Opinion:

Urgent review of UN procedures vital

By K.M.H.C.B. Kulatunga

The United Nations (UN) and its wings on human rights and refugees have always poked their fingers when the LTTE terrorism was at its best in Sri Lanka.

While ignoring the sufferings the country's 21 million population has undergone and thousands of merciless killings by the world's most ruthless terrorist outfit, the UN and its sub bodies such as UNHRC and UNHCR have always pontificated to us on various topics, mainly to suit the Tiger agenda.

The UNHRC had a 'magic theory' to identify the civilians during the Security Forces' battle against terrorism. The LTTE deployed several of its cadres in civil attire. The moment such cadres throw away their weapons after getting either killed or injured, the UN agencies and the ICRC counted such persons or their bodies as those of civilians. That was merely because they had not been clad in LTTE's military uniform.

It is with those so-called civilians that the UN had calculated the number of civilians killed during the humanitarian operation.

UN material

When the Security Forces had overrun the LTTE camps, we have often found material belonging to the UN, such as temporary shelters and canopies given under the UN logo and even dry rations and instant food packs with the UNHCR logo. We have no proof that such stuff had gone into the hands of the LTTE direct. But there is reasonable doubt about how the UNHRC huts and WHO foodstuff got into the wrong hands.

The latest of such conduct unbecoming for the UN came to limelight when three LTTE terrorists were apprehended in Malaysia. The most shocking news was that all three of them had UNHCR refugee identity cards. They have used the UN immunity as refugees to remain the Malaysia without visa and carry out their terror activities.

What is the process of the UN to issue refugee statue identity cards through the UNHCR? Do they make enough investigations before granting such IDs? What right does the UNHCR has to issue false refugee identity cards to refugees and provide cover for them, either knowingly or not?

Clear explanations

The Malaysian Police have arrested on May 15 in a special operation conducted by the Special Branch's Counter-Terrorism Division 3 LTTE suspects from different locations. All three terrorists held UNHCR refugee cards, proving that the LTTE rump continues to enjoy explicit nod of approval by Western NGOs/INGOs and even some Western Governments.

The UNHRC and its chief Navi Pillai, who have been always critical of Sri Lanka, must prove their transparency by giving a clear explanations who three LTTE agents became UN approved refugees in Malaysia. It was a threat to Malaysia's internal security too.

During the infamous ceasefire agreement in 2004 under the then UNP government of Ranil Wickremesinghe, demands that the UN agency release the entire list of Tamils to whom such refugee passes had been given over the years. That paved way to create more breathing corpses and plenty of other LTTE operatives in foreign shores.

The Malaysian police have also seized LTTE propaganda materials, media equipment and foreign currencies from 24 nations equivalent to RSM 20,176.53. This proves beyond reasonable doubt that the LTTE has been enjoying a smooth sail across 24 nations. Such a vast area would provide a good basis for their illicit network of activity as well as money laundering and other illegalities. Malaysia's Inspector General of Police had said that they would not allow the country to be used as a place for them to hide or conduct any terror activities in the country or on foreign soil'. Does UNHCR aware about the activities of the three terrorists who had been apprehended and the damage they had been doing using the UN refugee cards in Malaysia?

Refugee status

An urgent review of UN procedures was necessary in the wake of the recent arrest and deportation of three LTTE cadres registered with the UNHCR. Two of the LTTE cadres had received refugee status, while the third was in the process of securing the same. The UNHCR had never consulted Sri Lanka with regards the applications made by them, making an inquiry a compulsory.

The UNHCR must show its transparency by declaring the number of Sri Lankans who had been given refugee status through the intervention of the UNHCR during the humanitarian operation as well as after the dawn of peace. There could be a substantial number of LTTE cadres among Sri Lankans living overseas under the protection of the UN. The UNHCR must immediately explain the circumstances under which those having refugee status courtesy the UN could be listed as missing or dead during the humanitarian operation.

