Mano, reaching back in the green
I agree, and this charity thing is getting old. Charity sucks for a captive audience. I don’t think it’s ‘state terrorism’, not sure what that means beyond the normal state monopoly on violence. I do think it’s bad public policy, legally illegal and expensively annoying. Hear that it’s raining now, which SUCKS. If you want an idea of Menik Farm, think of the dusty outdoor parking lot behind Unity Plaza. The dust storms suck when it’s dry, but anything’s better than when it rains. I suppose some people have nowhere else to go, but those that are registered and have places to go should just go. Just let them take care of themselves.
To quote the Bishop Of Colombo:
There is another dimension to the IDP crisis that we ought not to lose sight of. This is that those in the camps are resourceful Sri Lankans who have lived with dignity. The possess resilience and skills and can contribute productively to the nation’s economy. The Vanni population must be seen not only as a humanitarian crisis or security threat but as resourceful humans with much to offer the common good.
and to return to Mano, a tri-lingual Tamil MP who lives here and who bravely participates in the political process:
These people are neither beggars nor homeless street people. They are proudful people who lived honorably in their traditional villages, the villages and land of our ancestors who lived and shaped our heritage for thousands of years. It is very true that Buddhism and Hinduism carry the messages of kindness and mercy. But these people do not require mercy. They need no to be at anybody’s mercy. This national problem cannot be restricted to water bottles, clothing, food packets and tents. Government is trying to cover it’s nakedness by using the media excessively to telecast the ‘merciful’ supplies of such goods to the IDPs.
I feel embarrassed as a member Sri Lankan state to note this shameless act of the government. This trend of portraying our people as poor beggars on the breadline should stop at once. Their legitimate rights to live freely in their own traditional villages should be treasured and respected. I am talking this from my heart. I address this to the hearts of my Sinhala Buddhist brethren. I wish to engage myself in efforts to win over the hearts and minds of our Sinhala brethren in view of ending this national humanitarian crisis. Government is trying to wrap this humanitarian problem under the carpet. I call upon the goodhearted Sinhalese people to unite and defeat this efforts of the government (Ravaya interview, translated on desicritics).
I’ve done relief work and it is important, but it’s also getting to be a bit futile. I talk to a friend in Menik Farm occassionally and she doesn’t want any stuff or better conditions. She just wants out to take care of her and her family. To her face, I cannot think of any good reasons why not. I mean, I can think of plenty in the abstract, but nothing that bears saying to her face.
finally
how many people have the processed already 100 ? 100,000 ?
There has to be a huge billboard outside the camps which have a running total
Processed today – x
Released today – y
Keeping the people that are processed and cleared is NOTHING but the dysfunctionality of the SL govt officials.
What can people like us do to get the govt to let these people go ?
Please do not say “on line ” petition cause the present govt pays attention to online petitions like fish pay attention to bicycles.
Where are the TNA mps when they can actually do something ? Also where are all the HR protesting mob in colombo when we need them ?
He is a government stooge. Maybe it is all part of a plan by the sinhala-buddhists to keep the tamil brotherhood oppressed.
I reckon you heard it is raining from Groundviews. Local print, broadcast and web media are not covering this story. The Daily Mirror republishes a BBC news item, but for the Govt and its media, everything in Menik Camp is under control and hunky dory.
The shame that is the IDP camps diverts attention from all the positive developments that I am sure are taking place. That the GOSL prevents independent reporting only fuels the flames of speculation, which more often than not cause more harm that good. Sadly though, unlikely that there will be a change for the better given that elements in GOSL have their own agenda ahead of that of the nation and its people
For first images of the flooding in Menik Camp, exclusive to Groundviews, click here.
Nothing like a bit of shameless self-promotion eh Sanjana?
More images and updated reports from the ground – http://www.groundviews.org/2009/08/16/update-on-menik-camp-flooding-more-images-and-reports-from-the-ground/
I was under the impression that flooding in Sri Lanka is no major deal anyway. Does it not flood there each year ?
Even in the capital and in certain towns, where everyone is a gem merchant ?[City of gems, I think]
So what’s so major about flooding in IDP camps. Those people whose tents were flooded will be very quickly relocated to dry ground and that is all.
This is one place where everyone must focus and give a single voice.
What we want is the people who have been cleared to be sent to where they wish to go to and that is all. All this talk about floods etc are just trying to create more confusion to an already confused situation.
ah, one cannot blame him. It is a common characteristic of all NGOs.
So common the term “Egging the pudding” now is exclusively used in NGO publications /discussions.
I don’t know about Ratnapura, but it does flood in Colombo. My cousin’s house flooded and, being a free citizen, he was able to crash at his mother-in-laws. He also doesn’t sleep on the floor.
In the camps you have people who sleep on the ground and are unable to leave without permission. So it’s understandably a bad situation. If you still consider that no major deal, the flooding messes up an already fragile water and sanitation situation. Given the insane concentration of people, you get a lot more water borne diseases like diarrhea and hepatatis, which the doctors have been working hard to fight. It is a closed space prone to the fast spread of these diseases, and slow recovery.
So it is a major deal, and it adds an urgency to getting people out.