Return to War - Human Rights Watch

“We can’t go back to Mutur, our homes are all destroyed,” one IDP from Mutur said.
“We want to go back but the problem is our security. Every day there are killings.” 39
Another IDP who had left his home in Kunjalkalkulam near Vaharai on November 1,
2006, told us, “We want to go home but the problem is if the fighting begins again
our security is not sure.” He continued, “Our home is near the jungle. If the
government gives us full security [we would go home] but they’re not giving us this.
The government is trying to get us to go home but it’s not safe.” 40
After an initial silence, the forced returns prompted an outcry from UNHCR, which
along with dozens of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) has been serving Sri
Lanka’s displaced. On March 13, 2007, UNHCR said that “heavy pressure has been
applied on internally displaced people,” and cited local authority statements that
assistance would be stopped if they stayed in Batticaloa. 41
On March 16 UNCHR said the government had provided renewed assurances that the
agency would be involved in any IDP returns. In a statement, UNHCR urged that “all
return movements are voluntary, without undue pressure or duress.” 42
Shortly thereafter, the UN distributed leaflets in Sinhala, Tamil, and English on the
rights of the displaced. “If you want to go home, it is important that you know it is
safe to do so and that you will be able to start your life at home again with dignity,”
the pamphlet said. 43 This move sparked some criticism of the UN as ordinary people
felt they had no one to complain to when their rights were violated and blamed the
UN for printing leaflets and doing little else.
39 Human Rights Watch interview with IDP from Muttur, Valaichchenai, February 26, 2007.
40 Human Rights Watch interview with IDP from Kunjalkalkulam, Almkulam IDP camp, Batticaloa district, February 25, 2007.
41 “More than 40,000 civilians flee latest fighting in eastern Sri Lanka,” UNHCR News Stories, March 13, 2007,
http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/45f6bb704.html (accessed July 2, 2007).
42 “Sri Lanka: Government Assures UNHCR Involvement in Future IDP Return,” UNHCR Briefing Note, March 16, 2007,
http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/45fa70394.html (accessed May 12, 2007).
43 UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee Country Team, “Returning Home.” For the pamphlet in all three languages, see
http://ochaonline2.un.org/Default.aspx?alias=ochaonline2.un.org/srilanka (accessed May 12, 2007).
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Human Rights Watch August 2007