URU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 28: Henvendelse fra Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka om undertrykkelse af etniske minoriteter i Sri Lanka

Udenrigsudvalget 2019-20
URU Alm.del Bilag 28
Offentligt

Sri Lanka - UK diplomats and parliamentarians visiting SFHQ-J in the last 10yrs have been

lied to

Security Forces Headquarters-Jaffna(SFHQ-J): News Archive - 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014,

2013, 2012, 2011, 2010,

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/NewsBackbodyMain.php

Jaffna Army High Command has been lying to the visitors

for 10yrs

on how they have been carrying

out Reconciliation and Development while the Reality has been just the opposite:

2019

The High Co

issio er a d his Staff ere riefed o the o goi g pea e a d re o iliatio

pro ess arried out the Sri La ka Ar i Norther Pro i e.

High Commissioner of United

Kingdom Paid a Visit to Security Force Headquarters

–

Jaffna,

08/03/2019,

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2019_03_08_2.php

The t o parties dis ussed a i porta t atters pertai i g to the Re

onciliation Process of the

Jaff a Pe i sula

Diplomats from the United Kingdom Meets up with Commander Security Force

–

Jaffna, 24/01/2019,

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2019_01_24_3_1.php

Reality

''The Sri La ka go er e t should i ple e t the report s re o

e datio s i full, i li e ith

the commitments already made in the UN Human Rights Council resolution 30/1. As the High

Commissioner has noted, slow progress on these commitments has resulted in few concrete

results.'' -

Sri La ka: UN High Co

issio er for Hu a Rights report ust e i ple e ted,

Amnesty International, 8 March 2019,

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/03/sri-

lanka-un-high-commissioner-for-human-rights-report-must-be-implemented/

''We demand a transformational change in our political culture. Promises for justice and

reconciliation must not be forgotten and must be carried forward expeditiously. The constitutional

reform process must continue in an open and transparent manner with the full and timely

participation of civil society. It

should ot take pla e ehi d losed doors. –

The Crisis and After,

*Friday Forum, 23 December

2018,

https://groundviews.org/2018/12/23/the-crisis-and-after/

2018

The eet up as s heduled to dis uss atters pertai i g to the Re o iliatio pro ess i the

Jaff a Pe i sula.

- Delegation from the British High Commission Meets Commander Security Force

–

Jaffna, 21/08/2018,

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2018_08_21.php

''The Commander welcomed the delegation and briefed them on post conflict engagements of the

military relations, peace building efforts and reconciliation process in Jaffna Peninsula'' - A

Delegation led by the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka in the UK met the

Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna,

08/01/2018,

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2018_01_08.php

Reality:

Jaff a Ar Co

a der to the jour alist: What e ha e realised is that it is e tre el

difficult to

change the mindsets

of so e of the adults,…... Therefore,

we switched our target group from

adults to young students and children. - Crucial reconciliation steps in North, 9 May 2018,

http://www.ft.lk/opinion/Crucial-reconciliation-steps-in-North/14-654694

URU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 28: Henvendelse fra Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka om undertrykkelse af etniske minoriteter i Sri Lanka

Ar Co

a der to the jour alist:

Then we want to discipline the society.

We believe that by

disciplining the society these problems will not be there.

…..with

the change of government in

2015, we are proud to say that we are not under pressure from the

Preside t/Pri eMi ister/Mi isters.

- Sri Lanka is the only country that has eradicated terrorism,

16 May 2018,

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/sri-lanka-is-the-only-country-that-has-

eradicated-terrorism/article23895657.ece

2017

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2017_08_30.php

2016

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2016_08_15.php

UK-Geneva

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2016_07_15.php.

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2016_06_23.php

2015

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2015_05_29.php.

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2015_01_02.php.

2014

2013

''A CPA-UK delegation visited Sri Lanka 22-26 July 2013, visiting Colombo and the northern and

southern provinces of the island to explore its success in achieving equitable and lasting peace and

promoting inclusive politics. Prior to arriving in Sri Lanka the group visited the Maldives.''

