REASSESSING INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT IN SOUTH ASIA REASSESSING INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT IN SOUTH ASIA ii Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia The views and opinions entailed in the papers presented at the conference are not essentially of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR). Published by: South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) 345/18 Kuruppu Road, (17/7 Kuruppu Lane) Colombo 08, Sri Lanka Telephone: +94 11 5549183 Tel/Fax: +94 11 2695910 Email: [email protected] Website: www.southasianrights.org Printed and Published in 2013 All rights reserved. This material is copyright and not for resale, but may be reproduced by any method for teaching purposes. For copying in other circumstances for re-use in other publications or for translation, prior written permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. ISBN: 978-955-1489-15-1 Cover Photograph: Dilshy Banu Printed and bound in Sri Lanka by Wits Originals Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements xi Abbreviations xii Introduction 1 AFGHANISTAN 17 Report on the SAHR Afghanistan National Consultation 19 on IDPs Introduction 19 Main Discussion Points 20 General Discussion 25 Recommendations 25 Annexure 27 List of Participants 27 BANGLADESH 31 Background Report - The Internally Displaced People of 33 Bangladesh Introduction 33 Bangladesh and the Internally Displaced People 35 Section I: Climate IDPs 38 Section II: Conflict IDPs 42 Displacement in the CHT Region 42 Displacement of Religious Minorities 51 Section III: The Eviction of Slum-Dwellers and Sex 54 Workers Concluding Remarks 57 iv Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia Report on the SAHR Bangladesh National Consultation on 59 IDPs 1. Introduction 59 2. Key Discussion Points 60 3. Key Recommendations 65 Annexures 67 Organisations working on IDPs 67 Agenda of the National Consultation 71 List of Participants 73 INDIA 75 Background Report – 77 The ‘Other’ in the ‘Self ’: The IDPs in India Introduction 77 Internal Displacement in India – A ‘Modern’ 78 Phenomenon Effects of Globalisation 81 The Guiding Principles 82 IDPs in India: A Typology 84 Development-induced Displacement 88 Recent Debates over Industrial Displacements 93 The Communal Violence Prevention Bill 97 Applicability of the Guiding Principles 100 Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 103 NPRR and Vulnerable Communities 105 Responsibility of the NHRC 109 The Political and Economic Dimensions 113 Economic Conditions 113 Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia v Report on the SAHR India National Consultation on IDPs 117 Annexures 128 List of Participants 128 The Work of the Manibaran Calcutta Research Group 130 NEPAL 137 Background Report - Nepal 139 Executive Summary 139 Section I: Nature and Type 145 Nepal: A Highly Disaster Prone Country 147 Conflict Induced IDPs: A Protracted Issue 149 Figuring out IDPs: A Hurdle for Humanitarian Aid 151 Section II: Existing Legal Frameworks 153 Onset of the Peace Process: A Ray of Hope for IDPs 154 Provisions for IDPs in the Peace Process 154 Policy Intervention: A Knotty Problem 156 Row over Recent Seven Point Deal 157 Section III: Best Practices 158 Section IV: National Plans 159 Section V: Return & Rehabilitation 161 Lack of Livelihoods and Security Concerns 161 Compensation for Losses 162 Land Rights 164 Right to Livelihood 166 Conclusions 170 Recommendations 172 Report on the SAHR Nepal National Consultation on IDPs 174 vi Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia 1. Introduction 174 2. Key Discussions 176 3. Key Recommendations 178 Annexures 181 Organisations engaged in or responsible for IDP related 181 activities within the country Some Study Models Related to IDPs 184 Agenda of the National Consultation 189 PAKISTAN 191 Background Report - Internal Displacement in Pakistan: 193 A human rights perspective Introduction 193 Legal Framework 195 Key Areas of Concern 199 Disaster Mitigation and Response 199 Absence of Disaggregated Data 200 Inclusive Decision-Making 201 Host Communities 204 Restrictions on Free Movement 206 Preventive Measures 208 Additional Vulnerabilities 217 Gender 218 Age 221 Religious Belief 223 Psychological Care 225 Compensation for Losses 226 Return, Land Rights and Livelihood Restoration 230 Conclusion 237 Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia vii Recommendations 239 Report on the SAHR Pakistan National Consultation on IDPs 242 1. Introduction 242 2. Key Discussion Points 243 3. Key Recommendations 250 Annexures 252 Pakistan and Key International Human Rights Treaties 252 Main Displacement Crises in Pakistan (2002-2010) 253 Agenda of the National Consultation 254 List of Participants 255 SRI LANKA 257 Background Report – Internally Displaced Persons in 259 Sri Lanka: Legal Framework and Key Issues Section I: IDP Categories in Sri Lanka 261 Section II: Constitutional and Legal Framework for IDPs 266 and Returnees Fundamental Rights and Liberties of IDPs 266 International Law in Sri Lanka 269 IDP Specific Laws and Polices 270 Protection of Internally Displaced Persons Bill, 2007 271 Voting Rights of IDPs 272 Section III: Government Institutions 274 Ministry of Resettlement 274 Presidential Task Force on Northern Development 276 Human Rights Commission 277 Rehabilitation of Persons, Properties and Industries 278 Authority The Resettlement Authority 278 viii Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia Institutions for Disaster Management 279 Section IV: Return and Resettlement: Challenges on the 280 Ground Section V: Special Needs Categories 286 Orphans and Other Children 286 Widows and Female Headed Households 289 Suspected LTTE cadres 291 Section VI: Land and Housing 292 Constitutional Framework and Powers over Land 292 Draft Land Policy 293 Land Use Policy 294 A National Involuntary Resettlement Policy 295 Mahinda Chintana 2005 and 2010 296 Draft Housing Policy 297 Implications of Development Projects and Military 298 Expansions Conflict and Land 299 Section VII: Compensation for Losses 303 Conclusion 308 Report on the SAHR Sri Lanka National Consultation 309 on IDPs Background Overview 309 Introduction to SAHR and aims of the IDP project 312 Session One: Context Setting 315 1. Presentation of SAHR Background Paper on IDPs 315 2. Providing Humanitarian Assistance Within the 317 Context of Shrinking Humanitarian Space 3. From Humanitarian Assistance to Early Recovery: 321 Challenges and the Way Forward 4. Discussion 325 Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia ix Session Two: Different Displaced and Returning Population 330 1. Muslim Returnees to the North 330 2. Vanni Returnees Policies and Laws for the Vavuniya, 332 Kilinochchi and Mullativu Districts 3. Displaced in the Eastern Province: The Forgotten IDPs 334 4. High Security Zones and Displacement in the 336 Jaffna Peninsula 5. Discussion 340 Returnees from India 340 Voter Registration 341 Defining IDPs 341 Reconciliation and Collaboration Among IDPs and 342 Agencies Violence and Sexual Assault 343 Land and Property Issues 344 Other 344 Session Three: Situation Analysis and Recommendations 346 Problems Faced 346 Ways Forward 347 The National Human Rights Action Plan 347 The Kaelin Report 2008 348 Commitments made by Sri Lanka at the 2008 348 Universal Periodic Rivew on IDP and humanitarian issues Lack of documentation 349 Annexures 354 Agenda 354 Frequently Asked Questions About Internal 356 Displacement x Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia xi Acknowledgements South Asians for Human Rights is pleased to present this publication which explores the situation of Internally Displaced Persons in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and provides recommendations from national consultations facilitated by SAHR, to promote and uphold the rights of Internally Displaced Persons in South Asia and seek methods to operationalise the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. While the Afghanistan chapter contains a national consultation report, the chapters on Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka examine the state of displacement in each country, the various types of displacement and reasons for it as well as reports from national consultations on internal displacement in each of these countries. SAHR would like to thank each of the authors -- Mohammad Sajjadur Rahman (Bangladesh), Sibaji Pratim Basu (India), Padma Prasad Khatiwada (Nepal), Najam U Din (Pakistan), Bhavani Fonseka and Mirak Raheem (Sri Lanka) -- for their commitment and expertise in writing the country reports. Special thanks to Mirak Raheem who drafted the introduction and compiled this publication. Thank you to all participants at the national consultations, whose expertise formed the basis of the recommendations contained in this publication. Finally, great thanks goes to the SAHR bureau in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and the SAHR Secretariat staff in Colombo, for their invaluable work and support that has led to this publication. xii Reassessing Internal Displacement in South Asia Abbreviations AAPSU All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union ADB Asian Development Bank AFSPA Armed Forces Special Powers Act AITPN Asian Indigeneous and Tribal Peoples’ Network APDA Afghan Peace and Democracy Act ASL Above Sea Level BNP Bangladesh Nationalist Party BPL Below Poverty Line CA Constituent Assembly CAFFÉ Campaign for Free and Fair Elections CAT Convention Against Torture CCI Council of Common Interest CDO Chief District Officer CEDAW Committee on the