'We feared that our baby would cry, giving away our position'
Escape from the Tigers leads to safety – in razor-wire encircled 'transition' camps
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It was barely two miles across the no man's land that separated the rebel positions from the territory held by the government troops, yet it took Prabakhar and his family a full four days to make the journey. With just a bagful of belongings, they lived off biscuits and river water and stayed awake through the night. Prabakhar and his wife were terrified their five month old baby would cry and give away their position to rebel soldiers.
Now they are safe. Since January, Prabakhar, Ratikala and their two children, have been living in a government refugee camp in the north of Sri Lanka, some of the countless thousands of civilians forced from their homes by the conflict. They have no idea how long they will be forced to stay here before they can return home. "I don't know. It's up to the government," said the 30-year-old science teacher.
Prabakhar and his family are fortunate. They are among 8,500 residents of a showcase "transition" camp shown to journalists to prove that the government is doing every thing it can to help the civilians. The wood and metal-sheet houses are quite sturdy, there are schools and a hospital and the camp is clean.
A short drive away, the situation is markedly different; in a clutch of "transit camps" on a shadeless plain, more than 17,000 people try to escape the sun under tarpaulin huts. People complain about a lack of water and the sanitation facilities are utterly inadequate. One woman, Kirria, whose father was killed and whose husband was wounded in the fighting, said: "The food has no taste, there is not enough water." All the camps are surrounded by razor wire and people are not allowed to leave.
Sri Lanka is grappling with mounting problem of IDPs – internally displaced persons – driven from their homes as the conflict between government troops and the rebel forces of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. With the last of the rebels – along with up to 150,000 civilians – surrounded in a strip of land in the north east, many hundreds of refugees are being taken to the camps every day. The total now stands at around 70,000. Despite the military operation to crush the rebels having been launched as far back as January 2008, the senior military commander in the Manik Farm region said they had been surprised by the numbers. "We never thought we would get so many," said Lt Col Indunil De Silva.
Many of these refugees have stories similar to Prabakhar's and tell how they were driven from their homes in the north as the conflict got ever closer. Some said that the Tigers had tried to prevent them from leaving. Aid groups have accused the Tigers of using civilians as a shield and say that some civilians were shot when they tried to leave.
Prabakhar, originally from Trincomalee, spoke without a military-provided translator and without the supervision of soldiers. His two room hut was simple; there were no beds, and refugees have to sleep on the floor, but it was well ventilated and the metal roof had been covered with coconut palm in a rather ineffective attempt to ward off the sun. He – along with many others – said they could use more water but that the food supplies were sufficient. His wife has planted flowers in the path of dirt in front of their hut.
Yet the most troubling issue for Prabakhar and the others is just how long they will have to stay here. The government said it must thoroughly process all refugees to ensure they are not Tigers and to send mine clearance teams to their villages before they can return. The government admits they could be here a year. Some aid organisations fear it could be much longer.
"I would like to be a normal person again. I would live to leave tomorrow," said Sandran, from a village near Kilinochchi, the one-time Tiger capital. "If I have to stay for a year, I think I will be sick. There are so many problems here – the water and the sanitation. And the food is not to our taste. All our belongings are gone. We have only the things we arrived in."
Another man, 31-year-old Nanthapalan, said he too would like to leave. "If the government says we can go then we will go. If we have to stay here for a year there will be many problems."
Piancy Charles, the civilian administrator of the camps, said she believed the refugees would have to stay at most a year. "We are doing everything we can to make these people value-added citizens," she said, explaining the vocational training and other things being offered at the camp.
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Comments
we stomached your singhala TERRORISTS attacks from 1956,'58'76,'79 and '83.we got back re built our huts,homes and businesses and carried on.GOSL did not help us.
The singhala TERRORISTS terrorised the TAMILS.
The Tamils were sent off by the GOSL to north and east in ships.
When the Tamil youth wanted no more of this nonsense they asked for freedom.So why not give the freedom.
The singhalses think we are a nuisance then let us go.You be happy and we will be happy.
Did the GOSL stop the TERRORISM by the singhala TERRORISTS? NO NO.
These uprooted people will be in limbo in the camps as the government cash in all the $$$ comes in for development and more by getting ransom with kidnapping and enforced disappearances.
Andrew Buncombe is glossing over the situation, otherwise Sri Lanka will deport him, just like Jeremy Page of The Times.
