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Monday, January 26, 2009 - 4.00 GMT |
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“Impressed by conditions for IDPs in the North” – Yasushi Akashi
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“In my visits to the facilities for
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in
Vavuniya, accompanied by a lady Government
Agent, who is a Tamil, I observed that the
IDPs there were not as haggard as those we
saw when we came to the East earlier. We
were impressed by the healthy conditions,
with good sanitation and other facilities
that meet the needs of these people” said
Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Japan’s Special Envoy
for Peace Building, Reconstruction and
Rehabilitation in Sri Lanka at Media
Briefing yesterday ( Jan 25).
He was answering questions from the media
about reports regarding the alleged inhumane
conditions under which IDPs were being held
in the north, at a Press Conference at the
Colombo Hilton, at the end of his three-day
visit to Sri Lanka to study current
developments, including the progress of
military operations against the LTTE, the
treatment if IDPs and development needs in
the liberated areas.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had reiterated
the importance of a political solution to
the country’s present issues, and had given
a positive explanation of how the Government
was tackling the issues of ensuring the
safety and security of civilians, especially
in the North and improvement of the Law and
Order situation in the country, Mr. Akashi
said.
He had received reports of the hardships
being undergone by Tamil civilians in areas
that remained under the control of the LTTE,
and looked forward to these conditions being
eased. President Rajapaksa had stressed that
all steps were being taken to bring relief
to these people, too.
Stating that Japan had the utmost sympathy
for the Internally Displaced Persons in Sri
Lanka’s north, Mr. Akashi said he had the
opportunity to meet a group of more than 50
IDPs, both men and women. They wished to be
allowed more freedom of movement outside the
present camps, which he appreciated, and was
assured that this would be made possible
subject to the security requirements that
were necessary at present. He also asked
that in addition to the relief and
provisions now being provided by and through
the Government, more facilities are allowed
for contacts for IDPs with government relief
bodies and personnel, as well as foreign and
local non-government relief organizations
that were doing a very hard job with great
commitment.
On the future of the Peace Process and the
Tokyo Declaration of 2002, Mr. Akashi said
it was regretted that the LTTE did not
participate in the Tokyo Round which had the
support of 61 governments and 21
international bodies in addition to the
Government of Sri Lanka, and was aimed at
giving much needed relief and development
assistance to the Tamils of Sri Lanka, as
well as the other communities of the
country. The non-participation of the LTTE
had prevented this generous contribution to
the Tamil people and the entire country from
materializing. However, the spirit and
philosophy of the Tokyo Declaration was
still in place, he said.
Answering a question on the dissatisfaction
of minority parties with current
developments, Mr. Akashi said the had spoken
to members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
and told them of the need to be supportive
and participate in democratic and
parliamentary means of resolving issues, as
opposed to any other means. He had stressed
on them the importance of becoming part of
the “loyal opposition” which would try to
seek solutions through democratic and
parliamentary means, he said.
Mr. Akashi said he was impressed by the
President’s commitment to a wider political
solution, which could even go beyond the
13th Amendment, and also the government’s
efforts to realize its target of Zero
Civilian Casualties in the ongoing military
operations.
He had urged the President to expedite the
working of the All Party Representative
Conference (APRC) that was seeking a
solution based on the 13th Amendment to the
Constitution.
On Development Assistance to Sri Lanka, the
Japanese Special Envoy said Japan was
closely monitoring the situation regarding
the progress of Democracy and good
governance in the East, since its
liberation, as there was emphasis in giving
assistance to the East. He had met with the
Chief Minister and other members of the EPC.
They were aware of the needs for assistance
for infrastructure development in the East,
such as schools, hospitals and roads and
these would be given priority in assistance,
as the monitoring process progressed, in
line with needs and developments taking
place there.
Mr. Akashi also observed that the lives of
journalists and all other citizens were of
value in a democracy, and any attitudes of
impudence would not be in the interests of
democracy.
During his visit Mr. Akashi had met with
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and
other leading members of Government, members
of other political parties as well as
representative of relief organizations both
local and foreign.
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