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A) The Tsunami Tragedy
Areas close to the coastline of the North, East, South and Western provinces of Sri
Lanka were affected by the Tsunami disaster.
The official report indicates that 202,742 families in these provinces were affected in
all; 84,735 being displaced.
1. Status of the North and East
Out of a total of 202,742 families affected by the Tsunami disaster, 118,288 live in
the North and Eastern provinces and 84,222 live in the South and Western
provinces of Sri Lanka. 232 families live in the Puttalama District of the Wyamba
province.
It is therefore quite clear that the majority of families affected by the Tsunami live in
the North and East.
11. Displaced families
The majority of the displaced families were also from the North and East. However
the vast majority of the buildings and properties destroyed by the Tsunami were in
the South and Western provinces.
The indication is therefore, that the majority of the families affected by the Tsunami
were in the North and East whilst the largest amount of "man made" structures
destroyed were in the South and Western provinces.
III. The impact of the Tsunami in the "un-liberated" areas where the effectiveness of
Government control is poor.
Of the total area affected by the Tsunami in the North and East, only a small
proportion is in the "un-liberated" part. This area is under the control of the Tamil
Tiger terrorists.
The total Tsunami affected area in Sri Lanka is 1124 Sq. Km, of which a rather small
281 Sq. Km is in the un-liberated area.
IV. Areas affected on the basis of "Grama Sevaka" divisions.
On the above basis a total of 658 "Grama Sevaka" divisions have been affected by
the Tsunami. Of these less than 49 divisions affected by the Tsunami are under
direct control of Tamil Tiger terrorists. The remainder of the "Grama Sevaka"
divisions numbering 609 are under effective control of the Government of Sri Lanka.
While more than 98% of the "Grama Sevaka" divisions affected by the Tsunami in Sri
Lanka are under SL Government control, less than 7% are under Tamil Tiger
terrorist control.
V. "Un-liberated" areas on the basis of property damage.
On the above basis, whilst 85% of such areas are under effective Government
control, only 15% come under the "un-liberated" areas under the control of Tamil
Tiger terrorists.
VI. A comparison between the total area affected by the Tsunami in the North and
East and "un-liberated" areas.
If we consider specially the North and Eastern provinces, it is clear that only 319
"Grama Sevaka" divisions have been affected by the Tsunami. Of these 319
divisions, 270 are under Government control and 49 are in the "un-liberated" areas.
Despite this, in these 49 ("un-liberate") "Grama Sevaka" areas the Government of
Sri Lanka plays a significant role in the Administration, Education, and other official
capacities.
VII. Tsunami affected people on the basis of Ethnicity in the North and East.
The majority of those affected by the Tsunami in the North and East, and those living
in the "Grama Sevaka" divisions in these areas are Muslims. There are but few
Grama Sevaka divisions (in North and East) where the majority are Sinhalese.
B) Reconstruction of Tsunami affected areas and supply of humanitarian needs.
If we consider all these facts, it is feasible that the Government of Sri Lanka could
reconstruct and supply humanitarian needs to all the areas affected by the Tsunami
in Sri Lanka. However it important to have a special program for reconstruction by
winning the support of all the political parties represented in Parliament and also
other groups which have legal recognition in Sri Lanka.
1. Initial proposal by JVP.
By taking all the aforementioned facts into serious consideration, the JVP forwarded
an outline of a special program in relation to the Tsunami disaster to HE the
President on the 1O th January 2005. We took steps to inform the public in Sri Lanka
as to what needed to be done to face this national disaster as a result of the
Tsunami.
Despite this the President did not even consider the necessity to have a dialogue
with the JVP regarding the submission.
We outlined in our submission the importance of obtaining the support of all religious
leaders, Democratic political parties, professionals, academics, the business
community, and various social groups in order to revive the entire nation including
the North and East of Sri Lanka. We mentioned in our submission the relevant
framework and other important decisions to be taken in this regard.
11. Subsequent proposals by JVP.
Upon learning that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers were
contemplating the establishment of a special mechanism involving the North and
East as ONE entity, the JVP forwarded an alternative proposal on 19th May 2005, to
the President and the Nation.
NAMELY.-
"THE SPECIAL MECHANISM TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO RECONSTRUCT
THE TSUNAMI AFFECTEL) AREAS"
For this purpose the enlistment of support from the following have been suggested:
1) All political parties represented in Parliament.
2) Government officials.
3) Academics, Professionals, and the local Business community.
4) Senior citizens who have a proven record of a positive impact for the country in
various fields.
In our submission we have included a framework to unite all the above groups
included in the also, for the purpose of relief operations, we have suggested the
formation of a National Council and Divisional Secretarial sections.
In addition to this we proposed the formation of an "Observation body for the
reconstruction of Tsunami affected areas".
The President did not take any steps to have an effective dialogue with regard to
any of these proposals.
C) 1. Why are we against the proposal for the joint mechanism or Tsunami relief
secretariat?
We have presented in our submissions, proposals as to how the Government of Sri
Lanka should conduct the Tsunami relief reconstruction process.
Without formulating a suitable program by discussing the above proposals, the
President, a few members of the Government together with Tamil Tiger terrorists had
discussions and decided to form this "Joint Mechanism under the* guise of Tsunami
Rehabilitation Work. The JVP categorically reject these decisions.
The reasons for this are:
`95 The writ of a sovereign Government cannot be handed over to an illegally armed
organisation.
