Ban Ki Moon to assess rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka

Hilary Rajakarunanayake, Editor – Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune

Colombo, 21 May, (Asiantribune.com): UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will visit Sri Lanka tomorrow (22) for a firsthand look at displacement camps and the former war zone, and to to assess rehabilitation and reconstruction needs, the Foreign Ministry announced.

"I am relieved by the conclusion of the military operation and now
it is most important that every effort be undertaken to begin a process of healing and national reconciliation."

Moon said he hoped to ramp up humanitarian aid for the country and help facilitate dialogue in the country.

"We urgently need to treat the wounds of a war that have alienated the communities in the island for almost three decades," he told a news briefing in Geneva, expressing support for a "credible devolution of power" to ensure continued peace.

"To aid this endeavour I will visit Sri Lanka this Friday May 22 until Saturday May 23," Moon said.

"I expect that I will be able to visit the welfare camps of Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North", he said.

"I would like to have my first-hand on-the-spot assessment of the situation myself."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has called for national reconciliation in Sri Lanka and said he would visit the country this week for a firsthand look at displacement camps and the former war zone.

"It is most important that every effort be undertaken to begin a process of healing and national reconciliation."

"I would like to have my first-hand on-the-spot assessment of the situation myself."

Paving the way for the visit of Ban-Ki-Moon, the special envoy of the UN Secretary-General Vijay Nambiar arrived in Colombo and had preliminary discussions with the Sri Lanka Government on 16th May. Vijay Nambiar is the Chef de Cabinet (Chief of Staff) and holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General and is a member of the Secretary General's Senior Management Team.

Given below excerpts of a Press Conference with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon held on 19th May in Geneva”

Ban Ki Moon:I would like to say a few words about the situation in Sri Lanka, which may be of interest and concern to some of you. Over the past months, the situation in Sri Lanka has been a matter of grave and growing concern to me and the whole international community.

Hostilities appear now to have ended, and developments have entered a new phase.

I am relieved by the conclusion of the military operation, but I am deeply troubled by the loss of so many civilian lives. The task now facing the people of Sri Lanka is immense and requires all hands. It is most important that every effort be undertaken to begin a process of healing and national reconciliation. I listened very carefully to what President Rajapaksa said in his address to Parliament today. The legitimate concerns and aspirations of the Tamil people and other minorities must be fully addressed.

We must recognize the profound pain, particularly in communities affected by the conflict and among so many who lost loved ones to the violence.

We urgently need to treat the wounds of a war that has alienated the communities in the Island for almost three decades.

To aid this endeavor, I will visit Sri Lanka this Friday, May 22 until Saturday, May 23. Mostly, I will be spending the whole day, Saturday 23 May, as I will be arriving almost at midnight on May 22, Friday.

In particular, I will travel to hardest hit areas for a first-hand assessment of conditions on the ground. I remain concerned about the safety and welfare of the affected civilian population. That is why I am keen to visit the camps for the internally displaced. I will offer to the Government and people of Sri Lanka the partnership of the United Nations to address the huge challenges of early recovery, resettlement and rehabilitation of populations internally displaced by the conflict. I will also extend United Nations support in establishing the basic building blocks for peace through an inclusive political process.

Trust building must begin with putting in place international standards for the civilians in camps for internally displaced persons and reception centres under Government control.

A good start would be to provide the United Nations and its partners with full, unconditional access to all civilians. I will also urge the Government to expedite the screening and separation of former combatants from civilians and permit a more rapid release of IDPs from the camps. Families should be reunified on a much quicker basis.

As the displaced and long-suffering population strives to build a new life, serious steps must be taken to initiate early recovery as well as longer term reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Efforts should necessarily be anchored on the Government’s discussion with diverse Tamil groups and their representatives regarding the future political solution through a credible devolution of power.

In summary, progress must come in three critical areas. First, immediate humanitarian relief; Second, reintegration and reconstruction; Third, a sustainable and equitable political solution. Progress on all three of these fronts must move forward in parallel—and it must begin now. This will be my message in Sri Lanka. Thank you very much.

