An unholy trinity of international NGOs saw fit to dish out yet another helping of their standard but totally unnecessary advice the other day. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group issued a joint statement urging the leaders of various other countries and the heads of multilateral institutions to press the Government to take account of some potential dangers ahead in the Vanni. As is becoming the norm for that clique of international NGOs, it presented a rather inaccurate assessment of the current situation and a completely exaggerated vision of what is likely to happen in the future.

The main concern expressed was over the fate of civilians now that the UN agencies and international NGOs have withdrawn from uncleared areas. This relocation from Kilinochchi was completed by the end of September.

The Government, of course, is also worried about our people. As Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group know, the LTTE is forcibly recruiting both adults and children to serve as their cannon fodder. It is also preventing civilians from moving to the safety of Vavuniya and elsewhere in the hope of deploying them as a human shield. The Government, we can assure them, has spent a rather greater number of hours worrying over this issue than anybody else.

The UN agencies and international NGOs were asked to move out for their own safety. They operate on the invitation of the Government and it is therefore appropriate that when the State no longer feels able to guarantee their security, other arrangements be made to complete their work. It is a genuine concern. A Norwegian NGO vehicle narrowly escaped disaster when a claymore exploded as it moved through the Vanni in late August. The Government would not like to see any more of these incidents.

WFP and UNHCR were initially requested to continue in the Vanni, but they quite reasonably felt that it would place too much of a burden on their staff. As a result, the Government has now come to understandings with these agencies that will ensure supplies of food, medicine and other necessities in the weeks ahead. These are for the displaced, while the regular commercial supply of food and other goods to the other people in the Vanni continues apace, as has been regularly arranged by the Government over the last decade and more.

Vavuniya is being transformed into a hub for relief activities and stocks required for three months are already in place. The first convoy will travel to the Vanni in the next few days, and 1,000 MT of supplies will be deposited in locations identified by the Government Agents. WFP will accompany these shipments and stay for as long as it takes to ensure their proper distribution. The UN agencies have demonstrated a very welcome spirit of collaboration in getting this new system working properly.

International NGOs may scream about being denied access to some places for a while, but it seems that they are almost as concerned about exposing their staff to danger as the Government. When they were guaranteed safe passage to the Vanni in mid-September, all of them refused the offer on security grounds. Sri Lankan NGOs were the only ones to travel. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group undoubtedly wouldn't, if they practice the same principles enunciated by the international NGOs, let any of their own people set foot in Kilinochchi now.

The triumvirate of international NGOs, all having rather overactive imaginations or nothing better to do with their time, dismiss all this and appear to think that it is just a smokescreen to facilitate the commission of atrocities. The LTTE, as they must be aware, is quite happy to commit any and every possible crime in the full light of day and with the media looking on if at all possible, as it demonstrates only too regularly by exploding bombs in public transport in Colombo and elsewhere. The idea that the presence of the UN agencies and international NGOs ensures their good behaviour is quite ridiculous.

The Security Forces now have a much improved track record, as compared with the eighties and nineties, when it comes to the protection of civilians during military operations. As the Government has reminded Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group on several occasions already, the recent liberation of the Eastern Province saw only one episode in which civilians died. Obviously, this is one too many, but it stands up to comparison with the number of killings in other theatres of war. The Security Forces have identified the reasons for their mistake, which was due to the use of mortar locating radar that led them to believe that the site contained heavy weapons recently employed to attack their positions, and this will help to prevent further incidents of a similar nature.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group are therefore being deliberately obtuse or actually rather mischievous when they suggest that the Government has ulterior motives in asking for the relocation of the UN agencies and international NGOs. As noted, the Government has made arrangements with the UN for relevant personnel to travel in and out to accompany the supply convoys. ICRC will continue in the Vanni on a full-time basis.

The other issue that requires comment is the arrangements for displaced people once they escape from the Vanni. The trio of international NGOs has taken exception to the security measures in place at Mannar camps and insists that no such precautions be taken in the new sites around Vavuniya. The Government is not advocating detention centres as is suggested by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group. Displaced people are subject to a number of restrictions while the monitoring process needed to weed out LTTE cadres is underway, but every effort is made to keep these to a minimum.

The threat of suicide bombings and other indiscriminate attacks on civilians by the LTTE is both very serious and increasing over time. It is the responsibility of the State to take measures to guard against this. Procedures are in line with those being used elsewhere in comparable situations, and are in fact rather less onerous.

The unholy trinity of international NGOs seems to think that it has the monopoly on concern for Sri Lankans. It does not. The Government has demonstrated that it is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that our people have a decent life. Health, education and other key services have been provided to those living in areas under the control of the LTTE on the initiative and at the expense of the Government throughout the conflict. Government Agents have worked tirelessly to coordinate this process under the most trying of circumstances. It is not a responsibility that is taken lightly. Sri Lanka looks after its own.


Communications Division
Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process