`95 A legally elected caretaker Government of a sovereign nation cannot sublet its
writ to any small or large group ‘of armed separatists.
`95 It is impossible and unethical to do so according to accepted democratic
principles. `95 It is unacceptable to us even to propose through a legal structure for
the Government of Sri Lanka to work together with a group of armed separatist
terrorists.
`95 When the people hand over the custody and governing power of their nation
regally to a Government, the said Government or the leader has no right to sublet its
power illegally to another organisation or person.
`95 Thus by establishing a Tsunami relief structure, the Government of Sri Lanka is
attempting to hand over a part of her power legally vested in them by the people to a
group of armed terrorists.
`95 Whatever the extent of such power it is totally wrong.
II. The above is on par with the ultimate intention by the Tamil terrorists to establish a
separate state.
On 21st Feb. 2001, the previous UNIF Government paved the way for establishment
of "Tamil Ealam" by signing the cease fire agreement.
On The LTTE terrorists used this agreement as a launching pad to progressively
gain recognition legally. By means of this agreement the LTTE terrorists obtained
military recognition for their armed power. By these means they are now able to
officially name the areas snatched illegally by them as "Tamil terrorist controlled
areas".
On the basis of this agreement, they have also been able to establish and continue
Diplomatic relations.
These are the primary requirements according to international law for the purpose
establishing a separate breakaway state.
Since then the Tamil terrorists have always attempted to advance this "Diplomatic
status".
The ISGA (interim Self Governing Authority) was mooted in order to obtain this status
in one step at the highest level. The establishment of a Tsunami relief structure goes
well with the intention of the strategy necessary as a physical requirement to
establish a separate state by the Tamil terrorists.
By doing so, for the first time the Tamil terrorist organisation LTTE will become a
main legal constituent of the Sri Lankan Administrative structure within a merged
North and East. By this, it means the Government of Sri Lanka accepts in a
roundabout fashion the sole decision making power of the Tamil Tiger terrorists for
monetary expenditure of the North and East. If the Tamil Tiger terrorists are able to
obtain the status of a Government officially, it will enable them to win a major victory
to establish a separate state.
If this is established it will not be possible to stop the Tamil terrorists from dealing
with foreign donor agencies and various foreign state institutions, by virtue of
"Diplomatic relations".
III. "Giving recognition to the myth of Tamil terrorists being the sole representatives
of the Tamil people".
As a consequence we are accepting the false id ea that the LTTE are the sole
representatives of the Tamil people.
According to the facts reviewed so far, only the representatives named by the Tamil
Tiger organisation will be in the committees for the Tamil people. This therefore
gives official approval to the LTTE's Fascist ideals.
IV. By establishing the Joint Mechanism for the North and Eastern provinces on e
would be validating the -concept of the- "so called Tamil Homeland"
Establishing the Joint Mechanism would result in the creation of a separate North
Eastern province as a result of merging the North and East. This is completely wrong
which ever way it is considered. By merging the North and. East and establishing a
Tsunami relief structure officially and affording more power to the Tamil Tiger
terrorists, it will inevitably give official recognition to the concept of the North and
East being the traditional Homeland of the Tamil people.
V. Neglecting the, majority of people, affected by the Tsunami.
In the North and Eastern provinces, the majority of those affected by the Tsunami
have been Muslims. For this reason any structure established for Tsunami relief
work in the North and East must contain majority Muslim representation. This-has not
been the case. Instead the Muslim representatives have been suppressed by the
Tamil terrorists. Even the Sinhala people have been victimised. Those Tamil people
unwilling to accept the Fascist rule of the Tamil terrorists have also been victimised.
VI. Hidden agendas being launched in secret.
In 1987 President J. R. Jayawardene, in 2001, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
signed the Indo Lanka pact and Cease fire agreement respectively, hiding the
contents from the country, without obtaining approval from their own Cabinet and
Parliament. Similarly, the Tsunami relief structure is being fashioned in the same
manner. So far this Tsunami relief document has not been disclosed to the JVP, one
of the major partners of this "Alliance" Government.
It has also not been submitted to the Cabinet and Parliament. In the same manner
this is taking the "JR" and "Ranil" tradition further. It is clearly undemocratic.
VII. The official mechanism for Tsunami relief to Tiger terrorists when they continue
to commit murders.
The Tamil Tiger terrorists continue to assassinate Government Intelligence Officers.
They abduct and unarmed Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim civilians. They abduct and
recruit Tamil children to their organisation. The Tamil terrorists steal Galvanised
roofing material to build their bunkers in front and around the Naga Kovil security
zone in Jaffna.
Considering the aforementioned and unmentioned criminal acts of the Tamil Tiger
terrorists, it is patently obvious they have not made any effort whatsoever to engage
in peaceful, Democratic, politics. Therefore it is not right to share Governmental
responsibilities with them.
It is not an encouragement for peace or Democracy but legitimising their continuing
terrorist activities.
VIII. Belittling Peoples' representatives.
For establishment of this" Tiger mechanism" and any of its high level structure, there
is no representation of North and East Members of Parliament and all other political
parties. This indicates suppression of representatives elected by the people by the
Tamil Tiger terrorists..
This also belittles the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of all these facts the JVP reject the formation of "Joint mechanism" or
"Tsunami Relief Structure" decisively, and have decided to take a number of drastic
actions.
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