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Refugees Fear To Return to LTTE Areas
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo,
SLT 7.00 A.M Tuesday 13 January.
The latest report released by the Refugees International Say that one
important factor keeping many refugee families from returning is the fear
of many families that their sons, including teenagers, will be induced to
join or will be impressed into the LTTE's army. The report say that the
use of child soldiers by the LTTE is well documented and, according to some
observers, recruitment has increased since the ceasefire. They point out
that many of the displaced may have fled in the first place to keep their
sons out of the ranks of the rebel army.
The report adds that another important factor discouraging many displaced
persons from returning to their former homes is that many of the displaced
are from areas under LTTE control or influence and Living standards and
economic opportunities in LTTE-controlled areas are lower than in the rest
of Sri Lanka, and the poor quality of schools in those areas is another
factor keeping many families from returning.
Refugees International (RI) calls upon the international community step up
pressure on the LTTE to cease recruitment of child soldiers. RI says if the
LTTE wishes to escape the stigma of being a terrorist organization, one of
the most positive moves it can make is to demonstrate that it is not
recruiting or utilizing child soldiers.
Refugees International released its latest report last week, having
traveled throughout the former war zone in northern Sri Lanka in December,
including areas under the control of the LTTE. The report points out
though the ceasefire agreement has been in operation for nearly two years
only little progress has been made in achieving a lasting peace between the
government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). They also
point out that the peace dividend are fragile and most of the international
aid pledged is dependent upon progress toward peace and the government is in
disarray about its policy for dealing with the LTTE.
The report say t that the international commitment to the displaced seems to
be declining rather than increasing and the UNHCR's 2004 budget is being cut
to about one-half its 2003 budget. The organization laments that other UNHCR
projects for returnees will also be eliminated or reduced and, despite much
discussion among aid agencies, there appear to be no other organization
ready to fill the gaps that UNHCR's reduced program are likely to create.
Refugees International calls on UN agencies to move quickly to fill gaps in
assistance for displaced persons and returning refugees caused by UNHCR's
reduced budget for 2004.
Speaking of the US involvement in the country the report says "The U.S.
Agency for International Development's impressive aid programs in Sri Lanka
suffer from an important constraint. Under U.S. law, USAID cannot fund
programs in LTTE areas because the LTTE is considered a terrorist
organization. Unfortunately, in practical terms, that means that the U.S.
cannot lend its political weight or provide aid to terrorist-abating
activities in LTTE areas such as demobilization of child soldiers, human
rights education, or peace and reconciliation programs." Refugees
International calls upon USAID seek flexibility in its use of aid resources
so that it may fund human rights, democracy-building, and similar programs
in LTTE-controlled areas. They say that the U.S. State Department (Bureau
of Population, Refugees, and Migration) should also consider funding to help
displaced persons and refugees return to their homes.
Published: Mon Jan 12 19:53:43 EST 2004
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Public trustee banned from leaving the country
Alladin Hussein in Colombo,
January 12, 2004, 7.56 pm.
Public Trustee N.S.A.S. Seneviratne has been banned from leaving the country until further notice; the order was issued today by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The court also ordered the Immigration and Emigration Controller not to Permit Mr. Seneviratne to leave the country, following allegation of corruption levelled against him. The order was issued today after considering an application submitted by the Bribery Commission to issue an injunction preventing the public trustee from going abroad.
The court also ordered the Immigration Emigration Controller and the National Intelligence Division to inform the Bribery Commission if Mr. Seneviratne attempts to leave the country.
The bribery commission told courts that investigations made on a complaint by the Central Bank had revealed that Mr. Seneviratne had obtained a bribe of 1.9 million rupees after depositing 400 million rupees of the public trustee department in the Pramuka Bank. The court was informed that Mr. Seneviratne did not appear before the commission although he was ordered to do so on January 5th, this year.
Published: Mon Jan 12 08:51:43 EST 2004
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S.Lankan president says snap poll under consideration with leftist alliance, XINHUA
Associated Press,
Mon January 12, 2004 14:23 EST .
COLOMBO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has said that she was considering a move to hold a snap parliamentary poll by forging an alliance with main leftist party, state radio announced here Monday. The Sri Lanka - Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) controlled by Kumaratunga said in its nightly news that President Kumaratunga while addressing a group of provincial politicians of her main opposition People's Alliance (PA) had advised them to be ready for a snap parliamentary election. She, however, had dismissed press speculations that she would dissolve the parliament on Jan. 27 to order a snap poll. The radio added that Kumaratunga's PA would go into an alliance with the main leftist party JVP or People's Liberation Front on Jan. 15. The country was plunged into a political crisis on Nov. 4 last year when Kumaratunga exercising her constitutional authority took over three key ministries from the government of her rival Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Wickremesinghe's United National Party defeated Kumaratunga's PA in December 2001 and gained control in the 225-member assembly. The two main political parties have entered into an uneasy co- habitation ever since. Kumaratunga who was elected separately in 1999 continues to hold executive presidency until 2005. Copyright 2004 XINHUA all rights reserved as distributed by WorldSources, Inc.
Published: Mon Jan 12 21:31:57 EST 2004
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2004: TLA
wishes you a very
Happy New Year!
