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| Sunday, 27 June 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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North East Muslims ignored by M. I. M. Mohideen The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has had a terrible effect on the Muslims, particularly in the North-East. The forcible eviction of more
than one hundred thousand Muslims, attacks on un-armed Muslim civilians, attacks on mosques and murdering of hundreds of Muslims while in prayer, the confiscation of lands, houses, business and cultural premises have caused insecurity among the Muslims in the North-East. Because of security risks, the Muslims are unable to cultivate more than 100,000 acres of agricultural lands or occupy nearly 22,000 residential houses, business and cultural premises belonging to the North-East Muslims. The losses suffered by the Muslims were estimated to be more than US $110 million. Responding to the question at the LTTE International Media Conference on April 10, 2002, as to whether he has taken any concrete steps to allow the displaced Muslims living in refugee camps for the last 12 years to return to the North, Velupillai Pirabaharan said that "Proper objective conditions should be created for these people to come back. After these conditions are in place, I will make an appeal for the Muslims to come back". Humanitarian The main focus of the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the peace talks was on the urgent humanitarian needs to improve the day to day lives of the North East people. To this effect the parties have agreed on an accelerated resettlement programme of the internally displaced people. However, the proposal submitted by the Sri Lanka government to the Oslo Donors Conference on November 25, 2002, for immediate humanitarian and rehabilitation support did not mention the losses suffered by the Muslims and the funds required for the rehabilitation and reconstruction works in Muslim areas. The proposal submitted by the Government of Sri Lanka gave the impression that only Tamils have suffered in the North East conflict. The International Donors Conference held in Tokyo - Japan had pledged US $4.5 billion for rehabilitation work in the war affected North-East and other infrastructure and development work in Sri Lanka. The Muslims are entitled to a share of the aid to reconstruct the areas destroyed in the conflict and resettle the 102,867 Muslims forcibly displaced, regain their agricultural lands, residential properties and business and cultural premises. This would also give an opportunity for the Muslims to prove the Government of Sri Lanka as well as the international community the feasibility of reconstruction, development and administering of the predominant Muslim areas in the North East independently by the Muslims. Urgent works that has to be carried out in the Muslim areas prior to the commencement of the resettlement of forcibly displaced Muslims from the North-East 1. Demining Mannar District, Musali DS Division ,Chilavathurai, Kondachchi , Mannar DS Division ,Thalaimannar Pier, Manthai DS Division, Vidathalthievu, Periyamadu and Minuka, Mullaithievu DS Division, Mullaithievu Town, Hijirapuram Jaffna District, Pommaveli, Mankuman and Chavakachcheri Trincomalee District, Muthur, Kinniya, Kuchchaveli and Pudavaikattu Batticaloa District ,Karadiyanaru, Pullumalai Ampara District, Thirukkovil, Thambiluvil, Sagamam, Wammiyadikulam, Rufaskulam and Kanchikudicharu 2. Clearing of unlawful occupants from all residential, commercial and industrial buildings belonging to Muslims. 3. Clearing of unlawful occupants from all Muslim religious and cultural buildings. 4. Clearing of all unlawful occupants from all Muslim agricultural land and preparation of such land for cultivation. 5. Clearing of shrub jungles in residential premises. 6. Clearing of the shrub jungles on access road and internal lanes. 7. Renovation of tanks and irrigation channels. 8. Reconstruction of all residential, commercial, cultural and religious buildings. 9. Reconstruction of infrastructure facilities - electricity, water, roads etc. 10. Reconstruction of civic centres and public buildings schools, hospitals, market, bus stands, post office, police station and secretariat offices 11. Puttalam-Mannar Western coastal highway and bridge should be repaired and opened immediately 12. The railway tract from Mathawatchi to Thalaimannar should be repaired and the train services should commence immediately 13. The bridge connecting the Mannar Island with the main land should be reconstructed. 14. The causeways in Mannar, Muthur and Kinniya should be reconstructed. 15. The road from Mankulam to Mullaithievu should be reconstructed. 16. The A15 Road and the bridges from Palathopur to Trincomalee should be reconstructed. 17. The Road, from Akkaraipattu - Paddiyadipitti/Puddampai to Sagam Tank/Kanchirankuda junction should be reconstructed. |
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