Landmines wreck heavy toll on cattle

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 January 1999, 17:03 GMT]
At least two cattle belonging to civilians are killed every day by Anti-personnel land mines planted by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in the villages of Maasaar and Soranpattu in the Pachchilaippalli division south east of Jaffna said a Sri Lankan government official in the area today.

The Divisional Secretary of Pachchilaipalli Mr.Subramaniyam Puththirasihamani speaking today about the situation in his area said that 292 families who were displaced eight years ago from the villages of Iyakkachchi and Kovil Vayal are yet to be granted permission by the SLA to resettle.

He further said that 166 families in the villages of Kilali, Puloppalai and Allippalai whose livelihood depends on fishing in the Jaffna lagoon continue to face hardships because the SLA has denied permission to ply their trade.

He said there are 269 widows in the division who have lost their spouses due to the war and 65 persons who are permanently disabled in incidents connected to the conflict.

The Pachchilaipalli division is part of the Kilinochchi district although it is situated in the peninsula proper.

Most of its area is covered by the sprawling base complex at Elephant Pass.