Village Officers association condemns attacks in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 February 2011, 03:20 GMT]
Batticaloa District Branch of the United Village Officers Association has expressed concern over the failure of the Colombo government to take action against intimidation and assault on its members involved in relief work following the recent floods. The association has organized a demonstration Wednesday to condemn such attacks in Batticaloa.

The branch President of the association in Batticaloa district, V. Rasathurai in a statement said that no action had been taken against the assault on a village officer Madasamy Wijeyakumar, while he was distributing relief materials to flood victims at Makizhadith-theevu village in Batticaloa DS division.

Aaraiyampathi village officer J.Suresh was attacked on December 16.

The suspects who are members of para military groups have been released on bail despite complaints by the Divisional Secretary against them in these incidents.

The judiciary, allowing bail for the paramilitary operatives, has not been conducive in containing the attacks and intimidation against village level officers, the statement point out.

Mr. Rasathurai has urged the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, SL Minister of Public Administration and Local Government, SL Minister for Disaster Management and Batticaloa District Government Agent in writing to take immediate action to stop such attacks on village level officers and to deal with the offenders under the law concerned.