Programme of Immediate Relief Measures for War Affected Persons and Areas for Peace by the Common Presidential Candidate, Sarath Fonseka

Published by Colombo Telegraph, November 3, 2011

The Colombo Telegraph discovered this text in January 1, 2010 cable from the US Embassy divulged by Wikileaks.

PROGRAMME OF IMMEDIATE RELIEF MEASURES FOR WAR AFFECTED PERSONS AND AREAS FOR PEACE BY THE COMMON PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SARATH FONSEKA.

I. Restoration of Civil Administration and Normalcy

1. Full restoration of all institutions of Civil Administration from the Office of Grama Sevaka upwards — free from Military, Police and Political interference.

2. Committees for each District headed by the respective District Secretary (GA) and comprising:

-Nominee of the President
-Divisional Secretaries
-Other Officials (Representatives of such Officials)
-Members of Parliament/Their Representatives
-Representatives of Local Authorities
-Judicial Officers
-Security Forces/Commanders/Officers North/East
-DIG — Police /Officers
-Civil Society Representatives

To prepare Plan of Action for immediate implementation within one month Monthly Reports on progress to be submitted to the President, Cabinet and Parliament.

A dedicated Secretariat to be established under the President to monitor progress and ensure implementation.

3. The immediate measures stated herein to be implemented through Presidential Orders, including appointing Presidential Task Forces there of.

4. Security Forces to be stationed at strategic locations only, taking into consideration national security. High Security Zones to be dismantled in keeping with the re-location of the Security Forces.

5. Free movement of all persons to be guaranteed without being impeded by Security and Police personnel.

6. Police to be manned, as far as practicable, by Officers who are conversant in Tamil.

II. Prohibition of ‘para-military cadres’ and armed groups (self styled ‘War Lords’)

1. All ‘para-military cadres’ and armed groups to be disarmed forthwith.

2. Areas of civilian activity to be free of weapons.

3. Except the Security Forces and Police, only persons with permits under the Firearms Ordinance would be entitled to possess firearms.

III. Re-settlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons

1. De-mining of areas to be speedily concluded through De-Mining Units.

2. Displaced persons to be returned to their original homes, and where homes have been destroyed alternative accommodation to be provided, with financial support to establish themselves and develop livelihoods.

3. Social infrastructure requirements, such as provision of
essential Foods, Medical Centers, Hospitals, Schools,
Transport etc to be provided.

IV. Land and Agriculture

1. Restoration of possession of private land and buildings, now occupied by Security Forces/Police/ Government Agencies, to those lawfully entitled to such land and buildings.

2. Committees referred to in 1.2 above to arrange for such restoration.

3. Committees to submit a Scheme to the Government for payment of compensation for damage caused to buildings.

4. a. Eviction of persons legitimately entitled to State Land from such Lands; b. Other instances of deprivation of legitimate title holders of State Lands; and c. Unlawful occupation of State Lands to be reviewed and the position regularized on lawful and just basis.

5. Indiscriminate alienation of State Lands to be terminated. Allocations thus far made to be reviewed and cancelled, where such allocation

-has not been transparent, or
-lacked equal opportunity to all concerned, or
-lacked proper consultation with the elected
Representatives of the areas concerned, or
-are unwarranted, or
-has been on a corrupt basis.

6. Relief packages for full cultivation of lands.

7. A special law to be enacted to decide on disputes, as to
ownership and succession of lands.

V. Fisheries

1. Full restoration of fishing rights.

2. Joint Committees to be set up of Representatives of those engaged in the fishing industry and the Navy to ensure security.

VI. Trade and Commerce

1. All barriers in respect of transport of passengers, goods, agricultural and fisheries produce to be eliminated forthwith.

2. No payments (‘Kappang’) to be levied by anyone. Stringent action to be taken against those who do so.

VII. Transport

1. Trains service to be restored, without delay, within the Jaffna peninsula, i.e. Elephant Pass to Point Pedro.

2. All impediments for shipping and air transport to be removed, with effective facilities which would ensure a reduction of costs and shipping and air transport.

3. Establishment of a new rail line, with private sector participation, from Point Pedro to Trincomalee.

VIII. Special Relief Packages

1. For dependents of all persons who have lost their lives during the war, including military and police personnel, and civilians.

2. For persons disabled as a result of the war.

IX. Persons in Detention

1. Release of all persons in detention, within a period of one month against whom there is no evidence, and on the basis that such detention would not be a stigma or setback for their future.

2. Rehabilitation of those persons, who had been engaged in war activities, on the basis of a general amnesty.

X. [State of Emergency]

As an overall measure affecting all Sri Lankans, the State of Emergency presently in force and the Regulations made thereunder to be terminated, since it affects the liberties and fundamental rights of all People, in accordance with my Pledges.

TEXT OF ADDENDUM

Sri Lanka is an indivisible state committed both to protecting its territorial integrity and to genuine power sharing on a basis acceptable to Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher communities. Each unit of government will be supreme in its areas of competence. Power sharing will take place both at the Center and the periphery.

In the North-East genuine power sharing of powers of governance with executive, legislative and judicial powers over a wide array of subjects, not including national defense, foreign affairs, monetary policy, national budget, elections to the Office of President and Parliament, immigration and emigration, major ports and harbours, and acceptable to the Tamil speaking peoples with adequate financial and fiscal powers is necessary.

The North East should have Council/Councils acceptable to the Tamil speaking peoples namely Tamils and Muslims and the Sinhalese living in the East shall be established in accordance with the law. All provinces will have competence over land, law and order and its other areas exclusive of those areas reserved only for the Center. Appropriate institutions should be in place to secure and advance meaningful sharing of power and the pluralistic character of the State.

It is accepted that the experience of the country over the last few decades in respect of initiatives embarked upon to delineate the basic aspirations and principles in the matter of power sharing shall be drawn upon in the formulation of detailed provisions.

The demarcation between the central and regional powers will be worked out in detail between the parties on the basis of the fundamental principles stated above.