Mullaitivu residents shun TNPF demonstration

by P. Krishnaswamy

Barely anybody from Mullaitivu joined last Friday’s protest demonstration staged by the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) led by Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and other minor political groups in front of the Government Secretariat and the handful who participated in the demonstration were brought from Jaffna and Vavuniya, Security Forces Commander General Leonard Mark told the Sunday Observer.

Residents of Mullaitivu did not express any displeasure or make any complaint over the Security Forces’ arrangements to locate their camp at the strategic Koppaipilavu area. The people are happy that they would be settled in better locations with all facilities. Arrangements are under way to provide them houses, lands and all infrastructure in closer proximity.

Model villages and houses are now under construction. The Security Forces are now engaged in helping the local communities in renovating houses, roads and even organising other community events in a spirit of goodwill and camaraderie, General Mark said. Pro-LTTE Tamil political parties which are unable to come to terms with the carried development are bent on creating chaos, he said.

All families have been virtually resettled in the Mullaitivu district and the Menik Farm welfare centre will be closed soon, he said.

People dislike protests being conducted purportedly on their behalf by politicians for their own agendas and survival.

People now have first-hand knowledge of the good work being done for them by the Government in coordination with the Security Forces. They know that a bright future awaits them in the once terrorism torn Mullaitivu district, General Mark said.