If Sri Lanka has nothing to hide, all independent interantional media have to be given access.
CHECK WHERE YOU CAME FROM!! WE ALLWAY IN TAMIL LAND.U CAME 400 YEARS AGO NO MORE.YOU BASE ON SOME SINGALEESE DREAM BOOK . LONG LONG HISTORY FOR TAMILS .TAMIL ARE ONE OF MOST CIVILISATION PEOPLE ON EIRTH. CHECK WIKIPEDIA!!!!!!
in jaffna people had left their land 25 years ago and still they could not go back to their land.in jaffna 1/3 of the land are declared high security zones and in vanni also if people left their land will be never given back they will be kept in camps and all youths will be abducted and killed by srilankan army.
in jaffna we faced the simmiler situation by army and we had to escape by sea route and fled to various countries as much as 1 million tamils escaped abroad like this. that is one third of tamil population and other 2 million people are displaced internally and they are abducted and killed by srilankan forces.
Things you learn will never be a waste. So it will be invaluable. There are people who even cannot read or write.
Secondly, many local charities within Sri Lanka (and international aid agencies) offer clothing and other amenities to these people. The government is running out of cash, yet it still tries its best to feed, provide medicine and security to these people.
And I agree with you that the government needs to provide a better Chef to these camps.
Things you learn will never be a waste. So, whatever these people learn will be invaluable for future life. There may be people who even cannot read or write. Bear in mind that these people have been denied the right of education by the rebels.
Secondly, many local charities within Sri Lanka (and international aid agencies) offer clothing and other amenities to these people. The government is running out of cash, yet it still tries its best to feed, provide medicine and security to these people.
And I agree with you that the government need to provide a better Chef for these camps. :)
when basic amenities are not provided what is the use of setting up vocational training?
when these families return to their farmlands in 1 yr will this be of any use.?
Authorities must be realistict without wasting money on teachers,tools etc when these trauma refugees who also need medical help as patients complaints are about food,sanitary conditions,water and clothing.
Thankyou.
Remember a country like US still cannot provide houses for Katrina victims. It is understandable that people want to leave camps and live on their own but be patient.
Besides, the rebel leaders must fight like true warriors without hiding behind women and children if they truly believe in their cause of the armed struggle. Waiting for Tamil Tiger supporters in Europe to rescue them does not help anybody.
Another day of life for the rebel leaders means another day of death and suffering for the civilians.
Remember Sri Lanka forces were deported from Haiti for abuse under UN mission in 2007.
Hope very soon racist Sinhala Mahinda government would be toppled for economic reasons and keeping their own people with head in the sand about their barbarism towards Tamil civilians and society would return to normalcy!!
To sean_lakeman
The chef will look for a 5 or 6 star hotel certainly not in a refugee camp behind a barbed wire fence wasting his skills he learnt by now turning out only kanjee water every other day.
Refugees do not need security.Who are the International aid agencies,where are they?
ICRC is 'worn out' as reported.
It is an accepted fact that there is lack of food,medicine,water and clothing.
The mind and body of the refugees have been traumatised by continued bombing.Acquiring learning skills of reading,writing and vocational will be furthest from their minds.
Finally- A war of hatred with a vengeance totally wipes out LOVE.
Thankyou
SL GOV is doing a planned genocide. Before 1983, SL GOV created killed in 1956, 1977 and 1983 in Colombo using its thugs. Now it is doing a pre-planned area without any one witness after 1983.
It is easy for Tigers to kill innocent Sinhales since they are soft target, but they never do that. This SL GOV is always target innocent civilians in the name of Tigers.
Anthony
We have passed many years with maximum tolarence in LTTE conrolled wanni. Why not we can tolerate for a short period until the LTTE is completely destroyed and the Wanni is completely liberated by military. We will have peaceful life and the bright future soon with the help of our goverment.
Friend, even now you say military victory but you are failing to see 100,000 innocent civilians in the path. see as a whole sinhalese community where your views are. this is why people are fearing to come to government controled areas and this is why LTTE will not lay down their arms. why is the need for LTTE if government can act in the best interest ot Tamils by going for a political solution. this is why we say, FIRST SOLUTION, THEN NO NEED FOR ARMS OR LTTE.
Let me give you some numbers (and no, these are not made up ones like yours. Google it and you will these).
Total population of Sri Lanka - 19.5M
Tamil Population of Sri Lanka - 2.5M
Now of this 2.5M:
700, 000 are living in an open prison in theJaffna penisula surrounded by a occupying Sinhala Army.