The UNHCR probe shouldn't be restricted to Malaysia, but all other countries. There should be urgent measures to prevent members of the LTTE as well as other unscrupulous elements from abusing the UN system to get refugee states and operate under cover.

One should not take the Human Rights Watch (HRW) seriously as it has always been an INGO which dances to the Western melody. More they dance, more dollars would flow to their coffers. The HRW should produce evidence, if it had any, to prove the innocence of the three deportees.

Illegally

Those registered with the UNHCR weren't immune to prosecution if they had committed crimes. The UNHCR refugee card should not be used as a tool to indulge in terrorism, arms-smuggling or drug trafficking.

On this instance, all three terrorists had entered Malaysia illegally and one of them even carried a work permit issued by a non-existent company. The governments of Australia and the UK since the dawn of peace, had deported over 1,000 bogus asylum seekers in spite of claims of persecution back home.

Australia recently assured Sri Lanka that more bogus asylum seekers who have entered Australia through other countries during previous administrations would be deported. In this scenario, the UNHCR should be extra vigilant in granting refugee cards over the counter.

The West must see the development that has taken place since the eradication of terrorism five years ago. Rather than harping on the human rights of the LTTE terrorists killed in action and issuing false refugee identity cards to Tiger terrorists, the UN must make a serious note of the peace enjoyed by one and all. Sri Lanka has suffered a lot during the last three decades due to terrorism and as well due to the devastating tsunami. Then the economy was also seen dropped drastically. The present government commenced its drive despite all the difficulties prevailed in that messy economic atmosphere.

Mega development

Sri Lanka's main challenge was to achieve a visionary development that would bring suitable returns to all the sectors of the society.

Accordingly, a formation of a better peaceful living country for all communities was the utmost intention of the government.

At present, the country is progressing through a speedy development plan due to the right policies envisioned in Mahinda Chintana. Large number of mega development project are being carried out which would bestow its dividends to all segment of the country.

Under the infrastructure development main concern was given to the road network including the rural areas.

The Government launched large infrastructure development projects such as Norochcholai thermal power plant, Upper Kothmale hydro power plant, the Ruhunu Magampura Port, the Colombo-Katunayake expressway, the Southern expressway and the expansion of the Colombo harbour.

Under the directions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government has also taken speedy measures to develop agriculture, the fisheries sector and the small and medium industrial sector and launched large provincial development schemes bringing considerable investments to key sectors of public needs such as housing, drinking water, power, schools, health facilities and education.

Huge investments

The success of the government was due to its commitment towards the continued fiscal discipline and operating aligned to the Mahinda Chinthana policy manifesto. The government never hesitates to take bold decisions with long term interests, even though the earlier governments failed to do so.

The Government has made huge investments on the infrastructure development projects in the North and the East. Following the speedy resettlement and demining, people in the two provinces have got a new lease of life.

The agriculture and fisheries sector in the two provinces have shown a marked improvement. The sea is one of the main sources of livelihood in the Northern Province and some of the seafood products are going to the export market via factories. Several factories that have been installed to uplift the fish products are performing well being a healthy source of income generation.

The Gurunagar crab processing factory, North Sea fishnet factory and Annai Sea Food factory are the leading factories which make use of fisheries harvest of the surrounding seas.

As a result, money has started flowing in into the North and the East, increasing the purchasing power of the people in the two provinces. That had resulted the Northern and the Eastern Provinces showing an unprecedented growth rate of over 25 percent -more than three times of the overall national growth.

Isn't that a credible achievement for a nation which has crushed terrorism merely five years ago? Such achievement was only in our dreams when the LTTE terror was at its best. None thought that Sri Lanka could ever get rid of the scourge of LTTE terrorism.

Thanks to the political sagacity of President Rajapaksa and the supreme sacrifices Security Forces, Sri Lanka had achieved which no other nation had done before. What is even more creditable was the progress shown by the country even after the world's largest human rescue mission. Is it fair for the UNHRC to demand even more and exert undue pressure on Sri Lanka to please the West?