Blocking Kofi Annan’s humanitarian visit alerts the International community

[By Tamil Centre for Human Rights, France]

The task of the United Nations is, in brief, to maintain peace and security; by making peace through meaningful negotiations and bringing peaceful settlements to end regional conflicts; providing humanitarian aid to victims of conflict and refugees; alleviating hunger and poverty and many other tasks connected to humanitarian work and the promotion and protection of human rights.

The UN Secretary-General is described by the UN Charter as the "chief administrative officer" of the United Nations; his role includes not only administering the Secretariat, but also speaking out on global issues and using his or her good offices to mediate in disputes.

"I am a cheerleader, I am a promoter, I am a salesman, I am a debt collector, I am a father confessor and there are other aspects I still have to discover". — (UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan said describing his first 13 months in office - 9 March 1998)

Mr Kofi Annan made visits to a few of the countries affected by the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami on 26 December 2004, in order to assist the UN Staff, to meet the victims and to see for himself the damage caused.

His visit to Sri Lanka became the cause of acute disappointment to the victims of the tsunami in the North East, when his request to visit all areas affected was turned down by the government.

Last weekend, all the international news agencies and most of the Colombo media gave front-page coverage to the story that Kofi Annan was not visiting the affected areas in the North.

On Saturday 8 January 2005, Kofi Annan told Reuters in Sri Lanka that, "I am here on a humanitarian mission. I would like to visit all the areas, but as you know I am here as a guest of the government and they set the itinerary." Reuters also quoted U.N. officials who said they had been striving to convince the government, but to no avail. "It is a relief visit, not a political one. The secretary general wanted to go, but it just didn't happen," said one official on condition of anonymity.

Reuters also reported that a government official said, "Kofi Annan hasn't gone to Ireland and met with the IRA; he hasn't gone to Spain and met with Basque (rebels)".

This blinkered government official failed to realise that this was a humanitarian mission in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster. Also, they apparently had forgotten that the UN Secretary General had came to Sri Lanka from Indonesia, after visiting Aech, where the Free Aceh Movement - Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (Gam) is fighting for independence.

Civil Society in Sri Lanka understands that the Sri Lanka government which arranged transport facilities on 03 January 2005 for UNICEF Executive Director Ms. Carol Bellamy to visit Mullaitivu, expected Ms Bellamy to come out with some strong discovery about "child soldiers" even during the time of natural disaster. The Sri Lanka government was disappointed with her statement from Mullaitivu and was determined not to allow the UN Secretary General to visit the same area.

After turning down Kofi Annan’s request to visit this area, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued predictable statements of justification with various excuses, their habitual practice in the international arena.

In the past, several foreign dignitaries have visited the LTTE administrated areas, including Chris Patten- Commissioner of the European Union and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway. This makes it crystal clear that the government lied about “security risk” in those areas, using it as a pretext to block Kofi Annan’s visit to the North East.

Frankly speaking, the ceasefire in Sri Lanka was a result of twenty years of bloody conflict in the North East. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 22 February 2002 includes the terms for the ceasefire, was mediated by the Royal Norwegian government and was signed by the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Under the MoU, the government in power accepts the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as an equal partner.

The refusal of permission for Kofi Annan to visit the areas most affected by the tsunami, which are under the LTTE administration, shows the International community the government’s ulterior motive of undermining the MoU and ceasefire and delaying the restarting of negotiations.

Members of Civil Society wonder, if the government cannot even allow the UN Secretary General to make a humanitarian mission to Mullaitivu, one of the areas hardest hit by the tsunami, what the “territorial integrity and sovereignty” is, that the government talks about in UN forums.

It is also learnt that the government did not want Kofi Annan to see for himself the support from the Tamil population that the LTTE enjoys in those areas. The government had much to gain by covering up the reality in the LTTE administrated areas.

Now Kofi Annan himself has seen the unfair distribution of international relief by the Sri Lankan government even at a time of natural disaster. This has become an opportunity for every world citizen to understand, how the facts were systematically hidden by the government during war-time.

Victims of tsunami tidal waves in North East as follows :

District	Dead	Missing	Displaced	Injured
Amparai	13,960	2,350	191,163	3,200
Batticaloa	2,520	2,600	208,803	2,100
Trincomalee	1,370	2,100	137,000	3,400
Mullaitivu	1,635	3,200	97,000	3,800
Vadamarachi East	2,100	1,300	61,839	1,800
Mannar	---	---	5,000	---
TOTAL	21,585	11,550	700,805	14,300

Now this incident has given an important opportunity to the UN Secretary General and the international community to realise, how chains of lies were fabricated in the past to fool the international community on matters concerning earlier political negotiations and what could happen to future negotiations.

