Sri Lanka police forcibly took away 224 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Moothoor in Trincomalee district presently staying in Kirimuddi refugee camp in Batticaloa district, against their wish, to be relocated in Ki’liveddi in Trincomalee district, Tuesday noon, sources in Batticaloa said. UNHCR representatives, representatives of NGOs besides government officials were present during this incident, the sources added.
There were 224 persons of 58 families taken to Ki’liveddi Tuesday morning in ten buses across Verukal river to Ki’liveddi.
Sri Lanka government had instructed Batticaloa Government Agent (GA) to close the Kee’rimuddi refugee camp and relocate the IDPs to Ki’liveddi.
2500 persons of 750 families displaced due to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupation of their villages in Moothoor East have been languishing in eleven refugee camps in Batticaloa district for more than two and a half years.
The refugees had refused to be relocated to Ki’liveddi though the government officials had warned that their relief assistance would be stopped if they fail to comply with their orders.
When the situation became uncontrollable the officers sought the help of the police to take away the IDPs forcibly.
The police entered the shelters of the IDPs and forced them into the buses with their belongings.
Batticaloa GA has made arrangements to close the refugee camps in Pazhachchoalai, Kee’rimuddi, Maavadiveampu and to relocate the IDPs in the camps to Ki’liveddi.
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