Evidence of meeting #4 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lanka.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:55 p.m.
NDP
Pierre Jacob NDP Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Mr. Saravanamuttu, I am going to ask you a second question. Your organization recently conducted a survey on democracy in post-war Sri Lanka. Could you talk to us about the results of that survey?
1:55 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives, As an Individual
Yes. Thank you.
The results of such a survey do show that the views of people in respect of the institutions and governance are not particularly complimentary, particularly as far as the politicians are concerned. There is also a view that comes out that people feel they're not as well off economically as they were before, insofar as there were specific questions that asked them about the quality of food they buy and consume. They were also asked if they forgo medical treatment in certain cases because they can't afford it. The proportions of those respondents have increased.
What was also interesting is that you asked me earlier about language. For example, over 70% of those people who responded felt that being Sri Lankan meant also knowing the Sinhala language. An equivalent number also felt that the official language of the country was Sinhala. At one level you have some misunderstandings and misconceptions about what the law of the land is. You have concerns with regard the economy and with regard to physical security. You don't have an overwhelming feel good factor that comes out of the survey as far as the population at large is concerned.
I must stress that this was a survey that was done roughly in August and September. It's always likely that opinions could have shifted one way or another.
1:55 p.m.
NDP
Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Thank you, Dr. Saravanamuttu.
I want to ask you about land grabs and changes to the living arrangements. I know there was a redevelopment. What I'm hearing on the ground is that there is redevelopment happening and housing complexes are being built. I'm also hearing there's recolonization of military families in these new houses that are being built and that the IDPs are not being put into these new houses that are built. What I'm hearing is that there is further permanent militarization of communities. Is this true? What is the reality on the ground that you're seeing and hearing being there? Are land grabs also happening?
1:55 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives, As an Individual
Certainly the land grabs are happening. The most egregious one was the situation in which over 6,300 acres of private land was taken over in April of this year. There's a whole judicial process relating to that. The army is going to be stationed in permanent camps in the north and east. Families are going to be brought in as well. Housing and infrastructure is going to be constructed for them. For housing for the internally displaced persons, as you probably know, the Indian government is giving a grant of some 50,000 houses, of which only 1,000 have been completed and handed over at the present moment. The others are in the process of being constructed.
There were concerns about the beneficiary lists with regard to that housing as well. Certainly, there are still internally displaced persons who are living with host families and who are effectively living in transit camps. The condition with regard to housing is still quite acute.
2 p.m.
NDP
Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Yes, thank you.
You said there were concerns about the beneficiary list. Is that because we don't know who is on that list, or is it because it may or may not be people who are internally displaced or because it's people who are being moved from other parts of the country?
2 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives, As an Individual
It could be both.
The lists of beneficiaries have to be given by the Government of Sri Lanka. The Government of Sri Lanka in this context involves the military. These were lists that were compiled before there was an elected provincial council. There is certainly a series of allegations about people being brought in from outside of the northern province, of priority being given to relocation and resettlement of Sri Lankan citizens who have Sinhala ethnicity who resided in the northern province but were displaced as a consequence of the war. That allegation has been made.
Likewise, with regard to favouritism in terms of Sinhala fishermen coming up to do seasonal fishing in the northern and the eastern provinces, those allegations continue to be made. There is a whole raft of issues, as a consequence, that come under this fear that demographic change will be effected under the guise of development and national security.
2 p.m.
NDP
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
Thank you very much, Dr. Saravanamuttu. I'm afraid we've used up all the time we have allotted for our meeting, but I can tell you that all the committee members are very grateful to you for taking this time to expound on these issues so fully.
2 p.m.
Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives, As an Individual
Thank you very much for the opportunity to do so.
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
All right, thank you.
Colleagues, at this point the meeting is adjourned.