LTTE to oversee NGO rehab projects

Tamil guerrillas intending to play a major role in rehabilitation and reconstruction in the war-torn northern and eastern Sri Lanka are planning to keep a close eye on non-governmental organisations functioning in the two provinces.

The first indication that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were planning to supervise the NGOs came during a meeting of the LTTE representative and the NGOs based in the north eastern port city of Trincomalee.

S.Tilak, LTTE's Trincomalee district political head told the NGO representatives that they needed to be better co-ordinated when implementing rehabilitation and reconstruction projects.

"From next January we will supervise all projects carried out by local NGOs in the district with a view to rectifying shortcomings, duplication of works and other discrepancies.

"However, we will not directly interfere with the administration of the NGOs," the LTTE representative had assured.

NGO representatives in Trincomalee were told to participate in the discussion.

The political representative for the guerrilla movement had pointed out that there were several shortcomings in the activities of the NGO in the district.

"These shortcomings could be rectified and urgent needs of the affected villages and the people could be fulfilled only through coordinated activities of the local NGOs, which depend on the financial assistance provided by international NGOs," Tilak had said.

"It is a pity to note that more than one NGO undertakes rehabilitation projects in a single village, while at the same time another village which needs much assistance is completely ignored by these institutions. And we also see several NGOs implement same type of projects in one village. All these could be avoided if local NGOs co-ordinate their activities and formulate a common programme for 2003," stressed Tilak.

He said some international non-governmental agencies had withdrawn their financial assistance to two local NGOs because of unsound financial management.

He appealed to local NGOs to prepare their future project proposals to meet the challenges ahead and also adopt modern techniques.

Tilak requested the representatives of local NGOs to submit their proposals for 2003 before December 1 this year for assessment and to avoid duplication. He advised that the Consortium of NGOs in Trincomalee should appoint a committee for this purpose.

The move comes in the wake of the LTTE getting directly involved in rehabilitation and reconstruction work following decisions taken at the second round of peace talks with the Sri Lankan government that concluded in Thailand last Sunday.

A committee comprising representatives from both sides will be meeting on Sunday to discuss the joint appeal which they plan to take to the international donors in Oslo, Norway at an aid pledge meeting on November 25.

At the Oslo meeting the LTTE will be represented by its chief negotiator Anton Balasingham while Prime Minister Ranil Wickreme-singhe will also attend, marking the highest level meeting between the two sides after Balasingham met President Ranasinghe Premadasa in Colombo in 1990.

The rebels have also been keeping a tab on the NGOs operating in the northern Jaffna peninsula and are likely to have a similar meeting in the north to call on these organisations to co-ordinate with the LTTE. The NGOs have received substantial assistance from various foreign organisations in the past.