Tamil refugees to be released from camps
Tamil refugees to be released from camps
Tuesday, 01, Dec 2009 11:48
By Maria Tonelli.
Tens of thousands of Tamil civilians will be free to leave refugee camps after Sri Lankan officials decided to open the camps for the first time in six months.
More than 120,000 men, women and children have been forced to live in cramped and squalid conditions since the end of the civil war in May.
However, the decision comes on the condition that those leaving the camp in the Vavuniya district, 160 miles north of the capital, Colombo, will register with officials so their movements can be monitored.
The UN has welcomed the move with caution. Spokesman Gordon Weiss said: "We see it as a form of release.which is not ideal but a step forward from having people encased in barbed wire."
He added that the displaced men and women still faced many problems: "The majority of people are returning to areas which were bitterly fought over, their homes are often destroyed, their lands may be infested with land mines."
After increasing international pressure in recent months, the Sri Lankan government also said it hopes the camps will be cleared by the end of January.
The camps were once home to nearly 300,000 people after the army led its final assault on the Tiger Tamil leadership in May.
Human rights activists have criticised the Sri Lankan government for asking Tamils to report to police stations.
Suhas Chakma of Delhi's Asia centre for human rights, said: "If you have to keep presenting yourself to the authorities then how can that be termed freedom of movement?"
Some experts say the timing of the release coincides with the presidential elections - to be held on January 26th.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for elections to be held two years early, in an effort to take advantage of his popularity after defeating the Tamil Tigers.