Militarisation is the biggest threat faced by the people of Jaffna, according to the findings of an NGO report published last week.
The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), together with the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) in their report 'Under the Military's Shadow', on the effects of militarisation on local communities in the Jaffna Peninsula, found that as well as ongoing human rights violations, military commercial activities also perpetuated deprivation among communities.
"Even though the war ended seven years ago, tens of thousands of people are still internally displaced on the Jaffna Peninsula. Several thousand of them continue to live in IDP Camps, where the precarious living conditions are not adequate for families, particularly women-headed families," said the STP in a press release.
"Currently the GoSL is releasing some areas of occupied land. Some parts will, however, remain occupied. The government is resettling IDPs on the released land. Some of the IDPs were resettled on their traditional land where fishing and farming is possible. The other resettlement areas, where people were resettled without their consent, are mostly unsuitable for agriculture and fishing. Therefore, they cannot develop their traditional livelihood."
Emphasising the report's calls to cut the military presence in Jaffna, the STP said:
"The STP and NAFSO urge the GoSL to reduce the military presence, to cease the surveillance of local population and order the military to end all of their commercial activities. Furthermore, the government is urged to release all occupied areas to their traditional owners and consult the IDPs on the resettlement process. The STP and NAFSO also recommend that the government support resettling IDPs to develop their traditional livelihood and provide them with sufficient basic facilities such as drinking water, electricity and sanitary facilities and ensure access to schools and health facilities. For women-headed households in particular, an adequate standard of living free from hunger and malnutrition needs to be ensured by the government."
The Society for Threatened Peoples is a Swiss organisation that documents and raises awareness of human rights violations against persecuted minorities.