International NGOs working in the LTTE administrated areas have already informed the international community well about the amount of government relief sent to those affected areas in the North East. This again gives an opportunity for donor countries to realise, how their funds for the development of the North East have been utilised in the past and an indication of how they would be utilised in the future.

Almost two decades of human rights lobbying in the international arena, have eventually been vindicated regarding the plight of the people in the North East.

On the other hand in Europe, some so-called Marxist, Leninist Singhalese groups from Sri Lanka along with some quilsing Tamil groups are doing an anti relief aid propaganda against the Tsunami Tamil victims in the North East. This propaganda has the government’s blessings through its embassies in Europe.

Short-sighted politicians in power have failed to realise that allowing Mr. Kofi Annan to visit the victims of the Tsunami, especially in the worst affected areas would have had less impact than not allowing him. Now it is too late for the government to rectify their mistake.

Mr. Kofi Annan’s promise is the only salvation to the victims of tsunami in the affected North East. "I'm hoping to come back... and see all parts of the country and be of help to accelerate the peace process," he told reporters before his departure from Sri Lanka.

[TOP]

I.eh nrayhsh; ehafj;jpd; kdpjhgpkhd tp[aj;ij uj;J nra;tJk;> njhlh;r;rpahd ngha;fSk; - Xh; Neh;ikahd murpd; nray; my;y

jkpoh; kdpj chpikfs; ikak;> gpuhd;]

Tamil Font

If;fpa ehLfs; rigapd; flikfis ehk; RUf;fkhf gll;baypLNthkdhy;> I.eh rig cyfpd; rkhjhdj;ijAk;> ghJfhg;igAk; ftdpg;gJld;> Aj;jq;fs;> Aj;j#o;epiyfis Mf;fg+h;tkhd rkhjhd Ngr;Rthh;ijfs; %yk; xUikg;gLj;JtJk;> kdpj chpik> kdpj mgpkhd nraw;ghLfis ftdpg;gJld;> mehh;j;jq;fspdhy; cUthf;fg;gl;l mfjpfspd; eyd;fisg; NgZjy;> grp> gl;bdpiag; jPph;f;Fk; jpl;lq;fis mikj;jy; Nghd;w nraw;ghLfis Kd;dpd;W nra;fpd;wJ.

If;fpa ehLfs; rigapd; mjpfhug;gj;jpd; gpufuhk; I. eh nrayhsh; ehafk; rigapd; Kf;fpa eph;thf cj;jpNahfj;jhuhf nray;gLk; mNjNtis> cyf ehLfspy; Vw;gLk; rh;r;ruTfSf;F jdJ nry;thf;if ghtpj;J rh;r;irfisj; jPh;f;Fk; nraw;ghLfis eilKiwg;gLj;Jthh;.

xU re;jh;g;gj;jpy; jpU. Nfhgp mdhd; jdJ flikfs; gw;wp rpj;jhpf;Fk; nghOJ $wpajhtJ> 'ehd; Xh; re;Njh\khd jiytd;> ehd; Xh; Kd;ndLg;ghsd;> ehd; Xh; tpw;gidahsd;> ehd; Xh;; fld; Nrfhpg;ghsd;> ehd; Xh; ght kd;dpg;ig Vw;Fk; tzgpjh> ,d;Dk; ,g;gbahf vj;jidNahtw;iw ehd; fz;Lgpbf;f Ntz;bAs;sJ' vd;whh;.

mz;ikapy; Vw;gl;l Rdhkp fly; nfhe;jspg;gpdhy; ghjpf;fg;gl;l kf;fis Nehpy; re;jpf;fTk;> ghjpf;fg;gl;l ,lq;fis ghh;itaplTk;> mt;tplq;fspy; flikapy; <Lgl;Ls;s I. eh mikg;Gf;fSf;F Cf;fk; mspf;fTk;> ghjpf;fg;gl;l rpy ehLfSf;F Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fs; Neub tp[aj;ij nfhz;bUe;jhh;.

