2004 Annual Report, NPDS Project.pdf - IDP SriLanka

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In the fourth session, the parties recognized with regards to the HSZs involve majorhumanitarian and security concerns for both parties. But parties did not reach anagreement on the continuation of the work of the SDN. To resettle IDPs, parties agreedon an “Action Plan for an Accelerated Resettlement Programme for the Jaffna District”which includes two phases. The first phase of the action plan focused on resettlementout side of HZSs. The fifth session held on 7 th & 8 th February 2003. The parties discussedpolitical issues relating to power sharing and human rights in the region in the sixthsession of the peace talk held in Japan on 18 – 21 March 2003. In the second day Mr.Ian Martin submitted a proposal and parties agreed on the need for a Declaration onHuman Rights Principles and an acceptable mechanism to monitor human rightsstanders.The LTTE submitted its Interim Self-Governing Authority to the GOSL on 31 st October2003 and on 4 th November 2003, Her Excellency President took over the ministry ofPrime Minister’s Government including Ministry of Defense.The Year 2004The year 2004 was begun with an undecided political situation. The Sri LankaFreedom Party (SLFP ) – Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) formed its coalition. Theparliament was dissolved by the President on 7 th February 2004 and held the electionon 7 th April 2004.Three hundred fifty three thousand war victimized IDPs were living in two hundred andninety five welfare centers located in eleven districts living in conditions of severeovercrowding, lack of privacy and abject poverty. Others are living with friends andwith their relatives; both were depending on government dry rations. (StatisticalSummary, October 2004, MRRR & UNHCR). In addition to that, hundred and thirty onethousand refugees are living in India and other countries. Eight thousand five hundredand eighty eight persons repatriated to Sri Lanka within the year 2004.Ministerial Mechanism for IDPsMinistry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction came under the portfolio of thePresident. A new post for MRRR was introduced as Director General. In the newgovernment, MRRR is mandated to make policies, formulation and implementation ofspecial programs for war-affected people, displaced people and reconstruction andrehabilitation of people and properties in the North and East. To reach that, under theMinistry, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Authority of the North (RRAN), Office of theCommissioner General for Coordinating of the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction,Secretariat for coordinating peace process (SCOPP), Secretariat for ImmediateHumanitarian and Rehabilitation needs in the north and east (SIHRN), and NationalIntegration Programme Unit (NIPU) were established.To regulate and control of implementation programs and projects for development ofEducation and Irrigation in the Eastern province which comes under Eastern ProvinceEducation Development Unit and Eastern Province Irrigation Development Unit wereover rule by the Ministry of Housing to Construction, Industry, Eastern ProvinceEducation and Irrigation Development. The third ministry, which supposed to developIDPs, is Ministry of infrastructure development in the Eastern province. To implementprograms and projects in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstructionother than Northern region, namely; reconstruction of affected public infrastructurefacilities, resettlement of Displaced Persons, Implementation of rehabilitation ofperson, properties, and industries authority ( REPPIA) Act No. 29 of 1987 is there underthe above ministry. Under the Ministry of Agricultural Marketing Development Co-Annual Report 2004National Protection and Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons ProjectHuman Rights Commission of Sri Lanka7
operating, Hindu Affairs and Assisting Education and Vocational Training; The TamilSchool Development Unit is functioning.In addition to the above cabinet ministries, another three Non Cabinet Ministries arefunctioning for the betterment of IDPs called Ministry for Rehabilitation and DistrictDevelopment ( Trincomalee ), Ministry for Rehabilitation and District Development (Batticoloa )and the Ministry for Rehabilitation and District Development ( Vanni ).Freedom of movement and HSZsAccording to the MOU, Security Forces has left many private and public places; butstill HSZs are remaining. The Government Agent- Jaffna, Security Forces and UNHCRplaned study about the land and property issues in HSZs – but it did not work out.General Satish Nambiar handed over his report to the government on land andsecurity issues of HSZ in Jaffna on 9 th May 2003. Due to the existed war, mediationboards were not appointed for North and East and still all the minor disputes are beingresolving by the courts. The proposal made to the government and LTTE forestablishing a land dispute mediation mechanism was not succeeded.Mr. Sinnappu Sivachana Sampanthan displaced from Point Padurai and he was notallowed to occupy his land and properties by the security forces. The Supreme Courtentrusted the right to movement in his case and made the judgment on 8 th October2004. ( Sinnappu Sivachana Sampanthan vs State, case no 648/3).Human Security:Human security is a general concern of the people throughout the war-affectedareas even way to peace. The extortion of ‘taxes’, recruitment, abductions andpolitical killings are still being reported. Other factor is land mines and UXOs. Demining process went on its usual speed and after the MOU; 675 people were injured inJaffna due to mines. Danish Refugee Council, Halo Trust and the Sri Lankan Army areworking on de mining in North. There was heavy pressure on the GOSL to ratify theOttawa Land Mine Treaty, but with little success.Freedom of ExpressionThe Supreme Court made a remarkable judgment in freedom of expression byensuing right to vote of people who are not living in government control areas (Sc No20/2002). General Election was held in 7 th April 2004 and there were over two hundredthousand voters not living in security forces control areas. With the human rightsintervention, the government held the general election in security forces control areasby providing necessary facilities or them. And many IDPs who were living out of thedistrict voted under the provision 127(6) of General Election Act no 1 of 1981.House to house enumeration is supposed to be concluded before 30 th of June in eachyear due to it has not been taken place for some years in some areas where there isno government administrative control and caused heavy displacement of persons inNorthern and Eastern Provinces ( Election Commissioner, 18 th June 2004). But aftermany years, Department of Election did enumeration in those areas.Women and Children as a “double vulnerable” groupDisplacement is a vulnerable situation but displacement has made women andchildren doubly vulnerable. 50% of the IDP population is women and most of them arebeing made widows by the War. In the welfare centers they are insecure and have tosuccumb to numerous abuses. Most of the women are head of households and theyhave to face numerous social and cultural barriers within their community and find itdifficult to be economically independent.Annual Report 2004National Protection and Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons ProjectHuman Rights Commission of Sri Lanka8
Page 1 and 2: Annual Report2004NATIONAL PROTECTIO
Page 3 and 4: ACRONYMSASP - Assistant Superintend
Page 5 and 6: the political parties are misusing
Page 7: The law of the land places so much
Page 11 and 12: Tsunami has damaged not only the li
Page 13 and 14: 2.2. NATIONAL PROTECTION AND DURABL
Page 15 and 16: Complaints in 2003 & 2004Cases in 2
Page 17 and 18: Number of Complaints received by th
Page 19 and 20: eligible IDP’s in cleared and unc
Page 21 and 22: SPECIAL EVENTSOVERVIEWPromotion of
Page 23 and 24: EvaluvationAlthough at the beginnin
Page 25 and 26: 4.3. ENSURING THE VOTING RIGHTS OF
Page 27 and 28: Increase the Police and Officers of
Page 29 and 30: 4.4 PERSONAL DOCUMENTS TO INTERNALL
Page 31 and 32: 4.5. “PULSE OF THE DIPLACED” -
Page 33 and 34: This was the first time the Project
Page 35 and 36: of the RDF and the HRC. The banners
Page 37 and 38: 4.7 HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONAL PROGRA
Page 39 and 40: MANNAR21 programmes had been conduc
Page 41 and 42: PUBLICATIONS5.1. Report on analyzin
Page 43 and 44: STAFF AS RESOURCES6.1 Recruitment &
Page 45: National Protection & Durable Solut

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