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Profiting from human trafficking
VIENNA, Saturday (AFP) - Ailing industries across Europe and North America are profiting from trafficking in people who are smuggled from poor countries to work as modern-day slaves in the West.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) last week adopted a programme to combat all forms of human trafficking, terming it a "new form of slavery." The victims toil in sweatshops in France, restaurants in Belgium, in orchards in England and Spain and on building sites in Germany, giving paid to the notion that trafficking is limited to the sex industry and the third world, the OSCE's Danielle del Marmol told AFP.

"There are many other forms of forced labour, of slavery, in industrialised countries," said del Marmol, who heads a working group on human trafficking at the OSCE headquarters in Vienna.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) said in a study that forced labour was "more lucrative and less risky than drug trafficking" and helped to sustain industries that were no longer competitive, like agriculture and the textile business.

The body said the demand for cheap labour, along with efforts to curb legal immigration, created a fertile breeding ground for illegal immigration and blackmarket labour, which often turned into forced labour. The OSCE has called on its members to make human trafficking a criminal offence.

The Muslim problem: No solution yet
By A.J.C. Mohideen
Sri Lanka is a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-lingual country - an Island small in size but rich in resources and historical background. The inhabitants of this Island are Sinhalese 80 percent, Tamils 12 and Muslims 8. The Sinhalese live predominantly in seven provinces, the Tamils largely in Northern and Eastern provinces with Tamils of Indian origin inhabiting the hill country.

The Muslims live scattered in all the provinces with a large concentration in the Eastern province. They are known to cordially exist with other communities while maintaining their cultural identity and emotional attachments to their religion - Islam. They are not fanatically attracted towards any language or historical background.

During the British rule there was no serious or popular movement against foreign rule in the way it happened in India. Soon after the end of the Second World War most of the countries under British colonial rule became independent and chose to manage the affairs of their own countries. Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, too, gained its independence and tried to fashion the affairs of the state in line with the Westminster system. Accordingly political parties were formed and at the beginning they were of a national character.

With the passage of time the majority Sinhala community felt that the British neglected the development of their culture, religion and language. So they thought of reviving and developing the above aspects even at the expense of other communities. The Tamils, too, particularly from the North, felt that rights and privileges enjoyed by them during the British rule were being eliminated. This led the Tamils of the North to form political parties. Having failed in their attempts at winning their demands through agitation and appeals, the Tamils, especially the youth, resorted to militancy. The LTTE became the dominant group having eliminated the others, thus proclaiming itself as the sole representative of the Tamils in its quest for carving out a portion of Sri Lanka and calling it Eelam.

The LTTE became more ruthless and powerful militant group and this made India take note of the situation in its own interest. On the suggestion of India, President J.R. Jayewardene allowed the merger of North and East provinces for a one year pending a referendum. This did not take place as the Tamil parties did not agree to the referendum idea.

The LTTE, in the meantime, strengthened itself with more cadres, arms and strategic contacts with the outside world. It became so formidable in strength that it could not tolerate any opposition. The Muslims of the North who could not support the separation of Sri Lanka became suspects in the eyes of the LTTE.

In what could be termed as one of the fastest ethnic cleansing programmes in modern history, Muslims of the North were chased out in 24 hours in October 1990 on the claim that North was the traditional home of the Tamils. Overnight the Northern Muslims became refugees. They moved to predominantly Muslim areas such as Puttalam and they continue to live there depending on the dry rations supplied by the Government.

The Eastern Province is different from the North in many ways. The population is evenly balanced among the Sinhalese, the Tamils and the Muslims. A cordial and friendly atmosphere existed there. The people were engaged in farming, fishing and retail trade. This situation happily continued up to the time of the Indo-Lanka agreement and the temporary merger of the two provinces. The situation in the North became more tense and escalated into a long-drawn-out war between the LTTE and the Government forces. Negotiations and peace conferences failed to resolve the conflict. The economy suffered. While the general discipline in the country, too, deteriorated. The LTTE contributed in no small way with its terrorism, extortion, taxes and the brutal way it dealt with dissent.

This is the scenario after two decades of war. The situation remained unchanged even though the previous governments laboured hard to bring about a settlement. When the UNF government came to office, it gave priority to settle issues with the LTTE and enlisted the help of the Norwegians as facilitators.

Negotiations are going on with the LTTE trying to get the maximum out of the situation. The United States and Japan have also entered the process with the international donors pledging a massive aid package. There is bound to be suspicions regarding the loans of these countries. This can be circumvented if the media display objectivity and impartiality in their coverage and comments.

The latest demand by the LTTE is the establishment of interior administration. The problem of the Muslims has been intensified by the Government's decision to respond to this demand. For Muslims living outside the North and East, it is only an academic problem. There are senior politicians and a few young and energetic members of parliament who can put community and country in the first place and endeavor to find worthwhile solutions especially to the predicament faced by the Eastern province Muslims. There will be difficulties but they can be overcome with a will to do good combined with a sincere effort. It must be kept in mind that the largest number of Muslims killed is from the East. The East was merged with the North as a temporary measure. By not giving way to intimidation and threat the demerger must the effected through negotiation. This will auger well not only for the Muslims but for other communities living in the East, too.

The story of the Northern Muslims is different. They were chased away form places where they had lived for hundreds of years. Their land and properties were destroyed. The LTTE is reaping the fruits of its ethnic cleansing.

With the ceasefire last year, a few Northern Muslims have ventured out to do business in Jaffna. Skilled and semi-skilled persons have found work elsewhere and abroad. There is an awakening and desire in the parents to have their children educated. More students are getting professionally qualified. The plight of the day-to-day wage earner remains same wherever they are all in all only about 10 to 15% of the refugees will return to the North. It is anybody's guess as to what will happen to their properties, schools and mosques. Building up of the trust between the communities is of paramount importance. Time will indicate the result.

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