–

CPA-UK

Annual Review 2013/2014,

https://www.parliament.uk/documents/CPA/Publications-Annual-Reviews/FINAL-CPA-Annual-

Review-2014.pdf

Reality

The huge ilitar he kpoi t at O a thai still sta ds like a agei g di osaur. All ehi les

traversing the road at this point have to stop to be checked.

The government has recently added a second compulsory checkpoint in the North in addition to the

one at Omanthai.

This is o e at Elepha t Pass at the e tr /e it poi t of the Jaff a pe i sula.

- PREPARING FOR NORTHERN ELECTIONS AND WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS, National Peace

Council of Sri Lanka, 29 April 2013

It also ser es as a re i der that e e four ears after the ar, or al i ilia life a d i ilia

administration has still not been restored.

The UN OCHA report itself oted “The Se urit

Apparatus is perceived to be too present or too close to people

s li es….

the restoration of true

peace and reconciliation requires an empowered civil administration and a military that is back in

arra ks here go er a e is o er ed.

TRANSFER OF MILITARY S ROLE IN CIVIL AFFAIRS TO

ELECTED COUNCIL CAN PROMOTE RECONCILIATION IN NORTH, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka,

1 July 2013

There is a irtual u a i it that hat is ost egati e i go er a e toda is the o er-

concentration of political power in the presidency and government, which has led to high levels of

impunity and corruption caused by the breakdown of institutional checks and balances.

…… The

forthcoming provincial council election in the North is an opportunity for the government to make

a shift i its poli to ards the Ta il people. –

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO OVERCOME 30 YEARS

OF MISTRUST,

National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, 22 July 2013

URU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 28: Henvendelse fra Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka om undertrykkelse af etniske minoriteter i Sri Lanka

‘’In

the most recent development, Colombo interprets its decision to hold a Northern Provincial

Council Election on 21 September 2013, after a lapse of some twenty-five years, as a means of

demonstrating its apparent respect for democratic best practice. The campaign, however, has been

fraught with violence, especially against candidates of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the main

exponent of constitutional Tamil nationalism, polemical concerns over the TNA manifesto, and anti-

TNA smear campaigns emanating from governmental sources.’’ -

Forgotten woes: Sri Lanka’s

neoliberal politics, Chaminda Weerawardhana, 27 September 2013,

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opensecurity/forgotten-woes-sri-lankas-neoliberal-politics/

A large ilitar presence

in the North has led to the militarisation of daily life and the experience

of resettlement; second, the military has been systematically included in the local governance of

the North, and third, the military has moved into the economic sector.'' - Resettlement of conflict-

induced IDPs in Northern Sri Lanka, CPA in conjunction with ODI, January 2014,

https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Resettlement%20of%20conflict-

induced%20IDPs%20in%20northern%20Sri%20Lanka.pdf

2012

Maj. Ge . Hathurusi ghe e plai ed the Ar

s i ol e e t i go er e t aug e ted

development projects in post-

ar Jaff a

UK Parliamentary Group Meets Jaffna Commander, 7

August 2012,

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2012_08_07.php

Reality:

''In principle, it is the civilian administration that is tasked with IDP returns and post-conflict

reconstruction. In practice, however, the military has been taking the key decisions in these areas.

All humanitarian projects in the north must be approved by the Presidential Task Force(PTF), which

includes the military leadership.'' - A hidden displacement crisis, 31 October

2012,

http://www.internal-displacement.org/south-and-south-east-asia/sri-lanka/2012/a-hidden-

displacement-crisis

''The government, UNHCR and the UN Office for Project Services launched a survey of protracted

IDPs in 2011, but the project was abandoned in December 2012 due to obstacles placed on it by the

