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‘Post-war accountability: ISTRM urged to consider civil society concerns’
A group of civil society organisations and activists have expressed their concerns over the way the government is trying to address grievances of the Tamil speaking community.
The following is the text of letter, dated March 07, they wrote to Dr. Asanga Gunawansa, PC, Director-General Interim Secretariat for Truth and Reconciliation Mechanism (ISTRM): We, activists, and civil society organisations from, as well as working in the North and the East with war affected communities, write to you regarding the proposed Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation (hereinafter the Commission). Some of us have engaged with the Interim Secretariat for Truth and Reconciliation Mechanisms (ISTRM), including attending the meetings organized by the Secretariat on 9 and/or 26 February 2024 to discuss the proposed Commission.
We draw your attention once again to the attached four statements issued by civil society organisations in the North and East in 2023 setting out their concerns about the proposed Commission as well as their demands to the government. These demands consist mainly of measures to build trust and repair the severely damaged social contract between Tamil citizens and the state. To date, the government has not taken action to implement even a single demand set out in these statements, thereby validating our concern about the lack of political will to provide substantive solutions to the Tamil people where truth, justice and reparations are concerned.
Our skepticism was further affirmed by the failure of the ISTRM to conduct wide ranging consultations with the war affected communities in the North and the East during their consultation process. Only a handful of organisations and activists from the North and East were invited to the meetings held in Colombo on 9 and 26 February despite concerted advocacy for greater inclusion. For instance, the ISTRM did not even attempt to meet the families of the disappeared in the North and East, a critical stakeholder in the transitional justice process.
Given that the Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation Bill states its focus is “the conflict which took place in the Northern and Eastern Provinces during the period 1983 to 2009, or its aftermath”, the lack of consultations with the very community that is purportedly the focus of the law beggars belief. Even those predisposed to view the proposed Commission as a good faith act to address decades long violations to which the communities in the North and East were subjected, government disregard for, and dismissal of the concerns of the communities regarding the proposed Commission, will surely question the government’s intention.
The concerns we express are evidenced by the government’s repeated declarations that it is determined to ensure the UN Human Rights Council Resolution is not renewed nor a new Resolution passed. Hence, we believe the proposed Commission is one of the means through which the government intends to convince the international community there is no need for another Human Rights Council resolution. If the government’s intent is to resolve decades long grievances of the Tamil community and address grave violations committed against the community, instead of railroading legislation the community does not want, the government would implement at least a few demands set out in the aforementioned four statements to build trust.
While civil society, journalists, activists, families of the disappeared and former combatants amongst others in the North and East continue to be subject to surveillance, intimidation and harassment by the security agencies, while their land is being acquired and occupied and while their places of worship are being destroyed, the enactment of a law and the establishment of a Commission will do little to prevent or mitigate these actions which are in contravention of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka’s international obligations. They only serve to increase people’s mistrust of the state.
In this regard, we highlight the findings of the public opinion survey conducted by the Sri Lanka Barometre in 2023, which illustrates that “confidence towards the political leadership decreased as a consequence of the crisis for almost half of Sri Lankans, showing a significant effect of the crisis on political confidence”. The Barometre also states that the “decrease in confidence indicates a sense of disappointment and disillusionment among many Sri Lankans in the current political leadership”. It should be noted the lack of trust and confidence in the political leadership is not restricted to the Tamil community as the Barometre reveals that “almost three quarters of people in the Southern Province experienced a drop in confidence”. Hence, in a climate in which the current government does not have public confidence, to establish yet another institution will in no way enable reconciliation in the absence of substantive measures to restore the faith of the people in those that govern them.
The imperative to listen to the voices from the North and East is reiterated by another finding of the Barometre, which states that the “fact that the highest proportion of people showing no change in confidence can be located in the Northern Province could indicate disillusionment with any majoritarian government that is perceived to have ignored the needs and grievances of the Tamil community that make up a majority of the residents in the Northern province”.
In this context, we urge the government to heed the voices of the people of the North and East and implement the demands set out in the four statements issued by civil society groups from the North and East to build trust and show good faith prior to enacting laws or establishing Commissions. The path to positive peace and reconciliation is through building trust and demonstrating good faith through substantive and meaningful actions, not rhetoric, nor establishing Commissions whose recommendations are not implemented.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called on the Atamasthanadhipathi, Chief Sanghanayake of Nuwara Kalaviya, Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayake Thero, this morning (07) for a brief discussion.
