More than one million mines laid in the North and East, especially the large numbers in the Jaffna peninsula and the Wanni, remain a major concern while the Government is awaiting improved conditions to start an effective, national mine action programme, the Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Coordinating Committee on Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Bradman Weerakoon said.

The Government is yet to ratify the Ottawa Convention on landmines and is delaying it until it reached an agreement with the LTTE. "There are two parties to a conflict and if one party undertakes not to plant mines and the other party doesn't, it will breach our commitment".

The delay in clearing mine-infested areas is posing a further threat with many mines being washed away to other areas due to rains and flooding. It is reported that many landmines are no longer in their original location due to the flooding of several mined areas. Thus, with time, the spread of stray mines could become increasingly serious, prompting an urgency to programmes of mine awareness, surveys and the markings of unsafe areas.
While some of the records of the location of mine fields kept by both the armed forces and the LTTE are reported to be lost, the problem of stray mines is posing another threat to lives of people. According to Mr. Weerakoon, 15 civilians are killed each month due to landmines. While official figures of landmine victims was put at 400, unofficial figures are as high as 2000, he said.

Mines have been placed in many places which were inhabited by people or which could later be inhabited by people, he said. Thus, from being a purely defensive strategic measure, mines have turned out to be something that affected the natural lives and the resettlement of civilian population.

Mr. Weerakoon said that the RRR committee first wished to deal with the returning of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Though some places such as schools which were occupied by both LTTE and the army have now been vacated, the mines that have been laid as a means of defence around the school is posing an obstacle in re-opening these schools. "We have to clear the mines around the schools first before re-opening them".

A report on mine action states that experiences of countries having to cope with landmines show that preparations for the rapid clearance of contaminated areas should be undertaken well ahead of the advent of peace. "Even if intensive and sustained mine clearing operations cannot immediately be initiated, every effort should be made to establish a viable, nationally based mine action capability, decide on its institutional home, build up national expertise in all areas of mine action and train an adequate number of mine clearance personnel," the report said.

Mr. Weerakoon said that while there was urgency to begin a comprehensive programme, any national mine action should be an integrated effort with the LTTE.

The immediate preliminary expenditure estimated for mine action for this year was put at US $ 3.7 million. These funds are to be utilised for surveying the main areas, training mine action staff to international standards, use of dog-teams, victim assistance, mine risk education and for setting up a mine action authority. Part of these programmes are already underway and are steps leading to the signing of the Ottawa convention, Mr. Weerakoon said

He said that UNICEF has been providing technical advice to establish a mine action programme while also being involved in creating mine awareness among the people. UNICEF among other international agencies has been advocating the signing of the Convention.

The National Coordinating Committee on RRR which is responsible to look into all development and reconstruction work in the North and East has recommended the setting up of a steering committee on mine action for intensive and sustained mine clearing. The RRR committee will soon decide on the composition of the mine action committee.

Wattala residents reject marsh land as gimmick
By Chamintha Thilakarathna.
The residents of Wattala Nawaloka Udyanapura who are being threatened to vacate their homes by the Urban Development Authority to make way for the construction of a play ground have obtained a court injunction giving them three weeks to find alternate accomadation.

During these three weeks the UDA and police have been kept off the grounds. The authorities and politicians in the area have offered temporary and unsuitable land to these people in a desperate attempt to make them vacate this area.

"Minister John Amaratunga has offered us marsh land in Kerewalapitiya but it has three feet of mud and cannot be used for building houses," the residents said.

The residents do not wish to move until a suitable solution is provided. They feel that the marsh land is another political trap from which they will be forced to move again in a couple of years. Only too familiar with these gimmicks they have decided to remain unless some permanent accomadation is provided.

Also, "No compensation for those, whose houses were destroyed is in sight either," they complained.

The fate of the one thousand and four hundred displaced people, once the three weeks expires is a question they fear to ask.

PGIM asked to continue charging previous fees
Following representations made by the GMOA, that the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine failed to amend its circular, the University Grants Commission last week asked the Institute to maintain the former structure for levying examination and course fees.

The PGIM had been advised to maintain the previous structure until the proposed examination and course fees are discussed and finalised. The UGC in a letter to the PGIM has stated that the recommendations for a revision of fees will be presented before August.

On the grounds that the PGIM was in need of more funds to conduct its exams and courses some examination fees were increased four fold, while course fees were doubled according to the circular released on May 13,

However, the Government Medical Officers Association protested that the PGIM was increasing fees 'arbitrarily as an easy solution to meet financial commitments'. Though agreed earlier PGIM is yet to submit details of expenses incurred, in conducting examinations and courses.

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