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Sri Lanka makes resettlement vow UN warning over displaced Tamils
(about 2 hours later)
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said he expects 265,000 Tamil people displaced by the recent war to be resettled by the end of January. A senior UN envoy says the situation in Sri Lankan camps for Tamils displaced by the recent war is putting reconciliation at risk.
He said that arrangements are being made for the refugees to get day passes from government camps where they reside so that they can go to work. Lynn Pascoe, the UN's political chief, was speaking at the end of a two-day visit to the island.
Sri Lankans and foreigners continue to express concern about the welfare of the refugees. Earlier, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he expected 265,000 refugees to be resettled by the end of January.
The president has now laid down a firm timetable for them to return home. He also said displaced Tamils were to receive day passes from camps so they could go to work outside.
New arrangements Mr Pascoe, a deputy to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said the UN was devoting special energy to the displaced Tamils, most still interned in camps, because the issue was critical for the country's future.
Speaking to a senior United Nations envoy, President Rajapaksa said he expected the resettlement to be complete by the January deadline. He said the current situation risked breeding resentment that would undermine the prospects for political reconciliation.
He told the BBC there had to be a mechanism for addressing claims of human rights breaches during the civil war, despite Sri Lanka's repeated dismissal of such suggestions.
"The real issue here is the long-term viability of Sri Lankan democracy, the direction the society is heading," he said.
UN's Lynn Pascoe: "The real issue is the long term viability of... democracy"UN's Lynn Pascoe: "The real issue is the long term viability of... democracy"
"Frankly, one has to deal with the past to move on to the future, which is exactly what Sri Lanka should be doing."
Mr Pascoe also described as "shabby" the treatment of some UN staff in Sri Lanka.
Two Sri Lankan members of staff have been under arrest since June and a Unicef spokesman is facing expulsion.
The government has been tackling some of the diplomat's criticisms head-on.
Speaking earlier, President Rajapaksa said he expected the resettlement to be complete by the January deadline.
A statement on the government website said he was also sticking to the government's target that most of them - he gave a figure of at least 70% - should be out by late November.A statement on the government website said he was also sticking to the government's target that most of them - he gave a figure of at least 70% - should be out by late November.
That means there is a lot of work to be done. According to UN figures, nearly 265,000 people remain in camps, most of them at one huge site, and fewer than 15,000 have so far left.
According to United Nations figures, nearly 265,000 people remain in camps, most of them at one huge site, and fewer than 15,000 have so far left. UN sources have meanwhile confirmed to the BBC that some refugees permitted to leave the biggest camp a week ago have in fact been placed in transit camps nearer to their homes in eastern Sri Lanka.
For the first time, the president said new arrangements are being made to issue day passes for those displaced people who want to go and work outside.
But he and his senior adviser also said that they did not expect there to be many takers, because few people outside the camps have responded to a government invitation that they provide accommodation for their friends and relatives.
United Nations sources have meanwhile confirmed to the BBC that some refugees permitted to leave the biggest camp a week ago have in fact been placed in transit camps nearer to their homes in eastern Sri Lanka.
It is not clear how long they are to remain there but officials say the people are undergoing further security vetting and instructions on their release are awaited from the capital.It is not clear how long they are to remain there but officials say the people are undergoing further security vetting and instructions on their release are awaited from the capital.