PTF

- Global Overview 2012: People internally displaced by conflict and

violence, Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 29 April 2013,

http://www.internal-

displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/DB8A259305B071A8C1257B5C00268DDC/$fi

le/global-overview-2012.pdf

2011

''Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe briefed the delegations on government-augmented development

programmes and reconciliation process in progress in the peninsula.'' -

US Department of State &

British Diplomatic Officials Meet SF-J Commander,

30/11/2011,http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2011_11_30_2.php

''During the brief meeting, Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe explained the visiting diplomat about the

change of Army's traditional role in Jaffna to a benevolent force which is committed to ensure

wellbeing of the people in Jaffna.'' -

British Diplomats Satisfied with Army's Role in

Jaffna,14/06/2011,

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2011_06_14.php

The large s ale ilitar prese e a d ilitar rule i the North a d East also ser es to redu e the

e o o i pote tial of those areas to add to the ou tr s de elop e t. –

National Peace Council,

4 December 2011,

Reality:

URU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 28: Henvendelse fra Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka om undertrykkelse af etniske minoriteter i Sri Lanka

''Contrary to the image it projects, the government has increasingly cut minorities and opponents

out of decisions on their economic and political futures rather than work toward

re o iliatio –

Reconciliation in Sri Lanka: Harder than Ever, International Crisis Group,

18/07/2011,

https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/reconciliation-sri-lanka-harder-

ever

The ar

as deplo ed

for civil policing. The army restricted freedom of association and assembly

in the north and east, requiring prior permission even for family celebrations. Security forces

required Tamil residents in these areas to register household members despite a court judgement

de lari g the pra ti e dis ri i ator . –

Amnesty International Annual Report 2012 - Sri

Lanka,

https://www.refworld.org/docid/4fbe390d46.html

2010

''During the meeting, the visiting British envoy was edified on housing and various other projects

initiated by SF-(J) to uplift economic, educational and social standard of civilians in Jaffna.'' - British

Diplomats Commend SF-J Projects Initiated to Make Better Life for Jaffna Civilians,

28/06/2010,

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_British_DeputyHC.php

''The delegation was pleased about the effort taken by the SF-J to improve standard of the Jaffna

community life and assistance extended by the Sri Lanka Army for the development work mooted

by the Sri Lankan government.'' - Members of CPA UK Arrives in Jaffna,

20/10/2010,

http://www.cimicjaffna.com/Cimicnews_2010_10_20_2.php

Reality:

... there ha e ee reports of a deterioratio of o ditio s i the Jaff a pe i sula, i ludi g

threats, extortions, kidnappings and killings.'' - Feeling of Deterioration in Jaffna Must Be Reversed

Without Delay, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, 10/05/2010

O the A road e er hu dred eters there is a u ker a d e er ile or so a ajor ilitar ase.

It certainly does not promote peace and reconciliation. ...''

–

Jaffna after the war, Observations by a

visitor, 7 May 2010,

http://www.groundviews.org/2010/05/07/jaffna-after-the-war-observations-by-a-visitor/

'The area

is still actually in the hands of the military, which allowed the return of the population

but force them to live in absolute poverty. The military blocks any attempts to improve their lives,

ut does ot stop a use a d iole e. …

Permission has been rejected for counselling, capacity

building and empowerment activities.''

- Vanni, northern Sri Lanka, where war has never ended,

Melanie Manel Perera,1 June 2010,

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Vanni,-northern-Sri-Lanka,-

where-war-has-never-ended-18558.html

The A high a fro O a thai

until Elephant Pass is dominated by predominantly Sinhalese

soldiers, who even operate the small restaurants by the roadside. This military presence seems

o er hel i g a d stifli g…...

Our visit to Jaffna exposed and confirmed that all the conditions and

discontent that led to the Tamil rebellion are still present today. The only ingredient that is lacking

is the combustion of anti-Ta

il riots su h as i 1

, 1 1, a d 1 3.

- Sinhala

nationalist mind set seems incapable of comprehending what Tamils are articulating: Revisiting

Jaffna BY Dushy Ranetunge, 14 August 2010,

http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/08/sinhala_nationalist_mind_set_s.html