NORWEGIAN NGO OUT OF JAPANESE FUNDING

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ARTICLE FROM THE ISLAND BY SHALIDRA FERNANDO :

Controversial Norwegian NGO not among recipients of Japanese aid Quit Kilinochchi leaving behind three excavators

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Close on the heels of the controversy surrounding the seizure by the LTTE of some vehicles belonging to the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) engaged in mine clearing operations in the terrorist-held area, the Government of Japan has dropped the INGO from the list of recipients of its assistance for the coming year.

The NPA, which represents the Norwegian trade union organization, received Japanese assistance along with the Danish De-mining Group (DDG), the Halo Trust, the Mires Advisory Group (MAG) and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) in July last year. But it was excluded when Japan extended further support for de-mining operations to the tune of USD 1.6 million (approximately Rs. 170 million) in August, authorities said. The USD 1.6 million had been divided between the FSD and DDG, sources said.

According to the Japanese Embassy, last year’s assistance amounted to USD 3.2 million (approximately Rs. 358 million).

Japan has contributed more than USD 15 million (approximately Rs 1,635 million) to INGOs engaged in mine clearing operations and De-mining Unit of the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation since 2003 under a scheme categorized as grant assistance for grassroots human security projects.

According to a Japanese Embassy statement issued on August 29 after the finalization of agreements worth USD 1.6 million, the FSD and DDG projects in 2007/2008 had directly contributed to the settlement of 1438 families in the Jaffna and Trincomalee districts.

The Embassy said that the latest assistance would help FSD and DDG accelerate de-mining operations in conflict affected areas, particularly Jaffna, Batticaloa and Trincomalee.

The Defence Ministry recently accused the NPA of collaborating with the LTTE in the use of its vehicle fleet deployed in the Vanni. Consequent to the NPA’s withdrawal from the LTTE-held area along with all other INGOs and UN agencies by September 16, the Norwegian group had told the Disaster Management and Human Rights Ministry of its inability to remove some of its vehicles. Of the 42 vehicles and motor cycles, 19 vehicles and 14 motor cycles had been brought back to the government held area, sources said. The NPA said that a 4-wheeler and a motor cycle had been handed over to the Government Agent while the Humanitarian De-mining Unit (HDU) of the LTTE had held two vehicles. The NPA had reported that it had been unable to retrieve three excavators and a two-door pick-up which were left behind. The INGO claimed that the four vehicles were disabled before they quit Kilinochchi. One vehicle which had broken down on its way from Kilinochchi to Vavuniya was reported to have been left by the side of the road. Although the NPA claimed that an attempt was made to retrieve the vehicle the following day, it had disappeared.

Well informed sources said that the government had received reports on the vehicles and equipment removed by INGOs and UN agencies and were in the process of checking any discrepancy between the ‘goods’ taken to Kilinochchi and brought back.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told The Island that the government wanted to prevent the LTTE taking advantage of the INGOs. They said that the decision to pull them out from Kilinochchi was taken as part of the overall plan to neutralise the LTTE. Rajapaksa said that the government should have reviewed the operations of all INGOs, particularly those engaged in mine-clearing operations after major ground battles erupted on the northern front.

Meanwhile, the army said that the NPA got in trouble way back in December 2004 when troops at the Muhamalai entry/exit point detected an NPA vehicle carrying five mines.

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