HSZ seriously affects displaced Tamils - Bishop

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 January 2003, 00:05 GMT]
The Bishop of Jaffna Tuesday told a government delegation led by a senior minister that the continuance of the high security zones (HSZ) in Jaffna peninsula will not affect the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) but would seriously affect the large number of displaced families living elsewhere under difficult conditions, sources said.

The government team comprising Secretary of Ministry of Defense Mr. Austin Fernando, the Army Commander Lionel Balagalle, Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Donald Perera, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara of the Sri Lanka Navy and Jaffna area SLA Commander Major General Sarath Fonseka, Major General Shantha Kottegoda held discussion with the Jaffna Bishop Rt.Rev Thomas Saundranayagam at the Bishop's House.

The government delegation met the Jaffna Bishop and the Minister Mr. T.Maheswaran after the two-hour conference held at Palaly army headquarters Tuesday. Minister Maheswaran requested the government delegation to take steps to re-open the closed roads in Gurunagar area in Jaffna town, sources said.

The government delegation told Minister Maheswaran and Jaffna Bishop that the army camp at Gnanams Hotel in Jaffna will be shifted by March to a place close to Jaffna fort.

At the conclusion of his one day visit to Jaffna Minister Milinda Morogoda said he is of opinion that changes could be made in the high security zone in order to allow resettlement of displaced persons in their villages, sources said.

"This means that high security zone is to continue with some changes," a civilian representative commented.