Displaced fast demanding immediate resettlement

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 May 2002, 09:17 GMT]
The displaced people held a one-day token fasting in front of the Tellipalai Assistant Government Office Wednesday demanding the government that it should take immediate steps to resettle them in their own villages, which are located in the high security zone.People from Tellipalai, Myliddy, Kankesanthurai, Vasavilan, Maviddapuram, Kadduwan and other areas participated in the fasting, reports from Jaffna said.

Jaffna district parliamentarian Mr.N.Raviraj, Valigamam North Pradeshiya Sabah Chairman Ms Sri Baskaran and former parliamentarian Mr.S. Sivamaharasa participated in the fasting.

Mr.Raviraj addressing the crowd said that "the resettlement demand of the displaced is a fundamental right. It should be implemented without delay. We have appealed to the government to resettle all the displaced in the Jaffna district. We will continue our agitation."

People in about fifteen villages surrounding the Palaly main air base and army camp had been displaced several years ago due to intense military operations by the government armed forces to make their installations safe from attacks by Liberation Tigers. With the permanent cease-fire agreement came into force, displaced from these villages now demand that they should be resettled in their villages without delay.