We cannot ignore the fact that the situation is grave and living conditions of the IDP’s are pathetic. Civil society groups are imploring the government to relocate over 250,000 people almost immediately. However the state of affairs in these camps are quite complex and there doesn’t seem to be a simple solution. But is there? According to the law of probabilities the authorities say that there could be a fair percentage of LTTE cadres and supporters within these camps. Even if the percentage is 10 we are looking at over 25,000 direct LTTE carders and collaborators. According to informed sources there are weapons that are buried in the jungles of Vanni. The level of frustration among the IDP’s is rising every day they are within the camp. Should they be allowed to leave immediately? How soon is soon? Are we all sitting on a time bomb here?
The plight of internally displaced people in the North.
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© 2010.
© 2010.
We cannot leave this task to Government and INGO’s alone. It is time to demonstrate our so called religious values. Civil society groups, churches, associations should be given access to the camps so that all of us could take over this burden. In my view Trust is the key word
Perhaps it may also be useful to find out more about who is working in the IDP camp areas to provide services to improve conditions. Yes, people should be resettled as soon as possible. What is possible given some of the stated objectives, i.e. safety and security of the communities? Even if the LTTE cadres mixed with the IDPs is a lower proportion, even if the LTTE had/has a strategy to get back to armed activity, can there be a more humane way to deal with the IDPs? What standards do we wish to uphold? Yes we can now address complaints to the government regarding this,, there was a time when the LTTE was “in control” of these people where such appeals could not be made in the same way. We know that de-mining is a time consuming and costly operation. “Sending” people back to their “homes” is not a simple option as most folk will agree. There are no homes for them to go back to in some cases, maybe in many cases. What then can be done to improve living conditions now, where they are at? Can shelter and habitat be better, can somethings be substituted for the poor shelter .. not bread and circuses but kind of in that direction.. what “markets” are in operation and how well are they functioning to provide for basic needs. I think some of us want to forget that a destructive war was fought, and that is why these unfortunates are in IDPs. Who can help create trust and vouch for the motives of the people who are in the camps, want to help them resettle, speak on their behalf and ask for speedy resettlement? I think there is enough for various groups to do, asking the government to speed up the process, whatever the motives, is a necessary voice.
But if we can also inform ourselves better about what is going on, what the emerging problems are for vulnerable groups, children, how all of this will contribute to a peaceful co-existence in the near future, and what the dangers are if among these people a militancy festers, angers and disappointments get buried deep, it could help us make informed choices about what positions we will take going forward. Perhaps an important thing is to figure out if what is being done, is, given the situation, circumstances, resources, strategic interests (not wanting to grant unfettered access to agencies with agenda at cross purposes with national interest as seen by government, elected officials and policy makers) close to best or second best. How captive are these people considering the context and their recent past?
Good job! Can’t wait to start my own blog.
I wrote a similar blog on this subject but you nailed it here.
You made some good points here.
Thank you for a great blog.
Well most of the drama has been enacted.. six months have passed and a majority of the people have moved from the IDP camps. How many have gone back to the areas they mos recently inhabited? Why are people being resettled west of the A9 is this because many of the people who were in Mullaitivu and Killinochchi were at some time during the past two decades living near and east of Vavuniya .. what do we know about all of this?? So much cawing about the resettlement.. demands that it be done forthwith .. surely some knew how long it will take to check, clean mines and get certification about the cleaning? When we ask for freedom of association and movement and access and ability for people to visit these areas and the people who were the IDPs we might spare a thought about those of us who did not consider it necessary when the “sole representatives” were ding their representation. What does that mean in terms of this particular act of the drama.. I have reservations about some of the scripts that these people are reading, the paid performers and of course the chorus mainly the people who do the “tink ..tink.. tink ” music for it.. with those little bitsy gadgets.. where are they now? I know hunting candidates and astrologers for the next election. But really, how do we address the land issues issues of rights of those who moved, moved moved and moved again under duress.
Can we apply what we have learn over the decades, make for community, responsible townships, provide basic amenities enable people to add and improve as the like according to standards and guidelines that they and the nations accepts. Whether EU or UK or Channel 4 reps are able to access the people in these areas is not a primary issue it never was and will never be but rather if these people wish their voices be heard is there a genuine effort to enable that might be more important.
Here the charge is whether we made our best effort to find out and help make conditions better for the children, women, youth, men, trees and animals in these parts. I think the answer is not difficult, in my case I did not do enough. But now there is another chance, these people some of whom were sympathetic to the approach of the LTTE and made sacrifices to attain some of the stated goals of the LTTE, would like to move on with their lives and realize their hopes and dreams and may well be willing to work hard to attain those goals. Maybe there is something to share and discuss and build.
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