work in the harbour as part time jobs.

"These people can earn around Rs. 3000 per week if our plan works out. It will be a great help for these people and their families, during their rehabilitation period, as many of them are bread winners of their families," he added.