Comments on: Who burnt houses of returning Muslim IDPs in Mannar?

By: Reyaz

Reyaz — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 07:41:00 +0000

This is playing with fire. Justice should be served in the Country. Law and order should be restored even in the north & the east.

By: kadphises

kadphises — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:44:44 +0000

Is it possible to establish if these people were resettled in their original areas of habitation? From what I have heard there is some problem with resettling these people in their original homes in Manar and in 2010 Rishard Bathurdeen with Basil Rajapakses consent got the Army to clear 15,000 acres inside the designated boundary of Wilpattu National Park near Marichakattu for a new settlement. The Park officials knew nothing about it (The park is heavily militarised and the park officials seem to have very little power these days) until the forest had been cleared and huts built. But according to the game guards the land has mostly been distributed among the well off Putlam business community (friends of Bathurdeen but not genuine refugees) whose permanant homes are in Putlam. However they have built huts on the blocks allocated to them merely to stake their claim to the land. No one lives in them, but occasionally on weekends the owners arrive in their “Monteros” to inspect their newly acquired lands. After the wildlife authorities and various NGOs contested this illegal land settlement Basil is supposed to have washed his hands off the whole affair and claimed that Rishard Bathurdeen settled his men without Basil’s knowledge. This is what I heard second hand from a game guard at Wilpattu. The huts in the photos look rather flimsy and temporary like the ones I was told about. The forest can be seen in the background which makes me wonder.. It is all very murky.

By: Lanka Liar

Lanka Liar — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 23:44:51 +0000

If houses are burnt and women are raped people are kidnapped everyone know who did this. Why all these analysis?

By: A Concerned Citizen

A Concerned Citizen — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 05:40:05 +0000

In spite of such atrocious incidents about which the government does not want to conduct any serious inquiries and punish the perpetrators, in the East the unscrupulous Muslim politicians who were elected to the Eastern Provincial Council seem to want to join the government party for their own selfish interests and abandon the Muslim voters who supported them against the candidates of the party in power. So long as the Muslims have leaders of this kind there will be none to help them to protect their interest and give voice to their grievances.

By: Citizen

Citizen — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 03:58:11 +0000

The continued occupation of civilian properties in the North and Northeast by the Military is contrary to the picture being painted by the Govt.
Building roads, bridges and military camps for the use of the armed forces is being showcased as GDP growth and development of the North whereas people are being harrassed and deprived of their lands and livelihood.
Govt is averse to any criticism and the military is above the law. How long will this type of situation continue?

By: walter

walter — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 03:34:00 +0000

I pity these Muslim citizens, but you see, they have sold their rights to opportunistic Muslim Politicians, like Rauf Hakeem and his ilk.
However, these Muslim Politicians in turn, have not only sold the Muslim votes for their personal advantages, but also have obtained disproportionate benefits for their Community.
Therefore the apparent rift among all these Communities will continue until the G O S L creates one National identity, and nothing else.
The Muslims must keep their religious belief to themselves, in the search for social and economic security. They must accept that Religion is a personal matter. This should apply to all of us as well.
In this Country, they have to make a political choice, either they side with the Tamils or the Sinhala Buddhist’s.
Speaking generally, the Muslims will find it very difficult to integrate with other Communities. However their Political representatives can ‘feather’ their nest’s in any environment. Sri Lanka stands out in this scenario.

BUT THE BIGGEST INSURMOUNTABLE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY IS THE HANDING OF POLITICAL POWER TO PEOPLE, WHO HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY AND THEIR PROGENY WILL CONTINUE FOREVER, BY AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE DISMANTLED THE REAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND THEY ARE CONDUCTING ‘COSMETIC’ ELECTIONS, WHICH GIVES A SEMBLANCE OF DEMOCRACY.
In my view the Tamils, Muslims, and the Burgher communities will have a long battle to win back their identities and dignity, equally.
Fortunately, still there are Sinhala Christians and Buddhist’s who are not with this ‘Democratic Dictatorship’ and therefore leaving a faint glimmer of Hope for these Communities.
The majority of the Muslims, due to their total, extreme, uncompromising commitment to their religious belief’s, that this world will be a better place, sends a frightening signal to other communities. They must change this stand for successful integration.

By: Orion

Orion — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 02:59:56 +0000

Those who rule SL and their business partners are trying to buy or takeover land in the North and East for their own profitable enterprises. From Mannar to Trinco the Navy and Army with Chinese counterparts control the sea coast. The owners are displaced. With the Oil/Gas explorations in the Palk Strait a Resort in former homes of Muslims and Tamils will have Chinese and local armed forces, families and local tourists enjoying the fruits or is it spoils of war. It will be very profitable for the Ruling Party. May be they will share the profit with their coalition partners.