Kanimozhi and Indian Parliamentarians praised Government during visit to Vavuniya in 2009 – GA Vavuniya

Kanimozhi and other Indian parliamentarians who visited Vavuniya and the Menik Farm IDP Shelter in October 2009 were aggressive and not willing to even talk to the government officials when they arrived, according to Vavuniya Government Agent Mrs. P.S.M. Charles.

However, the team was full of praise at the end of the two-hour visit. According to Charles Kanimozhi said, “You are doing a wonderful job. We had a very wrong picture, sorry for that. We will tell our Chief Minister (M. Karunanidhi) as well as the Indian Prime Minister.”

The comments were made during an interview with this writer in April 2011.

The sentiments and change of heart of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation as described by the Vavuniya GA assume greater significance in the light of the pressure applied by the DMK – a constituent of India’s Congress led government – which prompted Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to tell the Indian Parliament Tuesday, that India was inclined to vote in favour of the proposed US-led resolution on Sri Lanka despite not knowing the final text.

“While they were landing they were very angry. When they were departing they were very happy, very polite, and they appreciated,” Mrs. Charles added.

GA Vavuniya, Mrs. P.M. Charles in the company of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the latter's visit to the Menik Farm IDP Camp in Vavuniya. (Photo: www.asiantribune.com)

The US sponsored resolution is due to be tabled on or before Friday at the Nineteenth Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Listen to an extract of the interview held at the Vavuniya GA’s Office on April 25th 2011.

(The interview was conducted as part of a documentation process and has not been published before. The decision to publish extracts was made in fairness to the large number of people who value the new found freedom in Sri Lanka and yet are helpless in the face of the heavy international media barrage.)

UN Refused to Cooperate in Preparing Facilities to Receive 250,000 IDPs in 2009

A Sri Lanka Government official charged that UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs had refused to cooperate in preparing facilities to receive 250,000 IDPs in Vavuniya at the end of the conflict.

A batch of LTTE cadres rehabilitated by the Sri Lanka Government await their reintegration to society at the Vavuniya Town Hall, April 2011. (Photo: Ranjit J. Perera)

Vavuniya Government Agent, Mrs. P.S.M. Charles told this writer in an exclusive interview last year, that the government decided to proceed to prepare the infrastructure to receive at least 250,000 people (at the Menik Farm) after the UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs had a heated argument with the GA and refused to cooperate. She also said that the government around the same time sent food and essential items for 400,000 people knowing very well that it was an over-estimation, on the basis that even the LTTE cadres were citizens of Sri Lanka.

She also spoke of how the government on its own organised a food convoy to LTTE held areas following a delay in the WFP getting security clearance from its own security advisors. 

Listen to extracts of the interview held at the Vavuniya GA’s Office on April 25th 2011.

(The interview was conducted as part of a documentation process and has not been published before. The decision to publish extracts was made in fairness to the large number of people who value the new found freedom in Sri Lanka and yet are helpless in the face of the heavy international media barrage in view of the US sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka due to be tabled at the 19th Session of the UNHRC.)