No way out

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The plight of thousands of Tamil civilians incarcerated in the transit camps of Vavuniya still hangs in the balance, weeks after the Deputy Minister for Defence approved a procedure to expedite their release.

It had been agreed at a meeting recently convened at the Parliament by him that Tamil members of Parliament will also be included in the committee which is currently in charge of supervising the release of people from the transit camps. The committee comprises of the Vavuniya brigade commander, the Vavuniya ASP and district's Government Agent.

The Deputy Minister for Defence had readily agreed to this arrangement mainly to prevent the UNP from reaping any political gain from the regular complaints by Tamil MPs about the numerous draconian measures which are imposed on the inmates of these camps to discourage them from travelling to Colombo. Nothing has come of the General's promise so far.

The people continue to languish in the camps which are run like open air prisons. Further more, the inmates feel utterly vulnerable as the military intelligence and Police intelligence interrogate and arrest them with impunity. Atleast twelve persons have been arrested recently from the Poonthottam Government Tamil Mixed School (GTMS) transit camp by the government's intelligence service.

The matter was brought to the notice of Sri Lanka Red Cross Society's co-ordinator for the north and east and the secretary of its Vavuniya branch Mr. Sivanathan Kishore.

Following inquiries by Mr. Kishore, Velu Selvam who was arrested on Dec. 7 was released six days later. But the army and Police intelligence deny that they took into custody some of the other detainees who were taken from the Poonthottam camp at that time.Young boys and girls who are staying in these camps without their parents or guardians are subjected to frequent interrogation by intelligence officers.

There are 10572 people (of 2561 families) in 11 transit camps which are located in 9 suburbs of Vavuniya. Seven camps are in school compounds, one is in the Vavuniya college of education and the another in a paddy store.

The authorities claim that 956 families (4138 people) in the these camps have agreed to stay on until the military operations in their areas of residence are over. Seven hundred and seventy six families (3407 people) have asked for permission to leave the camps to stay with friends and relatives in Vavuniya. But these people are unable to move anywhere as the authorities seem determined to prevent them from leaving the camps to live freely in Vavuniya.

The people are asked to produce a letter from someone who has a permanent resident pass in Vavuniya, taking responsibility for them. Some times they are told that it is enough to have a blood relative who has a one month residence pass in the town. But subsequently then they are told that clearance from the National Intelligence Bureau or the Ministry of Defence is required. This clearance rarely comes.

In addition there are 729 families (2502 people) who want to go to the southern parts of the island, mainly to Colombo. Many of them intend to go abroad eventually. Almost all of them have secured with great difficulty - and much bribery - and submitted, the documents and guarantees stipulated by the Sri Lankan authorities. However most of them are still being held back in the camps under one pretext or another.

The transit camp inmates were earlier held in school buildings. However since the schools were reopened, the government has put up temporary sheds with 10 by 10 ft. cubicles which are only partially covered. The inmates leave their children and valuables here during the night and sleep in the open air. Since the heavy monsoon rains began lashing the Vanni, they wonder around the camps looking for a dry place to sleep - which is now virtually impossible as there are downpours almost everynight and the ground is quite damp even when the rains cease temporarily.

Sanitary conditions in the camps are atrocious. There are, for example, ten toilets in the the Nelukkulam Mahaviththiyalayam camp - but eight are dilapidated and without doors. Hence one finds long queues of men, women and children at the toiletes here. The problem is further compounded by the camp water pump which is constantly breaks down. Water for all purposes is supplied by bowsers at the College of education camp in Poonthottam. Very often the water runs out here before some inmates are able to wash the soap off their bodies- and they have to wait till the next bowser.

The workers who are expected to clean up the toiletes and the compounds here are paid only fifty rupees (about 90 US cents) per day. They, therefore, frequently stay away from work to protest against the low wage. A foul and nauseating stench in inescapable in the camps as a result. The condition at the transit camp in the Veppankulam paddy store is worse. Toiletes are fallen apart.

The tin roof and walls of the store generate unbearable heat inside during the day and especially during the dry season. Skin diseases, bacterial infections, chicken pox and hepatitis are rife. The monsoon rains have resulted in large pools of stagnant water around the camps, as there are inadequate or non-existant drainage facilities here.

The inmates are either supplied cooked food or given dry rations. The cooked food is handed out by local businessmen who buy the supply contract on tender. The tenders are sold at 32 rupees to 42 rupees (65 US cents) for the daily supply of meals and tea for each inmate. This is the cost of a meal in the cheap restaurants outside. Hence, the suppliers try to make their marginal profit by providing very low quality and meagre meals to the inmates.

Dry rations are supplied on the following basis every fortnight.

• One person - to the value of 168 rupees. ( 2.60 USD)
• Family of two- to the value of 308 rupees (5.00 USD)
• Family of three - 420 rupees (6.00 USD)
• Family of four - 630 rupees (10.00 USD)

Inmates receiving dry rations have requested on many occasions that the supply be given every week. But there has been no response.

The inmates are given a special security pass to leave the camp for four hours during the day. The authorities punish those who are late to return before closing time (even by a few minutes) by refusing to issue them with the four hour pass for several days afterwards. Repeated - and unsuccesful requests have been made to the authorities by many skilled workers in the camps to extend the duration of the day pass to eight hours so that they can find employment outside to buy extra provisions for their families which now find the dry rations quite inadequate for their survival.

The thousands of tamil civilians living in atrocous conditions in these camps face an uncertin future, as their plight seems to have escaped the attention of aid agencies and the internation community alike