A protest demonstration demanding immediate resettlement of people displaced from Valikaamam North occupied by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) as High Security Zone (HSZ) organized by the Welfare Organizations for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on 1 March in front of Jaffna Secretariat had to be given up due to the strong opposition to it by Jaffna Government Agent (GA) K. Ganesh, the representatives of the welfare organizations said. The GA had refused to accept the memorandum of the protestors saying that the matter of resettlement should not be made a political issue in the context of the forthcoming parliamentary election, the organizations further alleged.
Earlier the government had announced that resettlement in Valikaamam North will be permitted in 13 Village Officer divisions. But the IDPs who had been allowed to visit their properties during daytime are not permitted to enter the HSZ now.
Meanwhile, the government and its officials in Jaffna say that 1300 IDPs will be resettled in the HSZ but in reality the resettlement will be in the no man’s land, the welfare organizations said.
The IDPs say that this announcement is only an eye wash and an election propaganda as some IDPs are already resettled in the no man’s land.
They further said that the GA has been continually requesting time to settle the issue.
They alleged that the GA has told them that the newly appointed SLA commander for Jaffna, Major. Gen. Kathurusinghe is a good person and that he will find a good solution to the issue.
In the context of SLA refusing to enact the instructions of the Supreme Court to allow resettlement in the HSZ the attitude of the GA is seen as an act of speaking on behalf of the government, they added.
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