Joint Statements - Humanitarian Organisations
Please find below a joint statement by the Association of
War Affected Women, Centre for Human Rights and Development,
Centre for Policy Alternatives, Equal Ground, Sri Lanka, Free
Media Movement, INFORM, International Centre for Ethnic Studies
– Colombo, International Movement Against Discrimination and
Racism, Law & Society Trust, Mothers and Daughters of
Lanka, Muslim Information Centre - Sri Lanka, National Peace
Council of Sri Lanka, Rights Now Collective for Democracy
Joint Statement
Civil Society Solidarity with International Humanitarian
Organisations
In recent months, there has been a concerted effort by sections
of the polity and media to discredit international humanitarian
organisations and UN agencies by accusing some of them of
being supporters of the LTTE. As members of civil society
we are very concerned about these allegations and the manner
in which these agencies have been treated, which seemed to
be aimed at damaging the credibility of these organisations
and of other NGOs that have a long track record of service
to the war, disaster-affected, and poverty stricken sections
of the Sri Lankan population.
Where it concerns the war affected civilian population in
the north and east, it is these humanitarian organisations
that have often been the main source of institutional solace
to the people. We have witnessed first-hand people in internally
displaced camps in the north and east, who affirm that their
main if not only consistent source of support has been these
international humanitarian organisations.
Last month, UNESCO, which aided reconstruction of schools
in the south after the Tsunami, was criticised for condemning
an attack against civilian the Voice of Tigers radio station
in Kilinochchi. Other media freedom agencies too condemned
this attack, on the basis that it was not a military target.
3 staff members of VoT and 6 civilians were killed in the
attack. Likewise, the Berghof Foundation, which has given
considerable support to government and civil society staff
at all levels, has sustained harsh criticism, to the point
where its director has had his visa twice-revoked.
Two more international organisations that have endured focused
criticism are UNICEF and Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCSL).
UNICEF staff members both international and local have been
criticized for attending a protest against the abduction and
killing of two SLRC workers in June 2007. UNICEF is a driving
force to build a world where the rights of every child are
realized and believes that everyone has a responsibility to
see that children are safe. SCSL is part of the world's oldest,
independent international alliance for children (formerly
known in Sri Lanka as Save the Children Fund, SCF) working
for the protection and full realization children’s rights.
UNICEF and SCSL work very closely with the National Child
Protection Authority of Sri Lanka which aims for the prevention
of child abuse, protection and rehabilitation of victims of
abuse. Both SCSL and UNICEF have long track records of humanitarian
assistance and promoting the rights of children in this country.
In particular they have taken many measures to bring the problem
of child recruitment by the LTTE, and more recently by the
Karuna group, to international scrutiny. Both agencies also
play a vital role in providing other essential services including
supporting educational services for children and water and
sanitation for the displaced.
Among other accusations, UNICEF and SCSL have been charged
with working in collaboration with the Tamils Rehabilitation
Organisation (TRO), which was recently banned in the United
States and Sri Lanka for having been a conduit for the raising
of funds for LTTE arms purchases. Both agencies have worked
with the TRO on a number of projects but ceased their relationship
in 2006 when TRO came under increased government scrutiny
and its bank accounts in Sri Lanka were sealed. However, prior
to this, and particularly in the period of the two previous
governments when the peace process was at its height, as well
as after the tsunami, the government itself encouraged humanitarian
organisations to work in partnership with the TRO, which itself
had been a duly registered NGO. Both organisations have invited
the government to investigate all of the allegations against
them which is a sign of good faith and also an example of
transparency that is a model for others in the country. However,
the ongoing investigations have led to a near paralysis of
these organisations. They are pre-occupied in supplying the
government with information dating back several years and
their staff is being demoralized by the constant propaganda
attacks against them.
Recently, the government’s Consultative Committee on Humanitarian
Assistance (CCHA) committee joined with international donors
to condemn public criticism until pending investigations have
concluded and parties have presented their cases. We appreciate
that the government and the CCHA, in making this move of support
for the United Nations and other international organisations
providing humanitarian assistance, seemed to have accepted
that the past criticism was not warranted.
Disparaging UNICEF and SCSL hurts the most needy and vulnerable
sections of the people in Sri Lanka, including a large number
of people for whom the government is obliged to provide basic
needs and essential services and is unable and unprepared
to reach at the present time. The criticisms of agencies such
as UNICEF and SCSL compromise their ability to carry out humanitarian
and development work and put the safety and security of their
staff at risk. The naming of staff members by politicians
and the media has increased the sense of fear as well as demoralize
other humanitarian workers in other organisations. The attacks
on UNICEF and SCSL are part of a series of attacks on humanitarian
agencies. Over the last two years humanitarian agencies have
faced multiple incidents of violence including killings and
disappearances of humanitarian staff, attacks against offices
and vehicles, and threats and intimidation which has made
working in Sri Lanka all the more challenging.
The channeling of humanitarian aid via NGOs has been a dominant
problem of aid flow globally. We agree that it is essential
for INGOs and NGOs to be publicly accountable and transparent
in terms of the funds and practices. Charges alleging the
misuse of funds must be investigated, and we recommend that
the Government strengthen its monitoring mechanisms and make
its NGO Secretariat more effective. We oppose efforts to make
these efforts at inquiry into a witch hunt with the sole purpose
of discrediting these agencies without granting them the space
to respond to the particular charges, as ultimately it is
the most needy and vulnerable people of Sri Lanka that suffer
the consequences. On the basis that some NGOs are accused
of misappropriating or misusing funds, we cannot condemn and
discredit all associated agencies and reject international
support, especially from the UN, that continues to benefit
the most needy and vulnerable people of Sri Lanka. While upholding
the principles of accountability and transparency, we call
on all actors, including the Government, political and armed
groups and the media to be responsible in their efforts to
making charges against agencies.
As local civil society actors who believe in partnership
with international civil society, we stand in solidarity with
the staff of all national and international agencies and organisations
that are committed to strengthen initiatives for peace, development,
democracy, and respect for human rights in Sri Lanka. We welcome
the courage of those who have joined us in protests against
the very visible human rights violations presently taking
place in our country, and regret that they were subjected
to criticism for that reason.
Association of War Affected Women
Centre for Human Rights and Development
Centre for Policy Alternatives
Equal Ground, Sri Lanka
Free Media Movement
INFORM
International Centre for Ethnic Studies- Colombo
International Movement Against Discrimination and Racism
Law & Society Trust
Mothers and Daughters of Lanka
Muslim Information Centre - Sri Lanka
National Peace Council of Sri Lanka
Rights Now Collective for Democracy
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