| Description |
1 online resource (44 pages) : maps (some color) |
| Series |
Asia report ; 165 |
|
ICG Asia report ; 165.
|
| Contents |
Executive summary and recommendations -- Introduction -- Eastern reawakening -- "Conflict sensitivity and the politics of aid -- Managing the risks better -- Conclusion: lessons for the north |
| Summary |
"Violence, political instability and the government's reluctance to devolve power or resources to the fledgling provincial council are undermining ambitious plans for developing Sri Lanka's Eastern Province. The east continues to face obstacles to economic and political progress and offers lessons for development agencies and foreign donors considering expanding their work into newly won areas in the Northern Province. While there is still potential for progress in the east, it remains far from being the model of democratisation and postconflict reconstruction that the government claims. Donors should adopt a more coordinated set of policies for the war-damaged areas of Sri Lanka, emphasizing civilian protection, increased monitoring of the effects of aid on conflict dynamics and collective advocacy with the government at the highest levels. International attention is currently and rightfully focused on the need to protect upwards of 100,000 civilians at risk from fighting in the northern Vanni region, but at the same time, there are still important challenges in the so-called "liberated" area of the Eastern Province. Even now, the Eastern Province is still not the "postconflict" situation that development agencies had hoped it would be when they started work there in late 2007 and early 2008. Despite the presence of tens of thousands of soldiers and police in the east, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have proven able to launch attacks on government forces and on their rivals in the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP). There have also been violent conflicts between different factions of the pro-government TMVP, and impunity for killings and disappearances, many of them apparently committed by government security forces and/or their allies in the TMVP. Extortion and criminality linked to the TMVP also remain problems. Insecurity and fear are undermining the ability of agencies and contractors to implement projects. Violence between Tamils and Muslims has been kept to a minimum since June 2008, but tensions between the communities over land and political power remain high, and there seems little prospect of reconciliation so long as current government policies remain in place. Tamils are largely alienated from the government, thanks to the heavy hand of government security forces and TMVP activities. Many Muslims feel threatened by TMVP control of the provincial council and what they see as Tamil domination of the provincial administration. Both communities continue to suspect the government has plans for large-scale "Sinhalisation" of the east. Sinhalese villagers, students, contractors and government employees have, in turn, been victims of violent attacks. The government still has not devolved power to the Eastern Province, as required by the Thirteenth Amendment to the constitution, which established the provincial council system in 1987 in response to Tamil demands for regional autonomy in the north and east. The governor of the province, appointed by the president, is blocking the council's initial piece of authorising legislation, and development planning and implementation continues to be run from Colombo and central government ministries. The government has yet to articulate any plans for a fair and lasting distribution of resources and political power that would satisfy all communities. In this environment, development of the east remains affected by the conflicts and threatens to exacerbate them. Despite the need for development, there is a danger of funds being wasted or misused. ..."--Executive summary |
| Notes |
Title from title screen (viewed Sept. 22, 2010) |
|
"16 April 2009." |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references |
| Subject |
Economic assistance -- Sri Lanka
|
|
Ethnic conflict -- Sri Lanka
|
|
Economic assistance.
|
|
Ethnic conflict.
|
|
Politics and government
|
| SUBJECT |
Sri Lanka -- Politics and government -- 1978- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85127143
|
| Subject |
Sri Lanka.
|
| Form |
Electronic book
|
| Author |
International Crisis Group.
|
|
