“The
recent
announcement
by the
Sri
Lankan
government
that, as
of 1
December
all
remaining
IDPs
have
been
granted
freedom
of
movement,
is a
positive
step”,
said
British
Foreign
Secretary
David
Miliband
in a
statement
at the
British
Parliament
on the
situation
in Sri
Lanka.
We
believe
the
opening
of the
camps
and
granting
of real
freedom
of
movement
will
enable
the
thousands
still
living
in the
camps to
start to
rebuild
their
lives,
he
stated.
Conditions
in the
welfare
centres
have
improved.
In
recent
weeks
there
has been
some
progress
in the
return
of IDPs.
As of 6
December,
the UN
has
confirmed
that
over
158,000
IDPs
have
been
released.
Of this
number
approximately
29,000
vulnerable
people
had been
transferred
to host
families
or
institutions.
This
leaves
less
than
112,000
people
left in
the
Menik
Farm
site and
less
than
15,000
people
in camps
in other
locations,
Miliband
further
said.
In order
to
assist
this
[resettlement]
process,
the UK
Government
has been
funding
the work
of
demining
NGOs
such as
Mine
Advisory
Group
and HALO
Trust to
help
make
areas
safe for
return,
he
stated.
"We will
continue
to help
clear
landmines,
to
provide
transport
from the
camps
and to
help
civilians
to
restart
their
lives so
they can
return
home
quickly
and
safely,"
Foreign
Secretary
said.
The
recent
announcement
by the
Governor
of the
Northern
Province
that
international
NGOs
will
also be
allowed
to work
in these
areas on
agreed
projects
was also
welcomed
by the
British
Foreign
Secretary.
“We
welcome
the fact
that a
number
of
national
NGOs
have now
been
granted
access
to some
areas
where
IDPs are
returning
to such
as
Vavuniya,
Mullaitivu,
Mannar
and
Jaffna
in the
North”,
he said.
He
further
noted
that it
is
imperative
that all
humanitarian
agencies
are
given
full
access
to all
IDPs,
including
ex
combatants,
so that
they can
provide
them
with the
help and
protection
they
need
both in
the
camps
and in
places
of
return,
and also
stressed
the Sri
Lankan
government
to work
towards
genuine
reconciliation
between
Sri
Lanka’s
communities.
Miliband
also
welcomed
President
Rajapaksa’s
decision
to
appoint
an
independent
committee
to look
into the
incidents
cited in
the US
State
Department’s
report.
British
Foreign
Secretary
also
stated
that
adequate
arrangements
must be
made to
ensure
IDPs can
vote in
upcoming
Presidential
elections.
“It
is
important
for all
those
who want
to play
a role
in Sri
Lanka’s
future
to agree
to an
inclusive
political
solution
that
addresses
the
underlying
causes
of the
conflict”,
he said.
With
regard
to GSP
+, he
said,
“we are
clear
that, in
order to
continue
enjoying
access
to the
GSP+,
Sri
Lanka
must
meet
fully
its
human
rights
obligations”.
He
stated
that the
UK will
continue
to work
directly
with the
Government
of Sri
Lanka
and with
international
partners
including
the EU,
UN and
Commonwealth,
to urge
the
Government
of Sri
Lanka to
resolve
the
underlying
causes
of the
conflict
through
an
inclusive
political
process
which
addresses
the
legitimate
grievances
and
aspirations
of all
communities
-
Sinhalese,
Tamils
and
Muslims.
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