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After the Tsunami Human Rights of Vulnerable Populations

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After the Tsunami Human Rights of Vulnerable Populations AFTER THE TSUNAMI HUMAN RIGHTS OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS OCTOBER 2005 HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY EAST-WEST CENTER TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 5 Methodology ................................................................................................................ 6 Principal Findings .......................................................................................................6 Limitations of Study ................................................................................................... 7 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... 7 Background ................................................................................................................................... 9 Observations Regarding Natural Disasters and Human Rights Vulnerabilities ...9 Normative Human Rights Framework Applicable to Natural Disasters .............10 Country Reports .......................................................................................................................... 12 INDIA ........................................................................................................................................ 13 I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 13 Effects of the Tsunami .............................................................................................. 13 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 13 Background ............................................................................................................... 14 II. FINDINGS ....................................................................................................................... 15 Inequity and Discrimination in Aid Distribution ...................................................16 Housing and Access to Basic Services ..................................................................... 18 Restoration of Livelihoods ....................................................................................... 20 Women ....................................................................................................................... 21 Children ..................................................................................................................... 22 The Role of NGOs ..................................................................................................... 23 III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................... 24 INDONESIA ................................................................................................................................ 27 I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 27 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 27 II. PRE-EXISTING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ...................................................................... 29 III. ACEH AFTER THE TSUNAMI—NEW HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ....................................... 30 Rescue and Relief Phase ........................................................................................... 31 Lack of Coordination and of Swift and Appropriate Response ........................... 32 Mixed Response to the Military’s Involvement ......................................................32 Discrimination and Rampant Corruption .............................................................. 34 Resettlement and Reconstruction ............................................................................35 Increasing Problems in Coordination and Continuing Unresponsiveness .......... 35 Increasing Security-Related Problems ....................................................................37 Corruption and Lack of Public Participation ........................................................ 38 IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................... 40 HUMAN RIGHTS OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS i MALDIVES ................................................................................................................................ 43 I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 43 A Tropical Paradise with Problems ......................................................................... 43 Effects of the Tsunami .............................................................................................. 43 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 44 II. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................ 44 Human Rights in the Maldives ................................................................................ 44 A Human Rights Framework for Tsunami Response ............................................46 III. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE ................................................................................................ 46 IV. HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES AFTER THE TSUNAMI ................................................................... 47 Community Participation .........................................................................................48 The Safe Islands Concept as a Human Rights Issue ..............................................50 Protection of Women and Children .........................................................................51 The Overall Human Rights Situation ..................................................................... 52 Livelihoods ................................................................................................................. 52 Nongovernmental Organizations and International Aid....................................... 53 The Drug Abuse Problem .........................................................................................53 V. C ONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................... 54 SRI LANKA ...............................................................................................................................57 I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 57 Effects of the Tsunami .............................................................................................. 57 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 57 Sites of the Fieldwork ............................................................................................... 58 II. BACKGROUND AND HISTORY ........................................................................................... 59 Political Confl ict ........................................................................................................59 Human Rights In Sri Lanka—A Legacy of Violations .......................................... 61 III. FINDINGS ....................................................................................................................... 61 Disempowerment of the IDPs and Camp Life ........................................................61 Maldistribution of Aid and Questions of Corruption ............................................63 Permanent Housing and Rebuilding ....................................................................... 63 Livelihoods ................................................................................................................. 65 Protection of Women and Children .........................................................................66 Effects of the Years of War .......................................................................................68 Psychosocial Assistance ............................................................................................ 68 Nongovernmental Organizations .............................................................................69 IV. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE ................................................................................................ 69 V. A REAS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH, MONITORING, AND TRAINING ........................................... 71 VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................... 71 THAILAND ................................................................................................................................. 75 I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 75 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 75 II. OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 75 III. FINDINGS ......................................................................................................................
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