This is important as this shows the depth of the issue of IDPs in the Northern Sri Lanka.
The former government had informed the international community, at the Geneva Human Rights Council sessions that there is no single IDP in the country from 26 September 2013.
However, the present government promised to give the land back to the IDPs in N/E camps and else where.
The present Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, protested hand in hand with the IDPs at Durga Amman Kovil at Thellipalai demanding the release of land on 15 February, 2013.
So, it is very justified demand of IDPs to resettle their own, unless GOSL take necessary steps to resettle people by April this year.
Ceylon Today Reported the following;
People of Valikamam North have threatened to resettle by force in the High Security Zone (HSZ), if the government fails to settle them in their own lands before the forthcoming Tamil New Year in April.
Villagers
belonging to Valikamam North have firmly said that they have no other
choice than entering their properties by force through sea and land
routes as they cannot tolerate it anymore in IDP camps and other
temporary places.
Valikamam North Resettlement Society President Arunachalam Kunabalasingham speaking to Ceylon Today said it is very unfair on the villagers of the area. They are not in a position to tolerate their grievances anymore, thus they have decided to enter the HSZ by force. "It is enough now, we have undergone unaccountable miseries in the past, we do not want it to continue. We have met all the authorities, although they listen to our problems, steps have not been taken towards settling our issues," he said.
During the National Thaipongal Event, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said in Palaly that lands in the Valikamam North region will be taken for the extension of the Palaly Airport and for the development of the Kankesanthurai Harbour. He mentioned about the development activities when resettlement issues were taken up for discussion. He also requested the government representatives in the area to inquire if people like to handover their lands for development or if their only wish is to resettle in their lands.
Following the request by Prime Minister, a sudden District Development Committee (DDC) meeting was organized in rush on Thursday (18) which was initially preceded by the Jaffna District Secretary Nagalingam Vethanayagan.
The DDC leaders, Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran, State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, Jaffna District TNA Parliamentarians Mavai Senathiraja, Sivagnanam Sritharan, Dharmalingam Sidthadthan, SLFP Parliamentarian Ankajan Ramanathan, Chairman of Northern Provincial Council C. V. K. Sivagnanam, Northern Minister Ponnuthurai Ainkaranesan and the villagers of Valikamam North participated at the meeting.
When Chief Minister Wigneswaran questioned the people regarding their stance on this particular matter, they furiously said that they are very firm about resettlement and not any other matters.
Thus three resolutions were adopted at the meeting that, all those displaced from Valikamam North should be resettled in their own lands with all basic facilities, people of Mayiliddy should be resettled in their own lands and the Mayiliddy Harbour should be handed over to the people for fishing activities. Similarly, the Kankesanthurai Harbour also should be handed over to the people in particular areas.
Further it was decided that development activities such as extending the Palaly Airport and Kankesanthurai harbour areas can be considered later after people are resettled in their own lands.
Therefore, it was ultimately decided to hand over a petition based on the above said three resolutions to the Prime Minister and President.
Displaced for almost two generations
Valikamam North Resettlement Society President Kunabalasingham said, "Why can't the government build an airport in the Kilinochchi District either in Velanani or perhaps Mandaitheevu? It is in the midst of all cities in the Northern Province. We do not understand as to why the government is still dragging on the resettlement issue. Resettlement in the Valikamam North region has been an ongoing topic since the end of war. We are now fed up of discussing it with various authorities and thus now we are firmly saying that we shall enter the HSZ by force and we are ready to face any amount of losses,"
As it is already known there are 10,000 families to be resettled in Valikamam North, 1,500 families are living in 18 IDP camps, 8,500 families are living in temporary places and some families are in India too.
Kunabalasingham added that these families are displaced for almost two generations and the population has doubled than 26 years back when the villagers displaced from the region on 15 June 1990. "Two kilometre area along the Mayiliddy coastal belt is under the custody of Navy and we once went there to a temple and they did not allow us to wash our feet in the sea water. It is our sacred land and who are they to stop us from washing our feet in the sea? We have been living there for many years. We are unhappy. This is not what we expected when we voted in favour of this government," he said.
"I agree that development activities should happen in our region and it is correct to extend the Kankesanthurai Harbour but I feel it is important to resettle us first," he said.
The Security Forces have been cultivating in the lands of people in the name of HSZ. "It is quite funny. They are cultivating in our lands and selling back to us at the markets. Those are our lands and it does not belong to them," Kunabalasingham said.
He further pointed out coconut cultivation is being carried out in a land area where 5,000 families should be resettled. This area is situated around one kilometre distance to Palaly T-Junction, down Point-Pedro road. "Coconut cultivation is a long term process. Does that mean the Security Forces shall not return our lands? This matter is quite complex," he said.
"The water pumping tank in my house has been used by the Security Forces for their daily purposes and my house is under their custody. Thus I have filed a case for 2,500 acres of land that is under their custody and Parliamentarian Sumanthiran is pursuing it," he said.
Kunabalasingham said, when the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid al- Hussein visited Jaffna, he was shocked to see the maps and hear situation of resettlement. "He was quite furious and sad when he listened to our grievances. Our houses, religious monuments, churches and temples are no more there. There should be 4000-5000 houses," he said.
Lands in Palaly North-West area in Anthonyarpuram village was handed over to the people. It has been three months since it was announced, yet the Security Forces have not yet officially passed over to the people claiming that they have not received any official confirmation, Kunabalasingham pointed out. "This area contains around 60-70 houses of farmers and fisher folk families,"
At the same time State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran held talks with the Jaffna Army Commander Major General Mahesh Senanayake regarding resettlement and releasing of lands. Meeting took place at the Security Forces Head Quarters in Palaly.
