Defending the North

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

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* Finding faults easy, complementing the hardest task

* Rs.1760 million allocated for resettlement, for welfare camps and for relief services

It was very encouraging to see President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the United Nations General Assembly in our own languages, not just in Sinhala but in Tamil as well. It symbolizes to the global community that we are confident of a solution ending terrorism in our own way.

The North of Sri Lanka includes cleared, newly liberated and non-liberated areas - i.e. Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, Mulaithivu districts as well as the Tiger bastion, the Kilinochchi district.

Separated from India by a narrow strip of sea, Jaffna is the home for 546,673 men, women and children. Out of a total area of 983.6 square kilometres, 955.7 are cleared leaving only 27.9 as uncleared areas. Only Vadamarachchi East is not fully cleared.

Jaffna is a unique set up. Since its liberation from the Tiger clutches the Sri Lanka army is in charge of the total security of the area.

Though the totally liberated Mannar is getting ready for the development activities the partly liberated Mulaithivu and Kilinochchi districts are facing a volatile situation at present.

With the current military operation taking place in the Wanni Forward Defence Lines, if the civilians trapped inside can arrive at the Government controlled areas, they will be truly well taken care of.

The Government, in association with the renowned International Non Governmental Organizations such as the UN agencies and the Sri Lanka Army have set up the necessary assistance to these innocent people coming in seeking for help, safety and above all a ray of hope for their unfortunate lives.

"We are ready to assist these innocent people on their arrival. Food stocks, shelter, water and sanitation and other health facilities are available without any room for shortcomings," the Secretary to the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, A. C. M. Razik told the 'Sunday Observer'. According to Razik the Government has allocated a total sum of 1760 million rupees for resettlement programming, maintaining welfare camps and providing facilities. Under the instructions of Minister Rishad Bathiudeen the Resettlement Ministry is conducting the lengthy process of resettling displaced people in the Northern Province.

One would wonder where would be those so-called 'Humanitarian agencies' demanding respect for human rights all over the world? Aren't these innocent Tamil people creatures of this planet? Why can't they pronounce louder so that the Tigers can hear what they are saying instead of the dull statements calling the attention of 'concerned parties'? Does the Sri Lanka Army forcefully keep those people in the LTTE target spots? At times it is hilarious how these international organizations are unable to understand the mere fact that these are Tiger held areas and no other activity can than nourishing and watering terrorism can take place within these territories other? What liberation does the LTTE seek for their own people by forcefully keeping them under their control? Aren't they are the culprits who should free these people to go to safety? What safety can they assure when they are losing heavily day by day?

With immense gratitude to the Sri Lankan Security Forces let us keep in mind that the entire Mannar district is now under Government control.

The initial ground clearing processes are going on under the Sri Lanka Army. Under the Jathika Saviya program operated by the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure the required heavy equipment to clear the land and level down the huge bunker lines made by excavating the fertile soil of the 'Rice Bowl' are already handed over to the Army.

The recovery

The key policy objective of the Government with regard to development is to develop all villages in the country so that they emerge as micro centre of growth on modern lines. The village should be able to retain its decent and comfortable nature for people to live, work and engage in their cultural and communal activities.

Remember, for a long time we were a nation of village communities. The large majority of the population live in the rural areas. If it to be successful, any development initiative should give due recognition to this reality.

For development

Jaffna

According to the 2007 performance report of the Ministry of Nation Building a total of 132.7 million rupees was allocated for the Jaffna District for many community infrastructure development and rehabilitation programs. Out of which 77.24 million rupees were allocated for a Housing scheme for people living below the poverty line in all DS divisions and another 14.334 million rupees for the repairs and rehabilitation of rural roads in Delft Island south, Valikamum East, Nallur, Kopay and Thennamarachchi DS divisions.

Kilinochchi

Though the implementation is difficult, the Government has allocated 38.5 million rupees for the development activities in the Kilinochchi district.

