by Ravi Gowribalan, December 16, 2004
Many Tamils once believed that the Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play an important role in helping the people in the war-affected areas of Tamil Eelam. During the ceasefire, we have seen a dramatic upsurge in the number of international NGOs in Tamil areas and their interest in Tamil affairs in Sri Lanka. Encouraged and promoted from abroad, NGOs have taken a major, but deceptive role in Tamil Eelam. Hiding behind the guise of humanitarian intervention, they have become a tool for the oppressive Sri Lankan government. There are many complaints about NGOs who receive large amount of money from donor countries, but spend very little in Tamil areas. In the recent days there is another type of NGO that is receiving greater attention in the Tamil community.
Human rights, pluralism, children’s rights, civil society, these are the buzzwords you will hear from these NGOs. Colorful pamphlets, conferences, research studies are their modus operandi. A handful of local people who have no standing in the community become research associates and presenters of the circus the NGOs perform in world capitals.
Take an example of the issue of child soldiers and how it is shamelessly used by the so-called human rights organizations to get greater funding for their organizations. Many international human rights organizations supported the establishment of the notorious Bindunuwewa detention centre where alleged child soldiers were apparently being rehabilitated. The Sri Lankan government received large sums of money from various governments (including Canada) at the recommendation of NGOs. The rehabilitation centre was frequently visited by NGOs for photo opportunities. During detention, children were exploited by the guards and the surrounding villagers, but no one has spoken of the abuses.
On October 25, 2000 the child detainees were attacked by the villagers with the help of the guards and 25 of them were brutally murdered. During the investigation of this massacre, it came to light that many of the alleged child soldiers were in fact orphans from the streets, rounded up by the security forces and brought into the detention centre.
The issue of ‘child soldiers’ has gained precedence over that of humanitarian access and the protection of children from the effects of modern warfare for several reasons. Sexual abuse, drug abuse and abduction of youngsters and the mutilation and other excesses by several rebel forces in Africa have been used to sensationalize the use of child soldiers.
After 30 years of the horror of war on TV screens – a new problem provided the opportunity for a fresh prospective on the problem of children and war, and, as the men and women of the NGOs are ever hungry for new causes and new money, it is an opportunity too good to miss.
It is too dangerous to go to certain parts of Africa to make a real difference in child soldiers’ life for many of the human rights NGOs. But Sri Lanka is a safe place for NGOs and the cash flow has to continue. In order to operate, the NGOs need the blessing of the Sri Lankan government. This is why the issue of child soldiers will continue to be exaggerated in world capitals and the horrific violations of Tamil and Sinhalese children at the hands Sri Lankan government will be overlooked. While the high per-diem aid workers enjoy Sri Lankan beaches after saving Tamil children, it is the children who are once more victimized.