Interview was taken from: MRS.GNANAPRAGASAM ARASAMMAH, 53 years.
Displaced from: PALAI NAGAR, MUTHUR 2, Trincomalee
Now at the welfare Centre: SRI KONALINGA MAHA VITHYALAYAM IDP’S CAMP – LINGA NAGAR, Trincomalee
We all went to the Methodist Church Refugee’s Camp, as soon as a neighbor of our house of twenty years was shot and died, while working in his Saloon. We couldn’t be able to bring any of our belongings with us at that time or later. Some people were shot while going to see their house on the road like dogs, by unknown armed group
In the Church, we were given foods, and some house hold items, in the camp by Father and other NGO, INGO, and UN Agencies. We were in a position, that even in any circumstances, unable to go to the road. Those who went out to the road were shot or abducted.
On the date when a suicide attempt was held in Colombo Police Head Quarters, Motor shelling and Multi Barrel shelling were done to our villages. It’s attacked several houses; some people were died on the spot, and more injured.
We, without taking any of our belongings and valuable articles including Jewelries, started to run through the jungle to save our lives. On the way while we were coming, shells fall very closer to us, some died on the spot, some injured, some ran to different sides and fall in mud’s, at that time some children and elders died, without any one’s help.
While, we were coming through the jungle, we pass through some dead bodies in several Places; those bodies were smashed into pieces by shells. It’s taken one full day for us to come to a place next to Kiliveddy. We even didn’t get good water through the tragedy Journey. From that place, we were brought in a bus to this School, in a night, here, they immediately prepared meals to us, and provided nearly, after two days, that is the first food we ate. An INGO called LEADS looking our cares as they can. Other NGO, INGO and UN Agencies were providing Household items to us, as they can. We are very much thankful to all, who helped us so far, from the start to now.
My father is going to Muthur Peoples Bank every month to draw his Pension, with my elder daughter, till they return from Muthur, we will be in high tension. Here in this camp
We divided as groups and every day each group will do cooking. LEADS will bring all food items in every week.
We came to know through those come from our area, that our houses are completely damaged, and all our belongings were looted. We are unable to go back to our place, because, our places is surrounded by Muslims, only 47 Tamil families stayed there before, now most of them were gone to India no body is in a position to help us. If any things happen to a Muslim in any part of the Island by any sector, immediately we will be taken revenge. This is our past experiences. We are not in a position to go back to our places, until a permanent solution comes.
We are looking after five children of our elder daughter. They are all studying very well, any how, we wanted to make them study very well and provide them to a bright future. My elder daughter left by her husband, is now living with another husband. If we are got to re-settled, their studies will be affected in half position, we don’t have much money to admit them to a boarding house. Our family consist of ten members are depends on my father’s pension. My two daughters have studied up to GCE (A/L), unable to study well to get a good result, owing to this ethnic conflict war. If they got a good Job, it will help us. Earlier we prepared Meals and sells to the customers, but now we don’t have any finance support to start such business. We had Poultry in our House, through that also, we got some incomes. Even If I like to start any income business, we don’t have any money at all, and no body is in a position to help us.