Post-conflict phase:

Govt. working closely with UN, other agencies - Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe

P. Krishnaswamy

In an interview with the `Sunday Observer’ Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe spoke about the successful military operations, the government’s plans to resettle the IDPs in their own villages before too long, providing them the necessary infrastructure and all basic services as well as integrating ex-combatants into mainstream life.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q:The current influx of a large number of refugees from LTTE-held areas of the Wanni is something that happened all of a sudden. How is the government coping with the situation?

A: I would not say it was totally unexpected. People wanted to escape from the LTTE. In recent times we saw quite a number of them coming over. The LTTE made sure that no civilian was allowed to leave during the 48-hour pause offered by the government, and I think this increased the resolve of the people to escape in large numbers. The government has always been in readiness to absorb a large number of refugees and, as a result, we were able to extend to them the initial health facilities, food and various other services which we usually extend at the time of their arrival. They were then handed over to the respective GAs to be taken to Vavuniya or Jaffna. From all the reports that I am getting I can tell you that they are being looked after well. The objective is to keep them in the welfare centres or relief villages for the shortest possible time and subsequently resettle them in their own villages once those villages are made safe. For the resettlement process to be conducive and sustainable it is necessary to restore the infrastructure and all basic services. We want to ensure that they live a life like that of their brothers and sisters in the South.

Q:What are the other local and international resources which the government plans of utilising to handle the situation adequately?

A: The government of Sri Lanka is taking full responsibility for each and every citizen and, as such, even if they are not supported by the international community we take on the full responsibility and ensure that they are protected and well looked after. I must also acknowledge the fact that the international community has been complimenting efforts of the government and assisting us where ever possible. They have clearly told us that they would continue to assist us in our endeavour to give to these people a better future in time to come.

AGONY AND ECSTASY... A family of civilians, who fled the clutches of the LTTE, breathe a sigh of relief in the safety of the troops

While taking full responsibility, the government is also open to getting assistance from the UN, our bilateral friends, INGOs and NGOs who want to help us. We have been able t get a lot of help from them and we are hopeful that we will be able to get more assistance from them so that the resettlement can be made sustainable.

Q: What approximately is the number of civilians who have so far arrived?

A: The total as of today (April 24) is 193,980 and those who have come between the period of April 20 up to now is 91,224 and another 11,947 have gone to Jaffna while 656 civilians have gone to Mannar. So, the total arrivals actually between April 20 until today is about 105,274. The difference between 193,960 and 105,274 are the IDPs who were here before April 20.

Q: This is a historic victory for all Sri Lankans. How has the international community and others who have been cautioning the government, reacted to it?

A: I think we took everyone by surprise because nobody expected the military advancement to be so rapid. Beginning of last year when we were moving into the Wanni, there were certain friends of Sri Lanka who thought that we were committing suicide. That was because of the impossible task we had undertaken. In September last year we asked the international community, the UN, INGOs and NOGs to relocate from Kilinochchi to Vavuniya and they thought we were crazy. The international community by and large has paid a glowing tribute to the military in the way that they ave succeeded in defeating the LTTE. At the same time, there are also concerns expressed by certain parties about the way these advancements have been achieved.

We have replied to these concerns very clearly saying that the concerns expressed about HR violations and civilian deaths were not based on proper facts. We have explained the real situation prevailing in those areas and there is better understanding today as a result of it. The fact is that the Sri Lankan Army has been very conscious of ensuring that civilians are not caught up in the fighting and they went to great extent to ensure that civilians were not affected in the fighting, even at their own risk of facing heavy casualties. The army ensured that their heavy guns were not used so as to avert civilian casualties in the final confrontation.

SOLACE FROM BRUTALITY... Civilians brutalised by the LTTE in the safety of the Security Forces

Q: Do you observe any marked change in the approach of the UN and other international communities after the military victory and the influx of civilians to government controlled areas?

A: UN response, in terms of wanting to assist us, has been quite positive because they appreciated us very much. There is a role for the UN in the post-conflict phase because we would like to work with the UN in the resettlement process of this large population in their respective villages. We want to work with the UN in terms of addressing their livelihood issues so that their resettlement can be made sustainable. We would also like to work with our bilateral friends to put in place an accelerated development programme in these areas so that these people will have better economic services and social services. The whole host of things in the post-conflict phase could be done in partnership with the UN and others. So, now we are looking at the possibilities of discussing these things with them.

Even the reintegration of ex-combatants is an area that needs to be looked at in the post-conflict phase. We are now working very closely with the UN and other bilateral partners in getting their assistance. I definitely see a very strong relationship emerging even in the future between the UN and the government of Sri Lanka.