Tamil civilians face two years in refugee camps

Thousands of Tamil civilians forced from their homes by the conflict in Sri Lanka could be interned in refugee camps for up to two years before they are permitted to return home, authorities in Colombo said.

And in a further revelation that will spark concern among the international community, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had been forced to suspend its aid supply to the refugees after it was refused access to the camps.

"Yes, we have concerns. Yes, we are asking for access," said Paul Castella, the head of the ICRC delegation in Sri Lanka.

The United Nations humanitarian chief John Holmes has also called for officials to be allowed into the camps.

A senior government official, Lakshman Hulugala, said more than 230,000 civilians were being held in camps, a figure the UN believes could rise.

He said screening so many people to identify rebels and resettling the northern area would be a lengthy process. "Not all the people will be held for two years," he said.

Asked about the conditions in the camps, he said: "You cannot expect five-star hospitality in a place like that. We are providing the basics: food, security, health, schools and playgrounds."

In his "victory" speech earlier this week to announce the end of the long-running civil war, President Mahinda Rajapaksa reached out to the Tamil community and said Sri Lanka must now work towards equality.

"Our intention was to save the Tamil people from the cruel grip of the [rebels]. We all must now live as equals in this free country," he said.

In a bid to avoid that new era beginning with a Tamil Tigers (LTTE) revival, Hulugala said the body of the rebels' leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, would be cremated or buried in secret.

An important factor in building a new consensus will be resettling those held in the camps where people complain about a lack of water. The camps are surrounded by razor wire, patrolled by armed guards and while some elderly refugees have been allowed to live with family members, the majority are not permitted to leave.

Earlier this year when the Sri Lankan authorities revealed plans for "welfare villages" that would hold the refugees for three years, there was an outcry from aid groups. The Government backtracked and vowed 80 per cent would be resettled within 12 months. The new revelation will trigger fresh concern.

"It's absolutely controversial," said a senior official with a Western aid organisation. "What the international community is saying is the Government needs to do proper screening to separate those who might be LTTE. What is not acceptable is for the whole population to be incarcerated."

The Government has begun screening the tens of thousands of Tamils that have poured from the war zone. Dozens have identified themselves as LTTE fighters and have been taken to rehabilitation camps. It is understood "hard core" suspects are being held in a detention camp near Boosse.

Campaigners have expressed concern about three doctors who have been detained by the Government, which claims they gave false information about casualties to the media. Journalists were banned from the war zone and the doctors - Thurairaja Varatharajah, Thangamuttu Sathyamurthi and V. Shanmugarajah - were among the few sources of information on civilian casualties and regularly spoke to the media. Amnesty International believes Shanmugarajah and Sathyamurthi may be held at the Terrorist Investigation Division in Colombo.

Varatharajah, the regional director of health services in Mullaitivu, was seriously injured and is reported to have been airlifted to an unknown destination.

- INDEPENDENT