Pallimunai community in Manar district seems not received any dividends of peace as some others say. The 18 families have been displaced more than 8 years as they were displaced during the final war between government forces and the LTTE. The houses of 18 families have been captured by military since 2007 and they are still under their custody till now. Ms. Helena, a displaced family member told us, " We are fisher families lived peacefully. We had everything we wanted. When the day we displaced we had to walk from Pallimunai to Madhu church where we lived more than a year. Thanks to Bishop and all otherz took care us at that time. Because of that we are able to survive today. We faced all the brutality of the war. We are happy most displaced people are returning to their lands of origin though they dont have even a temporary shelter. Our houses are stll not destroyed and Navy is occupy them while we are still displaced. How long should we stay like this? We expect President and Cabinet pay attention to our grievances as we submitted our request through resettlement ministerMr. Swaminathan in early May this year."
"We are thankful for the listen to the voice of displaced people. But why not listen ours." Added Ms. Helen at a meeting organized by NAFSO and Mannar district fisheries solidarity yesterday.
Antony Jesudasan, coordinator People to People Dialogue said at the meeting,"the courage of Pallimunai people motivated us to proceed with the issue. Untill the affected people unitedly fight for their rights we will be with you. Some of the displaced communities and the members betrayed us and we were frustrated with them. Let us unitedly fight to gain our rights."
Fight to gain the land and houses continued at Pallimunai, Mannar.
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