{"id":40415,"date":"2015-04-09T19:27:46","date_gmt":"2015-04-09T23:27:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=40415"},"modified":"2015-04-09T19:27:46","modified_gmt":"2015-04-09T23:27:46","slug":"rehabilitation-of-ex-ltte-combatants-is-a-sri-lankan-success-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=40415","title":{"rendered":"Rehabilitation of Ex \u2013LTTE Combatants is a Sri Lankan Success Story"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nMaj-Gen Jagath Wijetilleke,Commissioner \u2013General of Rehabilitation Speaks Out<\/strong><\/p>\n

M<\/strong>ost of the former LTTE combatants came for rehabilitation voluntarily and they were placed in a one-year rehabilitation process in 2009. Initially there had been 24 centres and now it has been reduced to one centre where only 45 inmates are undergoing rehabilitation. But some more, who will be referred by the Courts, are to come from remand prisons for rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

Since over 12,000 rehabilitated ex-combatants are back in the society, now our main focus is to provide them sustainable livelihood assistance to start their lives. The rehabilitation officers in eight districts \u2013 Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Colombo are now collecting details about them, their requirements for livelihood support.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Centres for caring ex-combatants<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are working to set up State-run centres like Abimansala, in which injured soldiers of the armed forces are looked after, to provide care for the ex-combatants who are paralysed or badly injured and don\u2019t have any family members to look after them. They, who need special care, will be provided lifelong care, if necessary. We are collecting data on them.<\/p>\n

We have proposed to have a special centre in Kilinochchi to help the ex-combatants with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and also to address the psychosocial issues among them in the north.<\/p>\n

In our action plan, we have programs to help women-headed families to offer them financial support and shelter. According to our findings, the northern people are still deprived of decent shelter. In the proposed housing projects, the ex-combatants will be given priority.<\/p>\n

I always believe we should not only help the ex-combatants but also their children. If we neglect their children, they will be vulnerable in future to similar situations their parents had been subjected to. If we can take care of their children now, it will help us to maintain peace in future. Therefore, our focus is always the ex-combatants plus the next generation.<\/p>\n

The Government has successfully completed rehabilitating the ex-combatants and now we want to address the reconciliation aspect of the process. Livelihood restoration is given priority as one of our recent surveys has revealed that over 22% of the rehabilitated ex-combatants are unemployed.<\/p>\n

While the committee appointed by the Prime Minister is exploring means of creating livelihoods for the rehabilitated ex-combatants, the Rehabilitation Authority will find more foreign jobs in the Middle East, Korea and Singapore through the Foreign Employment Bureau.<\/p>\n

Some ex-combatants are already employed in Korea and earning well. Over 360 rehabilitated ex-combatants, including those who are employed in Korea and migrated with their families, are living peacefully abroad. We helped some of them migrate by providing necessary documents.<\/p>\n

Loans for self-employment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under the self-employment scheme, rehabilitated ex-combatants are given soft loans with an interest of 4%. Over 1,783 have already obtained loans and started their businesses. Over 5,000 have submitted applications and we are processing the applications to grant them loans soon.<\/p>\n

In some loan applications some information like permanent address are lacking but we are negotiating with the banks to skip this requirement to grant them loans to start their businesses. For some beneficiaries, we have extended the grace period for repaying considering their economic status.<\/p>\n

Following instructions by the Prime Minister, we are now having discussions with foreign banks to grant loans to ex-combatants.<\/p>\n

Some have obtained their second loan. Our main focus is to look after the rehabilitated ex-combatants well to ensure they are financially stable so nobody can influence or motivate to enter into illegal activities. I personally believe that it would be best if we can give them State jobs and keep the ex-combatants under our payroll, as they gain confidence about their future.
\n
\nEx-combatants, peaceful citizens<\/strong><\/p>\n

These ex-combatants have given up arms as they were defeated militarily and if they wanted to create some volatile situation they could have done it after they re-entered society. I am happy to say all of them are living very peaceful lives and there are no records of their involvement in any form of illegal activity in society during the past six years.<\/p>\n

When rehabilitating ex-combatants in other countries, the ex-combatants were taken for rehabilitation forcefully. In Sri Lanka it is unique as they came for rehabilitation voluntarily. At the initial stages we had problems in requesting their own societies not to look at them as terrorists. We had to take several efforts like public awareness campaigns to change their perspective to welcome the ex-combatants back to society.<\/p>\n

The ex-combatants are given the opportunity to join the armed forces but only 5% of them accepted it. My view is that it was because they didn\u2019t want to touch weapons and be in a military environment again. They want to have peaceful lives with their families. We need to respect their attitude and need to ensure their security and give them fullest support to have better positions in society.
\n
\nSocial stigma due to caste<\/strong><\/p>\n