Question: Secretary-General, some UN officials accused the Government of Sri Lanka of causing a bloodbath, other officials of the UN said that they used heavy weapons and fired on civilians and this might constitute a war crime. Would you be prepared to ask for an independent investigation on these matters? Thank you.

Ban Ki Moon: It is true that, including myself, the United Nations system and senior advisors, wherever the opportunity arose, we have made this case very strongly. In my talks with President Rajapaksa in the past, over the last two months, we have made a very strong case to avoid civilian casualties and to not use heavy weaponry against the civilian population during their military operations. Wherever serious and credible allegations are made of grave and persistent violations of international humanitarian laws, these should be properly investigated. As you may know, the High Commissioner for Human Rights has already called for that investigation. I hope these allegations are handled through appropriate procedures.

Question: I wanted to ask a similar question as my colleague. The Secretary-General has mentioned that the international community is concerned, but the Human Rights Council here is Geneva has been unable to get the necessary number of votes of its members to convene a special session. So it seems that there is a bit of a lack of concern from the international community for what high-ranking UN officials have called killing fields and war crimes. Secondly, during your trip to Sri Lanka, will you try to gain access to this strip of land that your humanitarian staff has been blocked from in the last month? Thank you.

Ban Ki Moon: I expect that I will be able to visit the conflict zone, which the Sri Lankan Government officials told me had been liberated. I would like to have my first hand, on the spot, assessment of the situation myself. I am going to discuss this matter with President Rajapaksa. And for the procedures and handling these claims on the violation of international humanitarian laws in the Human Rights Council, that should be decided and determined by the members of the Human Rights Council.

Question: Secretary-General, I hope that in your term, you will come back to us and read a similar statement on the occupied Palestinian territories. My question is, what is your reaction to the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, and do you think there is any hope for a two-state solution, taking into account the OCHA report, the UN report on Gaza, the continued atrocities that were taking place, what is your hope, do you really have a realistic hope for a two-state solution? Thank you.

Ban Ki Moon:I am encouraged by the summit meeting between President Obama of the United States and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. I also understand that President Obama will have a series of meetings with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. All these series of meetings, I hope will pave a good foundation for the continuing negotiations. The negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and the Middle East peace process in general should begin from where they have left last time. This is the wish and aspiration of all the international community. Again there is a very important, fundamentally important wish and principle that there should be a two-state solution and there should be two countries living side by side in peace and security. That is what I am committed as Secretary-General to facilitate and push through a Quartet process and through my meetings with Arab and Israeli leaders in the future.

Question: Monsieur le Secrétaire général, j'ai une question. Peut-être que je me trompe. Est-ce que le fait d'aller tout juste après la fin de cette guerre, au Sri Lanka, ne donnerait pas une certaine crédibilité à ce Président qui quand même…ici à l'ONU, on a assisté à des civils qui ont crié - certains se sont immolés - pour demander votre aide? Et vous y allez tout de suite, maintenant: est-ce que ce n'est pas a posteriori donner un peu raison à ce Président qui a massacré pas mal de civils chez lui? Je vous remercie.

Ban Ki Moon: I hope there should be no misunderstandings whatsoever of the basic purpose of my visit to Sri Lanka. I made it quite clear I have three purposes in going to Sri Lanka. First and foremost, I will try to assess the situation of humanitarian conditions there and will try to mobilize humanitarian assistance to the needy people who need badly our assistance in sanitation, in health, in food and all other humanitarian aspects. Secondly, this integration and also development of the society damaged by this fighting. And thirdly, to help facilitate this political process through reconciliation, through dialogue, between the communities.

This has short term and mid term and longer term purposes. As you may remember, over the last several months, I have been heavily and deeply engaged in promoting early resolution of these issues by dispatching my senior advisors, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs twice, and I have dispatched my Chef de Cabinet twice already. My Chef de Cabinet is still in Sri Lanka.

There is always opportune timing, and sometimes the visit myself at my level may be possible, may not be possible, depending upon the situation, how it develops. At this time, I think my visit would be able to create certain conditions where the United Nations can more engage in helping those people after this fighting is over. As we have been, even though we have been providing all necessary assistance, together with the ICRC. I will try to help the Sri Lankan people and Government so that all these political issues and reconciliation issues could be promoted as soon as possible.

- Asian Tribune -