Mullaitivu

A total allocation of 22.64 million rupees is for the Mullaitivu district for many infrastructure development activities in the district including repair and reconstructing road networks, building libraries and public halls and developing livelihood development programs etc.

Vavuniya

A total allocation of 35.46 million rupees to serve number of sectors which includes reconstruction of roads, development of rural hospitals and school buildings, reconstructing irrigation systems as well as drainage systems etc.

Mannar

Rupees 5.43 million allocated for the Mannar district in year 2007 for supply of electricity, constructing multi-purpose buildings, improving school facilities and many other infrastructure development activities.

(Source - Performance report 2007 of Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development)

Resettling

Jaffna - The Ministry of Resettlement awaits the final report from the Jaffna District Secretary (GA) on the eligible people to be resettled in Jaffna High Security Zone.Following two fundemental rights applications that were filed in 2003 and 2004 in the Supreme Court, a five member speical committee was set up on the directive of the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva on June 23, 2008 under the chairmanship of the High Court Judge, Jaffna.The Committee comprises Government Agent Jaffna K.Ganesh, Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, Rear Admiral T.S.G. Samarasinghe and the D.I.G. Police (Jaffna) W.F.U. Fernando. Applications received are being scrutinized by the GA.

According to the Jaffna GA's report, as of 18th July 2008, the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services provide relief items to 19,905 families and assisted by the Ministry of Samurdhi and Poverty alleviation 53,636 families are supported. Under the Ministry of Nation Building as a World Food Program project 43,103 families are supported. With the completion of the Chunnakum power generation plant which will provide 30 mega watts to the national grid under the Ceylon Electricity Board, Jaffna will be benefited with round the clock power supply in 2-3 months.

Mannar - "The plans are already finalized in resettling people in the Musali area of Mannar," Advisor and the former Secretary to the Ministry of Nation Building M. S. Jayasinghe said explaining the past and present development programs taking place in the Mannar district of the Northern Province. The MNARECAP program that commenced in 2004 with funding and technical assistance from JICA has already been completed. In 2004 March the MANRECAP program commenced with a number of MoUs signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and JICA on Japanese Technical Cooperation and Japanese experts were sent to commence this program in Mannar. By early 2008 the program finalised its scheduled development activities.

"Such development measures will continue for these people with the liberation of the un-cleared areas," Jayasinghe added.In addition the Ceylon Electricity Board is providing electricity to the areas in Mannar under a grant provided by the Asian Development Bank. The Gama Neguma and Maga Neguma programs are taking place in the area.

"Our effort is to make the returning more sustainable," UN Development Program Senior Program Manager Wuria Karadaghy told us when we met him at a discussion held at the Ministry of Nation Building. The UNDP provides the technical and management services. After the Ceasefire Agreement the UNDP had built 2300 permanent houses for returnees from Mannar, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Trincomalee - jointly assisted by the respective district Secretaries and UNHCR.Housing is part of the integrated package for the returnees, Wuria said.

Along with it livelihood development for farmers, fishermen, businessmen and even small scale entrepreneurs is provided - both financial and technical support as required. The main target is a sustainable livelihood development.

"When the people are strengthened, especially in terms of economy and socially, it directly affects the country's stability in a very positive manner. I have witnessed this even in many other countries as well," he added.

"Initially in a post-conflict situation the early recovery is essential. The people need quick impact projects," he said further explaining their plans in resettling the Musali area.

"These programs will not be stopped hereafter. When more areas are liberated by the Government we are ready to continue these development programs with the assistance from the Government," he noted.Under the reawakening project for Mannar under the World Bank funding worth of 300 million rupees the gem of the Rice bowl - the Giants' Tank - will be reconstructed along with the main irrigation canals of the system. Government servants, religious leaders or any person can reach the relevant authorities of the Army whenever they need their services. We are not paying more attention to the voices of terrorists than those of their victims.