600,000 are living in the Eastern province under paramilitary rule abductions, rapes, and killings are daily occurences
300,000 are living killing fields in Vanni - (also known as No Fire Zone) dying in hundreds.
Another 300,000 from Vanni are langishing in concenrtration camps or are internally displaced or disappeared by Sri Lankan Army. According to Vanni MP 77,000 Tamils have gone missing in the last three years.
300,000 Tamils are living in Colombo, harrased and abused by security forces daily, made to register with the police every few months and subjected to roundups and of course abductions.
This leaves 300,000 unaccounted for. These people are either spread across the other provinces, working abroad as Sri lankan citizens or are KILLED BY THE SRI LANKAN forces over the past decade.
One last thing, 1 MILLION Tamils have fled Sri Lanka to escape death, rape and torture. This is why Tamils don't form 20% of Sri Lanka's popn anymore.
So where are the 80% of Tamils living happily with Sinhalese. Stop lying, open your eyes to the reality of Tamil genocide by Sri Lanka.
Genocide and ethnic cleansing was done in the north by the LTTE.
The cleverer Tamils are having a gala time in Colombo and overseas. ( Some even residing near the houses of parliament in Westminster these days )
They could go to TamilNudu and live in hunger for ever and we'll all be happier.
Tax payers money is better spent in deporting them.
ELECTRIC CHAIR IS READY FOR YOU ALL THE QUESTION IS WHEN IS THE PROBLEM
ADDIOS SRI LANKA
So Sri Lankan Sodiers can rape the youg women in the camps is it officialisf so which chater say so
'I remain gravely concerned at the continuing conflict in northern Sri Lanka that threatens many thousands of civilian lives. The British Government maintains its calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka and for civilians to be allowed to leave the conflict area. We have been joined by many other Governments, including France and the United States, in making similar calls.
The United Nations is engaged. The UN are making progress with the Government of Sri Lanka towards an agreement to get support to civilians in the conflict zone and on efforts to get agreement from the LTTE to allow civilians to leave. We will ask the UN Secretary-General's Representative, Mr Nambiar, to report immediately to the UN Security Council, after his visit. And the Prime Minister's Special Representative, Des Browne MP, is travelling to New York to consult urgently with the UN.
Protests and demonstrations around the world have highlighted the tragic loss of life of innocent civilians in Sri Lanka. Further loss of life will only compound that tragedy. The Tamil community are a community we value and they make an important contribution to British society. They have seen friends and relatives perish, and their loved ones are still at grave risk from the fighting. We have heard their voice and will keep listening. We are committed to do all we can to bring this terrible conflict to an end.'
gamay
The truth of Tamils not wanting to come out of their hom,eland WILL come out but I hope my worst fears of genocide will not continue.
Somehow, somewhere they convinced Andrew Buncombe to report based on stories from people under the watch of military and NOT SO INDEPENDENT reporters as the ones that government FEARS of being fearless and truly independent are not allowed - such as Geremy Page.
Whatever way this is played out, I pray for the Tamil community as a whole - you are a remarkable people and hope your sufferings will be brought to an end soon.
WJW
To know the truth inSriLanka a Journalist have to work hard and be ready to sacrifice their life.
I have seen many write the stories from tamils in camps but no one can get the real picture because in in camps mingled with people ,Tamil Paramilitary ,army spies are watching every words.There words are lethal.
Let the displaced Tamils live in a place where Srilankan government cant touch them, They will talk loudly their truth .Otherwise reporters are always defeated in reporting in SriLanka.
The government which banned the media into the warzone is showing their victory with satellite shows of desperate civilians fleeing in an ant line.
Rajiva Wijesinha, a governemtn spokesman reported told a journalist that barbed wires were used in detention camps over other material so that civilians will have adequate ventilation!!!
The media is buying this bull.
The irony is that the same international media could not be bothered to push the government into reporting the escalating casualties as early as January since their bosses would not part with plane fare and accommodation as `it is not profitable to report unless there is sufficient number of dead bodies'
Now there are enough dead Tamil bodies to dramatise the tragic war escalating with miserable and frightened civilians to create and make profits for their media organisations.Twenty-five years on and we still have not learnt that suffering Tamils in Sri Lanka do not mean a thing to the international community.
The island is far too tiny to bother their pretty heads.