Funded But Faulted – “Social Integration” Has No Takers In NorthFar East Movement By Kusal Perera his attempts to position the National Policy Framework for Social Integration (NPFSI) named “Access for every one” (Savivara) within politics of post war Sri Lanka that Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara proudly exhibits as his National Languages and Social Integration Ministry’s most formidable contribution for reconciliation. The whole programme was funded by the German government through its GIZ administered Facilitating Initiatives for Social Cohesion and Transformation (FLICT) that was initially called Fund for Local Initiatives on Conflict Transformation. Having met Minister Nanayakkara, UNHR High Commissioner Navi Pillai sounded satisfied, there is some positive work done under that ministry. I personally believe, not only Minister Nanayakkara, but politician Vasudeva has also been proved a fake, under the Rajapaksa regime. The September 21st NPC elections voted overwhelmingly for the TNA manifesto and now with the EPC adopting a resolution asking for all powers under the 13 Amendment, it is proof Northern and Eastern, Tamil and Muslim people see nothing convincing in this government’s post war reconciliation and social integration. Which means, Nanayakkara’s ministry created NPFSI adds nothing to this regime’s “reconciliation”. This ministry simply can not expect the Tamils and the Muslims to trust their “Access” programme for social integration, when the Minister himself goes to Jaffna to tell the Tamil people what Gotabhaya says from Colombo. The NPC will not be given land and police powers said Minister Nanayakkara, addressing a press conference in Jafffna, while on an election campaign trail in the North. Apart from how the people would trust such a minister in this regime, the issue of how such a politician conceptualises his social integration programme is very much in question. His political perception of the unresolved political conflict, seems no different to that of the rabid Sinhala campaigners in the Rajapaksa government, who believe what has already been done as “development” in the North and East, is what “reconciliation” means and is adequate. The absence of any serious understanding of the political conflict, is quite evident and stands out very conspicuously in the NPFSI. Reading through over two dozen A4 pages having left out pages of name lists and abbreviations, I was shocked to find that this NPF for “Social Integration” has absolutely no mention, this is intended for a country that had been through a 30 year brutal and savage armed conflict. That this is for a country that left over 240,000 civilians completely displaced and languishing in barbed wired camps, having been displaced many times before and moving from place to place for many years. That this is for a country that still keeps counting and disputing the numbers died during the last phase of the war and the regime that fought the war refusing to accept responsibility. There is absolutely no mention that this NPF for “Social Integration” is for a country that for decades have been left polarising on an ethnic conflict that lost thousands of lives on both sides of the barricade. A country that has over 80,000 war widows and perhaps an equal or higher number of children without both or one parent. A country that has hundreds of mothers, spouses and children who are still searching for their missing family members. An ethnic conflict that brought out Sinhala masses on the streets in jubilation to celebrate not the end of the war, but the defeat of the “Tamils” and their separatist agenda. A country that does not know it needs a seriously thought out and planned re-socialising programme for its brutally battle hardened military. Instead, I read through with utter disgust, three empty messages by minister Nanayakkara, ministry Secretary Mrs. Malkanthi Wickramasinghe and GIZ-FLICT Technical Advisor and National Process Manager to the ministry, Ms. Dayani Panagoda that had praises for each other and for the GIZ-FLICT, obviously for funds received. None of them had ever been living through a war in SL, from what they have carefully worded in their messages. Sadly, the FLICT has failed too. What ever technical advice was given to this much claimed consultative process by GIZ-FLICT, the first question they should have asked the ministry is, “why does the ministry think this country needs a foreign funded programme for reconciliation, social integration and cohesion ?” The answer to that would have led to other important issues that have been conveniently left out of this NPFSI. Read more: https://colombotelegraph/index.php/funded-but-faulted-social-integration-has-no-takers-in-north-east/
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 01:46:37 +0000
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