2004 Annual Report, NPDS Project.pdf - IDP SriLanka

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