Resettlement in HSZs, part of ongoing program

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

Resettling displaced people in the High Security Zones (HSZs) in Jaffna is not copying the pledges made by Opposition Presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka to the Tamil National Alliance to dismantle HSZs. Rather, it is an ongoing program under the accelerated resettlement program launched in Jaffna last year, Presidential Advisor for North-East Development Chandra Fernando said.

He told the Sunday Observer that the resettlement programs were implemented under the guidance of Senior Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa, the Chairman of the Northern Presidential Task Force.

The first stage of resettling IDPs in the North has been successfully completed and focus has been switched to the second stage - resettling IDPs in the HSZs.

Fernando said when Basil Rajapaksa tabled the resettlement plan under the theme 'Resettlment, Development and Security', introducing the plans to resettle displaced people in the HSZs, the then Army Chief Sarath Fonseka had objected, explaining the security risks of immediate resettlements in the HSZs.

He said the remnants of the damaged buildings and houses in the HSZ would show how the LTTE had used these areas to attack the Security Forces, mingling with the residents.

"Their main target was the Palali Air Base and if the Government had not declared these areas as HSZs, the activities of the entire Jaffna Peninsula would have been paralysed. The LTTE forced people to provide them hiding within the community.

"Damages were caused due to extensive shelling of the LTTE on the Security Forces. But the decision to maintain HSZs saved the people of Jaffna", he added.Under the first stage of resettling people in the HSZ which started on January 5, 1,862 persons belonging to 509 families were resettled.

The areas of three Divisional Secretariats in Jaffna - Kopay, Tellippalai and Uduvil - were made suitable for human settlement after a lapse of two decades. Each resettled family has been given Rs. 50,000, shelter material, livelihood support and non-food items. Financial support will be given for the renovation of partly damaged houses. "We have already commenced the clearing of the West side of the HSZ, using over 15 bulldozers to commence the second and third stages of resettling people in the HSZ.

"The areas are overgrown with vegetation as they have been neglected for years."The entire area needs to be cleared and wells too should be renovated before being handed over to the people", he said.