SRI LANKA UNITED
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
P.O.Box 55292, Box 300, Toronto, Ontario M1P 4Z7 Canada
Website: http://webhome.idirect.com/~sluna/
E-mail: sluna@idirect.com
MEDIA RELEASE June 5, 2005
ASSIST THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS
- BUT DO NOTHING
TO LEGITIMISE THE TAMIL TIGER TERRORISTS
The proposed Joint Mechanism recently discussed with the international
donor community in Kandy which provides for fifty percent (50%) representation
for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the delivery of
tsunami rehabilitation funds in the northern and eastern provinces
gives it legitimacy which it lacks, and acceptance of its claim to
be the ' sole representative of the Tamil people' which is a misnomer
to say the least. This is a dangerous step that would lead to the
recognition and legitimacy for an ISGA over the same region where
the LTTE seeks an absolute majority of its unelected cadres to be
in control. A large segment of the Tamil people, the Moors (Muslims)
and the Sinhala people of this region totally oppose any authority
whatsoever being bestowed to the LTTE that has carried out a reign
of terror throughout the Norwegian brokered ceasefire since February
2002, resorting to numerous acts of extortion, extra judicial killings,
forcible child recruitment and every form of violence mainly against
the very Tamil people whose liberation is their supposed goal.
The individual donors in foreign countries and their governments reacted
in a most compassionate way and generously contributed towards the
rehabilitation of the victims of the tsunami disaster, but did not
at any stage intend to channel such funds to the care and authority
of an unelected non-state actor, let alone the LTTE which has been
designated as an international terrorist organization by the UN Security
Council. The World Bank's Country Director, Peter Harrold's assertion
that the LTTE being in control of the uncleared areas of the Vanni
which they hold illegally, makes them a legitimate stakeholder is
indeed baffling to say the least. Let us remind Mr. Harrold and the
international community that the UN Security Council's Resolution
Number 1373 of September 2001 clearly requires all nations to prevent
the flow of funds to those groups officially listed as terrorist organizations.
The only solution that would be acceptable to the people of Sri Lanka
is a Mechanism where the legally and democratically elected government
headed by the President and Cabinet of Ministers will not only be
in charge of the donated funds, but also be responsible for determining
the policies and guidelines for its proper utilization.
The GOSL may join with a Management Committee made up of the elected
representatives from all political parties including the Tamil National
Alliance (an appendage of the LTTE), that serve the tsunami affected
areas, in the implementation of the approved rehabilitation programs.
Two further levels at the District Administrative stage, and the ground
level or the Grama Sewaka Divisions too could be joined or co-opted
for carrying out the actual reconstruction work in the affected areas
through contractors to be selected based on cost estimates and proven
abilities in the field. This in our view is the only Joined (Joint)
Mechanism that will receive the approval of the general public.
In order to ensure accountability and transparency of the proper utilization
of both foreign and locally donated funds, it is recommended that
the GOSL Ministry of Finance engage reputed auditors to thoroughly
investigate all project expenditures. This process could be further
enhanced by the international financial institutions such as the World
Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank, etc. conducting a parallel audit
in order to satisfy the international donor community.
The only detailed proposal that meets with the above criteria is the
" Distributing Aid for Recovery from Tsunami ", (DART) proposition
submitted by our affiliate organization in Australia, namely the Society
for Peace, Unity and Human Rights of Sri Lanka (SPUR), which was officially
released on May 16, 2005.
We call on the international community to move away from the flawed
Joint Mechanism that they favour, and co-operate in the adoption of
the all embracing DART scheme that avoids the many pitfalls of legitimising
a brutal terrorist group. We also trust the Sri Lankan leaders will
have the maturity and wisdom to accept this fully outlined alternate
proposal that has already been presented to the government, which
leaves out the negative aspects and provides a framework that would
assist in effectively carrying out the rehabilitation and reconstruction
work in the tsunami devasted regions of the island.
Yours very truly,
Mahinda Gunasekera
Honourary President
