Durable Solution for the Sri Lankan Refugees
For years the Sri Lankan Refugees are seeking solutions and all those who are interested in their rights are also moving mountains to find a way out. Many years ago when I went to visit the Jesuit friends in Sri Lanka, I could visit a couple of tea gardens/estates and a couple of years ago, as the Vice-President of Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL) I visited all the learning centers where JWL offers English and diploma programs for the former refugees and internally displaced children. Both the times, I was pained to see the children explaining how they are there second, third, or fourth generations, and they are still known as people of ‘Indian Origin’. And the situation of those who came to India as refugees are not very much different. Earlier they had the possibility of having reserved seats in professional schools but I understand that facility is not available now. Neither are they recognized as Indian citizens. To make things complicated the recent CAA might also would make it very difficult for them, either from Sri Lanka to India or from India to Sri Lanka, to move in and out and to gain eventual citizenship.
The basic assumption in this situation is compassion. No nation can stand alone and no one group of people could make a society. A society is like a beautiful garden of multi-coloured fragrant flowers and variety of chirping birds. We need to build up harmony in order to find a global home for us all.
When I think of durable solutions I think of the following:
- Diplomacy: A spirit of understanding human rights for all the nationals especially among the political leaders of the country, whether Sri Lanka or India, could initiate the possibility of effective dialogue to find permanent solution. An international lobbying, though done, could be intensified and carried on till tangible results are realized.
- NGOs: Many NGOs, interested in the well being of the refugees, are trying their best to alleviate the suffering of the people. A little over one year ago I have been to the refugee camps in Kakuma in Kenya with about 140,000 refugees from about 15 countries and Dzaleka in Malawi with about 40,000 refugees. I was told that the ration of food materials were getting reduced – either the stock was getting depleted or it was an indication for the refugees to leave the camps earlier. Often there are a number of restrictions imposed on the NGOs by the local Govt. The services of the NGOs could be further enriched or enhanced, especially in finding permanent homes for the refugees.
- Education: Education is the key to empowerment. JWL follows this dictum in offering online courses for the refugees. Cambridge English courses are offered leading to ELT exams. Further, 60-credit diploma courses are offered through US based universities such as Regis University, Denver; Bachelor’s programs are offered through Newman Institute, Uppsala in Sweden; Master’s programs are available from New Hampshire State University in the USA; Xavier University (Bhubaneswar); and Creighton University, USA. During the process of learning, the children are exposed to other children in various other countries and their global citizenship gets strengthened. Their motivation gets sharpened; and their world of friendship gets expanded – There arises enriched social group.
- Employment: Though the access to free job market is so tough, the refugees’ children find it difficulty to have access to and success in job market. Here comes the social responsibility of NGOs or of institutions, who should be able to show the way through their influence and impact in the society especially with those capable of employing the refugees.
- Cultural: Finally, it is the common responsibility of the society as a whole. In the book of Exodus (Ex 22: 22-23) one reads that the orphans and widows are to be given special consideration in protecting them. Isaiah (Is 1:17) would say: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow”. The refugees always have a special place in the care and consideration of God: One reads in the book of Leviticus: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt” (Lev 19:33-34). We need to understand their plight; we need to accept them as part of our social and cultural fold; and we need to help them get assimilated and absorbed in our culture so that they could get integrated into our cultural.
It is for this reason that the 28th Superior General of the Jesuits, Fr Pedro Arrupe (1907-1991), opened the vista of Jesuit Refugee Service in 1980 to accompany, serve, and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, that they may heal, learn, and determine their own future. JRS has been marching with the refugees, lobbying for their welfare and fighting for their dignity and equality. It is good that we are gathered here to refresh ourselves and remind ourselves about our obligation and commitment to them.
I appreciate the efforts of Jesuit Refugee Service and on the part of Loyola Institute of Social Science Research and Training (LISSTAR). Let us march with the refugees.
Francis P Xavier SJ
14 Feb 2020