Jaffna District Secretary Nagalingam Vethanayagan said the petition including the decisions at the DDC was forwarded to both President and Prime Minister over the extension of Palaly Airport and Kankesanthurai Harbour. Meanwhile, early this week Kfir Aircraft from the Palaly Airport has swept over the Jaffna Peninsula terrifying the people in the area and has further raised suspicion to the Valikamam North people as to whether they will be allowed for resettlement.
Valikamam North Resettlement Society President Arunachalam Kunabalasingham speaking to Ceylon Today said it is very unfair on the villagers of the area. They are not in a position to tolerate their grievances anymore, thus they have decided to enter the HSZ by force. "It is enough now, we have undergone unaccountable miseries in the past, we do not want it to continue. We have met all the authorities, although they listen to our problems, steps have not been taken towards settling our issues," he said.
During the National Thaipongal Event, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said in Palaly that lands in the Valikamam North region will be taken for the extension of the Palaly Airport and for the development of the Kankesanthurai Harbour. He mentioned about the development activities when resettlement issues were taken up for discussion. He also requested the government representatives in the area to inquire if people like to handover their lands for development or if their only wish is to resettle in their lands.
Following the request by Prime Minister, a sudden District Development Committee (DDC) meeting was organized in rush on Thursday (18) which was initially preceded by the Jaffna District Secretary Nagalingam Vethanayagan.
The DDC leaders, Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran, State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, Jaffna District TNA Parliamentarians Mavai Senathiraja, Sivagnanam Sritharan, Dharmalingam Sidthadthan, SLFP Parliamentarian Ankajan Ramanathan, Chairman of Northern Provincial Council C. V. K. Sivagnanam, Northern Minister Ponnuthurai Ainkaranesan and the villagers of Valikamam North participated at the meeting.
When Chief Minister Wigneswaran questioned the people regarding their stance on this particular matter, they furiously said that they are very firm about resettlement and not any other matters.
Thus three resolutions were adopted at the meeting that, all those displaced from Valikamam North should be resettled in their own lands with all basic facilities, people of Mayiliddy should be resettled in their own lands and the Mayiliddy Harbour should be handed over to the people for fishing activities. Similarly, the Kankesanthurai Harbour also should be handed over to the people in particular areas.
Further it was decided that development activities such as extending the Palaly Airport and Kankesanthurai harbour areas can be considered later after people are resettled in their own lands.
Therefore, it was ultimately decided to hand over a petition based on the above said three resolutions to the Prime Minister and President.
Displaced for almost two generations
Valikamam North Resettlement Society President Kunabalasingham said, "Why can't the government build an airport in the Kilinochchi District either in Velanani or perhaps Mandaitheevu? It is in the midst of all cities in the Northern Province. We do not understand as to why the government is still dragging on the resettlement issue. Resettlement in the Valikamam North region has been an ongoing topic since the end of war. We are now fed up of discussing it with various authorities and thus now we are firmly saying that we shall enter the HSZ by force and we are ready to face any amount of losses,"
As it is already known there are 10,000 families to be resettled in Valikamam North, 1,500 families are living in 18 IDP camps, 8,500 families are living in temporary places and some families are in India too.
Kunabalasingham added that these families are displaced for almost two generations and the population has doubled than 26 years back when the villagers displaced from the region on 15 June 1990. "Two kilometre area along the Mayiliddy coastal belt is under the custody of Navy and we once went there to a temple and they did not allow us to wash our feet in the sea water. It is our sacred land and who are they to stop us from washing our feet in the sea? We have been living there for many years. We are unhappy. This is not what we expected when we voted in favour of this government," he said.
"I agree that development activities should happen in our region and it is correct to extend the Kankesanthurai Harbour but I feel it is important to resettle us first," he said.
The Security Forces have been cultivating in the lands of people in the name of HSZ. "It is quite funny. They are cultivating in our lands and selling back to us at the markets. Those are our lands and it does not belong to them," Kunabalasingham said.
He further pointed out coconut cultivation is being carried out in a land area where 5,000 families should be resettled. This area is situated around one kilometre distance to Palaly T-Junction, down Point-Pedro road. "Coconut cultivation is a long term process. Does that mean the Security Forces shall not return our lands? This matter is quite complex," he said.
"The water pumping tank in my house has been used by the Security Forces for their daily purposes and my house is under their custody. Thus I have filed a case for 2,500 acres of land that is under their custody and Parliamentarian Sumanthiran is pursuing it," he said.
Kunabalasingham said, when the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid al- Hussein visited Jaffna, he was shocked to see the maps and hear situation of resettlement. "He was quite furious and sad when he listened to our grievances. Our houses, religious monuments, churches and temples are no more there. There should be 4000-5000 houses," he said.
Lands in Palaly North-West area in Anthonyarpuram village was handed over to the people. It has been three months since it was announced, yet the Security Forces have not yet officially passed over to the people claiming that they have not received any official confirmation, Kunabalasingham pointed out. "This area contains around 60-70 houses of farmers and fisher folk families,"
At the same time State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran held talks with the Jaffna Army Commander Major General Mahesh Senanayake regarding resettlement and releasing of lands. Meeting took place at the Security Forces Head Quarters in Palaly.
Jaffna District Secretary Nagalingam Vethanayagan said the petition including the decisions at the DDC was forwarded to both President and Prime Minister over the extension of Palaly Airport and Kankesanthurai Harbour. Meanwhile, early this week Kfir Aircraft from the Palaly Airport has swept over the Jaffna Peninsula terrifying the people in the area and has further raised suspicion to the Valikamam North people as to whether they will be allowed for resettlement.
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