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PHASE ONE OF THE
ACTION PLAN FOR ACCELERATED RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME IN
JAFFNA DISTRICT BEGINS: GOVERNMENT, LTTE AND UNHCR TEAMS
START WORK
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UNITED
NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES |
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PRESS
RELEASE
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28 January 2003
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The
Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at the fourth session
of peace talks in Thailand 6 – 9 January 2003,
inter alia, agreed on an “Action Plan for an
Accelerated Resettlement Programme for the Jaffna
District. (ARP)” In light of the fact that a
majority of resettlement in the District will occur
in areas outside the High Security Zones (HSZs), the
first phase of the Action Plan would address such
returns, while the second phase will address resettlement
in areas within the HSZs. With regard to the first
phase, seven assessment teams have been created. These
teams are comprised of one member from the Government,
LTTE and UNHCR and are currently conducting needs
assessments in key sectors within the Jaffna district.
The results of these assessments will form the basis
for further discussion on what resources are required
to make the conditions in Jaffna conducive for safe
and dignified return for IDPs and refugees. |
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| Four specific tasks were
identified in this first phase with the following deadlines: |
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The identification of available resources
by 20 January 2003; |
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A plan to release areas outside the HSZs
presently used by the Security Forces to the original
owners or intended purposes, submitted by 20 January
2003; |
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A preliminary physical needs assessment
completed by 7 February 2003; and |
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The formulation of project recommendations
and identification of potential implementing agencies
by 14 February 2003. |
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To
support this process, the parties agreed to ask UNHCR
to cooperate in the planning and implementation of
the Jaffna ARP. With a view to facilitating the planning
and implementation of the Action Plan for the ARP,
UNHCR wishes - under its mandate to provide protection
and assistance to IDPs and refugees - to provide the
following initial guidelines. These guidelines are
intended to be used for the Jaffna Accelerated Resettlement
Programme as well as for resettlement activities in
other parts of the country.. |
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At the outset UNHCR wishes to underline
that the ARP should focus on the creation of conditions
conducive to future spontaneous and organised voluntary
returns of IDPs in areas outside the HSZs in Jaffna
District. |
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Creation of conditions more conducive
to future returns will require a multi-sectoral approach,
including a cross-sectoral assessment of the situation
in return areas, and significant early investment in
each sector, involving a broad spectrum of interested
parties and stakeholders, including the Government of
Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (through
the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation
Needs), the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank,
UN agencies, NGOs, and representatives of the displaced. |
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To create conditions conducive
to return, adequate assurances must be given to the
IDPs regarding their physical safety.
In this regard: |
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The interested parties
will need to address and to resolve issues concerning
any ongoing human rights violations; |
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The interested parties will need to
accelerate the reduction of landmines and unexploded
ordinance. |
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Equally, to create such
conditions, adequate assurances will need to be given
to IDPs regarding their legal safety.
In this regard: |
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The interested parties will need to
address and to restore common, non-discriminatory legal
and administrative systems |
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The interested parties will need to
address and to restore democratic, non-discriminatory
policing systems; |
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The interested parties will need to
address and to provide national documentary protection,
including providing access to obtaining - without delay
- national identity cards, birth and marriage certificates
in order to ensure full access by those choosing to
resettle to all services normally available to nationals
of Sri Lanka |
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The interested parties will need to
address and to enact adequate legislation to provide
for restitution of property to returning IDPs, and if
indicated compensation to IDPs for lost or damaged property;
and |
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Furthermore, all interested
parties will need to create conditions whereby adequate
assurances are given to IDPs regarding their material
safety. In this regard: |
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The interested parties will need to
address and to provide adequate habitable property to
returning IDPs; |
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The interested parties will need to
address and to provide adequate utilities, including
potable water; |
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The interested parties will need to
address and to provide adequate, non-discriminatory
health care services; |
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The interested parties will need to
address and to provide adequate and non-discriminatory
education facilities; and |
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The interested parties will need to
address and make available non-discriminatory opportunities
for employment and the earning of livelihoods. |
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In implementing the ARP,
interested parties should ensure that all IDPs have
full access to information regarding the present condition
of their homes or habitual places of residence, and
the existing living conditions they will face if they
choose to resettle, so that all IDPs are able to make
informed decisions regarding return to their homes or
habitual places of residence. |
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In implementing the ARP,
interested parties should ensure that all returns by
IDPs are voluntary, absent from any undue influence
to return and/or any “push” or “pull”
factors. |
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In implementing the ARP,
all IDPs need to be adequately consulted and informed,
prior to their taking any decision on resettlement,
and be reminded of the alternative options of integrating
into the society of their current place of displacement,
or being resettled in a new location in Sri Lanka. In
this regard the interested parties may wish to consult
the results of the IDP census carried out by the Government,
with the support of UNHCR, which provides information
as to the wishes and intentions of those who were displaced. |
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| The special needs of Women
and Children and other vulnerable groups of IDPs and
returnees must be established and taken into account
at all times. |
| For more information please
contact Brenda Barrett, Media Spokesperson (barrett@unhcr.ch)
or extension 354 |
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