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Sri Lanka displaced vulnerable: report

COLOMBO: A fact-finding mission on the state of the displaced persons in the north and east in Sri Lanka since the escalation of hostilities between the military and the LTTE over a year ago, has said the conflict has led to a “large scale shifting of population” that has become vulnerable to machinations of several actors in the field.

A comprehensive report by South Asians for Human Rights (SHAR) led by the former Prime Minister, I.K. Gujral, has concluded that the element of fear has had a major impact on the people and their lives in the regions.

“Most people said that the multiplicity of actors —GOSL, LTTE, TMVP and EPDP — made it difficult for them to negotiate the simplest activities on a day to day basis.

The mission found that despite such a high element of fear leading to the radicalisation of some sections of all communities, there were also individuals who had a nuanced and in-depth understanding of local realities and were firm in their belief that a negotiated settlement was the only way forward”, it said.

The mission says the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are often used as pawns by both state and non-state actors, in clear violation of the basic principles of humanitarian law.

It has said various agencies working among the IDPs and advocating on their behalf have also been the target of both warranted and unwarranted criticism, and at times intimidation and harassment.

The report said the increase in the activities of the LTTE splinter group Tamil Makkala Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP)/Karuna Group has also had an impact on displacement, return and resettlement.

“Further, continued internecine violence within the Tamil armed groups such as the reported split within the TMVP, [where commander Pillayan issued a warning to Karuna to leave the group or face being removed by force], only added to prevailing insecurity in the region and heightened”.

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