During the meeting, the President apprised the Thero of the measures being implemented by the government to provide relief to the affected people and to restore normalcy in their daily lives.
The United States has extended humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka to support nationwide relief efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which caused severe damage across multiple regions of Sri Lanka.
The latest round of assistance, included the deployment of two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, equipment and US Air Force personnel. The US contingent will provide vital transportation and logistics support in areas identified by the Disaster Management Centre.
A formal handover took place this afternoon (07) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with the support officially received on behalf of the Sri Lankan government by Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku and Deputy Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekara (Rtd).
The assistance was presented by the United States through Julie Chung, Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka, and Lt. Col. Van Pinxteren of the United States Air Force.
As part of the support package, the United States contingent will provide logistics capacities needed to transport humanitarian supplies to affected communities in the Northern, Eastern and Central regions.
Sri Lankan officials expressed their gratitude for the timely support, which will bolster ongoing national efforts to reach displaced families and restore essential services in cyclone-affected areas.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to prepare the farmers in the Anuradhapura District whose paddy cultivation was destroyed due to floods to re-cultivate during the upcoming Maha season.
Highlighting the need for all relevant institutions to work in proper coordination, treating this as a national necessity, the President instructed the authorities to provide compensation to farmers without delay and to ensure temporary irrigation water supply through provisional repairs.
The President further noted that the government is providing the highest amount of compensation in the country’s history for crop damages, with the expectation that cultivation activities will be commenced again promptly.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake gave these instructions this morning (07) while attending a special coordination committee meeting at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat to review the programme being implemented to restore normalcy to the lives of people affected by the disaster situation and to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure in the district.
The President instructed officials to present, before this Friday, a report detailing the number of farmers who were completely affected, the extent of damaged farmland and the required financial allocations. He emphasised that compensation must be granted only to those who are genuinely entitled and that no one should receive it unjustly.
The President stated that the government is committed to providing compensation to the farming community and directed officials to foster confidence among farmers so that they will be encouraged to resume cultivation.
The President also inquired, separately, from the relevant institutions about the measures taken for the development of the district’s infrastructure including highways, irrigation and communication networks.
The President examined the programme for reopening obstructed roads and instructed that temporary repairs be expedited to meet the public’s transportation needs until permanent road development plans are implemented.
Officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board informed the meeting that 473 out of the 580 electricity transformers damaged due to the disaster have already been restored and that full electricity supply to the district could be achieved by tomorrow.
They further stated that 49,000 water connections had been affected, of which about 99% have now been restored, while water is being supplied by bowsers to the remaining areas. They noted that total restoration of water supply is expected within the next two days. Damaged community water projects are also being restored.
Well-cleaning activities are currently being carried out with the support of the Navy and the President instructed officials to complete these tasks swiftly through community participation coordinated by Divisional Secretariats.
Discussions were also held regarding the provision of compensation for crops such as Maize, restarting cultivation, restoring the livelihoods of those engaged in animal husbandry, normalising health services and rehabilitating religious sites including damaged temples.
The floods have caused total damage to 228 houses in the district. The President instructed officials to gather accurate information on whether affected families should be resettled on the same land or relocated elsewhere and to begin identifying suitable land for resettlement.
Officials reported that all schools in the district could reopen by 16 December. The President instructed that the Rs. 15,000 allowance promised by the Treasury for schoolchildren affected by the disaster be fully distributed before 31 December and that the list of beneficiaries be prepared without delay.
The President also expressed his gratitude to government officials, the Police and the Tri-Forces for their service in providing relief to the public and restoring infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by Co-Chair of the Anuradhapura District Development Committee, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe , Anuradhapura District MPs Susantha Kumara Navaratna and Sena Nanayakkara, North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa, Chief Secretary J.M.R.P. Jayasinghe, representatives of local authorities; Secretary to the Treasury Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma, Anuradhapura District Secretary K.G.R. Wimalasuriya, ministry secretaries and other government officials.
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