23 resettled Tamils slain in Batticaloa since 2009 by wild elephants

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 August 2013, 17:43 GMT]
At least 23 resettled Tamils have been killed in Batticaloa district by wild elephants that have been brought into the jungles close to Tamil villages by genocidal Colombo's Forest Department after 2009. Disregarding the repeated objections of the people, the SL Forest Department has brought in more wild elephants from Hambantota where Rajapaksa government recently launched ‘Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport’. The resettled people have been complaining to the SL Police and civil officials each time a person is slain by the wild elephants brought in from the South.

Three more wild elephants, brought in on 05th August, have gone amok on the huts and properties of the resettled Tamils at 5th Mile Post area, the villagers say.

Wild elephant attacks have been reported in Eaa'raavoor-pattu (Chengkaladi) and Koa'ralaip-pattu South divisions. Kudumpi-malai, 5th Mile Post, Eera'lak-ku'lam, Chiththaa'ndi, Chinna-ve'li and Chinnaa'lan-ve'li.

The wild elephants often visit the agricultural sites seeking water in ponds and tanks. The elephants also destroy paddy and stores where harvested rice and harvested crops are stored.

The resettled people depend on agriculture and freshwater fishing are severely affected by the wild elephants.

The resettled Tamils also complain that wild elephants are deployed to force them away from their villages.

The people of Paduvaankarai complain that the SL authorities have systematically failed to act on their complaints.

In the meantime, Colombo is transferring 12 Divisional Secretaries in the Batticaloa district next month.

Divisional Secretaries in Paduvaan-karai region of the Batticaloa district, who have only completed one-year service in their divisions, are also being subjected to the internal transfer scheme. Civil sources said the transfer scheme is planned to appoint Divisional Secretaries whom Colombo considers as “loyal” to its genocidal land appropriation policy.

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