Sri Lanka camps full of grief
Sally Sara reported this story on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 08:18:00
AM visits a refugee camp in northern Sri Lanka where Tamils tell of their experiences and injuries. The Government is refusing to allow civilians to leave the camps until they have removed any suspected former members of the Tamil Tigers.
TONY EASTLEY: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is calling for an independent investigation into alleged atrocities committed by both sides in Sri Lanka's civil war.
The Sri Lankan Government has dismissed calls for an inquiry and says it's busy meeting the needs of more than a quarter of a million displaced civilians.
South Asia correspondent Sally Sara reports from the largest camp at Menik Farm, near the town of Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka.
SALLY SARA: This is the only way that the Sri Lankan Government will allow journalists into the displacement camps - on an official tour.
The camps are tightly controlled.
(Sound of displacement camp)
Menik Farm camp near the town of Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka is now home to more than 200,000 people. The rows of white tents stretch off into the distance.
Standing outside one of the tents is an 18-year-old and his family. They have lost their father, sister, brother-in-law and two sons. All five were killed when they were trying to shelter from heavy shelling a fortnight ago.
(Sound of Balasupramanian Surenthiran speaking)
He says, "I am a boy. I have lost my father, so I am facing a lot of problems".
Other families have become separated and are desperately seeking their lost relatives.
A woman clutching her two small children says her husband admitted to the army that he was previously involved with the Tamil Tigers and he was taken to another camp - where, she doesn't know.
(Sound of Jegatheeswanan Kalaimagal speaking, crying)
She says she is sick and her children are sick and she doesn't know what to do
The Government says more than 9,000 former rebels have disclosed their links to the Tamil Tigers during screening of the displaced population.
Army officials say the former fighters will be placed in retraining camps before they're returned to their communities.
Until the screening is finished, army spokesman brigadier Undaya Nannayakkara says civilians are not allowed to leave the camps.
UNDAYA NANNAYAKKARA: Yes, they must stay here still. They can't go out unless they are being taken out for their various medical reasons or any other things.
SALLY SARA: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an independent investigation into alleged atrocities by both sides in the civil war.
The true civilian cost of the conflict is still unknown. It is a price which has been paid family by family.
Just as we are about to leave one part of Menik Farm camp, we meet a young woman called Bamini Padmanathan and her brother. He lost both his legs in the war and she is now struggling to care for him.
BAMINI PADMANATHAN: He's my brother, Nimal. He lost his two legs by the shelling on August 2008. He's 24 years old only. I want some help for the treatment for his legs.
(Sound of car horn)
SALLY SARA: In the background, the soldiers are sounding the horn of the bus to tell us our brief time at the camp is almost over.
The Sri Lankan Government says it hopes to repatriate up to 80 per cent of the civilians by the end of the year. The United Nations warns that target may be ambitious.
This is Sally Sara at Menik Farm camp in northern Sri Lanka for AM.
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