I found that a major cause that contributes to social stigma is the caste problem in the north.
\nMost of the ex-combatants are from low castes and they were controlling the people during the LTTE period. Those villagers, who still hate the ex-combatants for conscripting their children, had mistreated them once they were reintegrated. This situation needs time to heal. <\/p>\n

Compared to the situation at the beginning, there is a marked change in their attitudes towards the ex-combatants, who are leading peaceful lives. Now their children are schooling with the rest of the children.<\/p>\n

I am sad to state that there is some influence by political parties with vested interests in creating a situation against these combatants. If they are not accepted by society, it is easy for those politicians to fish them to their side.<\/p>\n

As the Commissioner General, I want to say this is one of the world\u2019s best models to prove the success of rehabilitation of ex-combatants. The Government and people of this country need to look after the 12,081 ex-combatants in society very well for the next five years.
\n
\nNone under surveillance<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the Commissioner General, I reiterate that no ex-combatant is under surveillance and we don\u2019t monitor them once they are reintegrated into society. They are free individuals as other Sri Lankans who are living in the rest of the country.<\/p>\n

I say with responsibility that there is no requirement for them to report to the nearest Army camp or the Police station once they have been released after rehabilitation. However, if they violate law and order of the country, they will be dealt with via the law. So far no such case has been reported against released ex-combatants.
\n
\nInvite Tamil diaspora<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Tamil diaspora, I feel, still have a different picture about the process and hope they will understand the reality soon. Here I place the blame on the media and our foreign missions in the respective countries for not giving publicity on the rehabilitation process and its success stories. <\/p>\n

Recently a group of Sri Lankan Tamils in UK sought our help to go to the north. We arranged the trip. When they met me after their trip to the north, they said that they never thought the situation in the north was good as they always get distorted and twisted stories about the north.<\/p>\n

No one from the Tamil diaspora has contacted me to help the ex-combatants so far. But those who witnessed the reality in the north have commended our efforts to uplift the lives of ex-combatants.<\/p>\n

We know most of the ex-combatants have relatives abroad who are indirectly supporting them. If you look at the bank transactions, you can realise it. They may be living in cadjan huts but they have dollars and sterling pounds in their accounts.<\/p>\n

As a Government we can\u2019t give them everything and we are happy they are getting support from somewhere, but this support needs to be continued in a positive way with no hidden agendas to disrupt the peace and stability in the north.<\/p>\n

Around 2,000 still not rehabilitated<\/strong><\/p>\n

The doors are still open for those who have not come for rehabilitation. There are around 2000 ex-combatants who have not come for rehabilitation and are in society. We know most of them didn\u2019t report to us fearing they would be subjected to harassment and tough interrogation or they would be imprisoned again, but I assure no harm will come to them if they come for rehabilitation voluntarily.<\/p>\n

They are not even under surveillance but if they come for rehabilitation it will be a plus point for them to clear their names. Society will also accept them well if they are rehabilitated.<\/p>\n

All child soldiers are now over 18 years of age. Most of them are enrolled in higher education as they were given the opportunity to catch up on their missed education during the rehabilitation process. Over 30 ex-combatants, including former child soldiers, are now eligible to enter universities. There are 232 undergraduates including child soldiers who are doing medicine and engineering.<\/p>\n

We want to help the ex-combatants continue with their higher education and we help them to achieve their educational goals. We believe that proper education will always promote peaceful citizens.<\/p>\n

Out of the total reintegrated ex-combatants, 6 to 7% of ex-suicide cadres are also reintegrated and leading peaceful lives.<\/p>\n

Counselling, which is one of the main component of the rehabilitation process, has helped to change those who were ready to die by killing many people. From the day one of the rehabilitation process, we used counselling as an effective tool to tap their minds.<\/p>\n

Our counsellors handled them carefully and touched their inner feelings to read their minds to teach them the value of living rather than taking their own lives. They are also taught about the value of other people\u2019s lives. They were motivated to respect each other and their culture, religion and attitudes.<\/p>\n

We also taught them the importance of knowing their rights to education, life, speak, vote, religion and justice. The Sri Lankan model of rehabilitation is a rights-based approach and is designed to always ensure the safety of the ex-combatants.<\/p>\n

I always say we haven\u2019t done 100% for the ex-combatants. There are some gaps but from what we have done so far, I can proudly say the rehabilitation of the ex-combatants is a success story.<\/p>\n


\nCourtesy:Daily FT<\/em><\/p>\n

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Maj-Gen Jagath Wijetilleke,Commissioner \u2013General of Rehabilitation Speaks Out Most of the former LTTE combatants came for rehabilitation voluntarily and they were placed in a one-year rehabilitation process in 2009. Initially there had been 24 centres and now it has been reduced to one centre where only 45 inmates are undergoing rehabilitation. But some more, who …<\/p>\n

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