Mdhy; ,tUila ,yq;if jPTf;fhd tp[ak;> tlf;F fpof;fpy; Rdhkp nfhe;jspg;gpdhy; ghjpf;fg;gl;l kf;fSila mjpUg;jpia rk;ghjpf;FksTf;F rpwpyq;fh muR jpl;lkpl;L nray;gl;Ls;sJ.

fle;j rdp> Qhapw;Wf; fpoikfspy; ntspahd rh;tNjr nra;jpfs; nfhOk;ig ikakhff; nfhz;L ,aq;Fk; gy Clfq;fs; Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fs; ghjpf;fg;gl;l ,lq;fSf;F tp[ak; nra;atplhJ rpwpyq;fh muRjil nra;jij Kf;fpaj;Jtk; nfhLj;J nra;jp ntspapl;bUe;jdh;.

fle;j rdpf;fpoik [dthp 8k; jpfjp rpwpyq;fhtpypUe;J nwhapl;lh; nra;jp ];jhgdj;jpw;F Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fs; $wpajhtJ> 'ehd; ,q;F kdpjhgpkhd tp[aj;ijNa Nkw;nfhz;Ls;Nsd;> Mifahy; ,q;F ghjpf;fg;gl;l rfy ,lq;fisAk; nrd;W ghh;itapl tpUk;GfpNwd;. Mdhy; ehd; ,q;F rpwpyq;fh murpd; tpUe;jpduhf te;Js;Nsd;> mth;fNs vdJ tp[aj;jpd; epfo;r;rp epuiy jahhpj;Js;shh;fs;' vd;W kpfTk; Vkhw;wg;gl;l njhdpapy; Fwpg;gpl;Ls;shh;.

,NjNtis> mNj nwhapl;lh; nra;jpapy; ngah; Fwpg;gpl tpUk;ghj I.eh cj;jpNahf];jh; $wpajhtJ> ',J Xh; mDjhgk; njhptpf;Fk; tp[ak;> murpay; tp[ak; my;y. nrayhsh; ehafk; mth;fs; nry;tjw;F tpUk;gpdhh; Mdhy; eilngwtpy;iy' vd;W $wpdhh;.

nwhapl;lh; nra;jp ];jhgdk; NkYk; Xh; murjug;G cj;jpNahfj;jh; $wpajhtJ> 'Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fs; mah;yhe;J nrd;W I.Mh;.V my;yJ ];ngapd; nrd;W gh];f; fyff;fhuh;fisr; re;jpf;ftpy;iyNa?'.

kjpEl;gk; Fiwe;j ,e;j mur cj;jpNahj;jh; czuj; jtwpait vd;dntdpy;> Kjyhtjhf Nfhgp mdhdpd; tp[ak; kdpjhgpkhd mbg;gilapyhdJ> mLj;jgbahf Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fs; ,e;NjhNd\pahtpypy; Mh;r;Nrnad;Dk; ,lj;ij nrd;W ghh;itapl;l gpd;dNu mq;fpUe;J ,yq;iff;fhd tp[aj;ij Nkw;nfhz;bUe;jhh;. Mh;r;Nrapy;> Mh;r;Nr tpLjiy mikg;G ,e;NjhNd\pahtpypUe;J Rje;jpuj;jpw;fhf Nghuhb tUtJ ,th;fSf;F njhpahJ Nghy; cs;sJ.

rpwpyq;fhtpy; kdpjh; chpikahshpd; fUj;jpd;gb> fle;j [dthp 3k; jpfjp I.eh a+dpNrg;gpd; ,af;Fdh; jpUkjp. fNwhy; Ngyhkpia Ky;iyj;jPT nrd;Wtu Nghf;Ftuj;Jf;fis xOq;F nra;j rpwpyq;f muR> ',t;NtisapYk; tpLjiyg; Gypfspdhy; rpWgps;isfs; ,uhZtj;jpy; Nrh;f;fg;gLfpd;wdh;'; vd;W jpUkjp Ngyhkp $WkhW vjph;ghh;j;jdh;. Mdhy; Ky;iyj;jPtpypUe;J jpUkjp Ngyhkpapdhy; nfhLf;fg;gl;l fUj;Njh> ,th;fs; vjph;ghh;j;jpw;F Kw;W KOjhf khWgl;lijj; njhlh;e;J> Vkhw;wk; mile;j rpwpyq;fh muR Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fis ,t;tplj;jpw;F nrd;W ghh;itapl mDkjpf;fg;gl;lhJ vd KbT vLj;jduhk;.

Mdhy; toikNghy;> rpwpyq;fhtpd; ntspehl;L mikr;R ,t;tplaj;jpYk; jdJ rq;fpyp njhlh;ghd ngha;fSld; jk;ik epahag;gLj;j jtwtpy;iy.

fle;j ,UgJ tUl fhy Aj;jj;ijj; njhlh;e;J> Nehh;Nt murhq;fj;jpd; Kd;NdLg;gpdhy; rpwpyq;fh muRf;Fk;> jkpoPo tpLjiyg; GypfSf;F ,ilapy; Xh; Ghpe;Jzh;T xg;ge;jk; ifr;rhj;jhdJ. ,jpy; Aj;j epWj;jpw;fhd epge;jidfSk; tiuaWf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ. ,e;j Ghpe;Jzh;T xg;ge;jjpd; %yk; rpwpyq;fh muR jkpoPo tpLjiy Gypfis jkJ rf gq;fhspahf VW;W nfhz;Ls;sdh;.

Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fis Rdhkpapdhy; ghjpf;fg;gl;l jkpoPo tpLjiyg; GypfSila eph;thf gpuNjrq;fSf;Fr; nry;ytplhky; jLg;gjd; %yk;> rpwpyq;fh murhq;fj;jpDila Ghpe;Jzh;T xg;ge;jk; kPjhd fgl NahridfisAk;> Ngr;Rthh;j;ij ,Oj;jbg;gjw;fhd fhuzpfisAk; rh;tNjr rKjhak; Ghpe;J nfhs;s ey;y tha;g;Gf; fpilj;Js;sJ.

rh;tNjr kdpj chpikahsh; Mr;rhpag;gLtJ vd;dntdpy;> Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fs; Ky;iyj;jPTf;Nf tp[ak; nra;a mDkjpf;fhj murpdhy;> I.eh muq;Ffspy;; $f;Fuy; tplg;gLk;; ',iwahikapd;'; nghUs; vd;d?

ahtw;iwAk; njhFj;Jg; ghh;f;Fk; nghOJ ehk; czu KbtJ vd;dntdpy;> jkpoPo tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; eph;thf gpuNjrq;fSf;F Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fs; tp[ak; Nkw;nfhs;thNuahdhy;> mt;tplq;fspy; tpLjiyg; Gypfs; kPJ kf;fs; nfhz;l Mjuit mtuhy; Nehpy; fz;lwptJ kl;Lky;yhJ> rpwpyq;fh murpdhy; %bkiwf;fg;gl;l gy gy cz;ikfis Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fNs Nehpy; fz;lwpa tha;g;Gf; fpilj;JtpLk; vd;w murhq;fj;jpd; gPjpNa Nfhgp mdhd; mth;fisj; jLj;J epWj;jpajw;fhd gy fhuzpfspy; xd;W.

Mifahy; jw;nghOJ jpU. Nfhgp mdhd; cl;gl rh;tNjr rKjhaj;jpdhy; czu KbtJ vd;dntdpy; jkpo;g; gpuNjrq;fspy; Vw;gl;l ,aw;if moptpd; mdh;e;jq;fisNa %bkiwj;J ghugl;rkhd Kiwapy; tlf;F fpof;F tho; jkpo; kf;fis elj;jpa ,e;j murhq;fk;> Aj;j fhyj;jpy; vg;gbahd Nghf;if nfhz;bUe;jJ vd;gJ kl;Lky;yhJ> Kd;ida murpay; Ngr;Rthh;j;ijfspd; Kwpabg;gpd; fhuzfh;j;jhf;fs; ahh; vd;gij czh;tJld;> vjph; fhyj;jpy; murpay; Ngr;Rthh;j;ij vg;gbahf mika Ntz;Lk; vd;gijAk; czu ey;y re;jh;g;gk; mspf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ.

mj;Jld; Kd;G gy ehLfspdhy; tlf;F fpof;F Nkd;ghl;Lf;F vd nfhLf;fg;gl;l epjp cjtpfis> rpwpyq;fh muR vg;gbahf gad; gLj;jpapUf;Fk; vd;gijAk; czu ey;y re;jh;g;gk; mspf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ.

Mifahy; fle;j gj;J gjpide;J tUlq;fSf;F Nkyhf kdpjh; chpikahshpd; rpwpyq;fh muR kPjhd Fw;wr;rhl;Lf;fs; vJTk; tPz;Nghftpy;iy vd;Nw ,q;F jaf;fkpd;wp $wyhk;.

,NjNtis> Kd;G rpwpyq;fhtpy; MAjg; Gul;rpapy; Njhy;tp fz;l gy rpq;fs thypgUk;> jkpo; JNuhf FOtpdUk>; INuhg;ghtpy; tlf;F fpof;fpy; Rdhkpapdhy; ghjpf;fg;gl;l kf;fSf;fhfj; jpul;btUk; epthuz cjtpfSf;F vjpuhf> jkJ Ra murpay; yhgj;jpw;fhf rpwpyq;fh muRld; Nrh;e;J epd;W> INuhg;gpa efuq;fspd; jhd;Njhd;wpjdkhf elg;gJ kpfTk; ftiy jUk; tplak

[TOP]