JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

Purpose

1. Get an Idea of post-war state of Jaffna.

2. To find out the real situation of resettlement of the displaced people due to war
situation.
3. Discussing and identifying the livelihood problems of fishermen, farmers,
labourers and women.
4. Making network and having discussion with social welfare associations there, to
solve the land problems of those people and to take future actions for the lasting
development.

First Day Meeting – 21 January 2010

Visit to the Kanagarayan kulam refugees’ camp at Puthur Junction in Killinochi District.

Camp Life

People who displaced due to Vanni operation and stationed at Ramanathapuram ( Menic
Farm) were settled in Puliyankulam Puthur area in last December. They were given Rs.
25,000.00 and 12 roofing sheets by the Government. World Food Programme is
providing 1.4 Kg rice , 1.4 Kg sugar and 0.14 coconut oil per day.

Difficulties facing

1. No job to do
2. Severe problem for drinking water
3. Experiencing difficult situation, they are living in small tents.
4. As these tents are under security divisions, they have become as barriers to their
freedom.
5. Psychological unrest as they are living in other villages without going to their
own villages.
6. Due to lack of facilities like healthcare, fundamental education and nutritious food
the health state of children and elders are going down.

Our Observation

 Although the Government says that it has resettled the people in suitable places,
but it is not so is very clear.

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Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

 Peoples’ actions and faces show that they have lost their expectations. That is they
wished that they would have died in the war.
 Any way what is visible is that they enjoy a little freedom
 We can’t think anything about the future of these children.
 It was visible the great eager they have in their mind to go to their own places
soon.

The observation we had from that spot up to Killinochi

During our visit to this areas in 2003 – 2006 Killinochi and the neighbouring area, we
had seen, had been rapidly developing and the environment was in a good condition.
When the war was extended up to killinochi there had been no any people there. Any way
military has destroyed all the physical resources there. This was revealed in our
discussion we had with the people there.

Matters cleared in our observations

 The war executed was not a humanitarian war.

 Our question is the reason for this destructive war is to destroy the rights of the
Tamils and forming the rule that is needed for the Sinhalese.
 It has been confirmed by the display boards saying “Let Buddha sasana Shine”
 All the cafeterias currently available are run by Army.

Meeting with the activists from Rural Labour

We discussed with them about the current problems like land problems, high security
zone, agriculture and about their life after war.

 People who have been affected by the 2004 Tsunami are still living in refugee
camps, in relatives’ houses or in tents put up in barren lands.

 The round ups that disturbed much during the war time is not much now, we can
make use transport facilities up to 10 or 11 o’clock at night.

 After the opening of A9, we have some facilities for our agriculture. Labourers
have enough work opportunities and we are able to send our agricultural products
to the South.

 With regard to life and material lost during the war time they are all filled with
pain and shock and it is said that they are living with these feelings.

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO),NO: 10, Malwatta Road Negombo – Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

 Although it is said that the war is over our basic problems and troubles are there
without any change. We still depend on others for our needs.

 Even with the limited freedom currently available, the traditional and cultural
values are being deteriorated. Women are facing much more hardships and
violence. A young girl from Kopay area has been taken away, raped and killed
recently. A woman at the age of 40 from Chankanai was killed by cutting her
neck and her jewelries were stolen

 The main source of income of the area is agriculture. It has a fertile red soil for it.
But these lands are bought by the traders and make building for commercial
purposes. This hampers the agricultural activities and reducing the work
opportunities for the labourers.

 In Jaffna people affected by Tsunami and war and lost their lands and the people
who couldn’t go to their lands are still living in Kovill lands, government lands
and in relatives’ houses and in rented out houses. Due to the systems of high
security zone people lived in the areas like Mailitty, Palaly, Mathagal,
Chunnakam. Mahiapiti, Valvettithurai and Kurunagar are living on any others
land by putting up tents and some families are still living in relatives Houses.

 As the high security zones are there from Mathagal to Thondamanaru in the
extent of 20 Kms from Palali Fishermen and farmers lived there had lost their
lands and the fisheries harbour at Mailitty is destroyed.

 Mr. A. S. Nadarajah, the manager of Jaffna Thinakural and the chairman of

organization for the resettlement of the Valikamam north confirmed that 83,000
people have been displaced in 1983. Some of these people have gone to abroad
and Colombo and rest of the people are living in 68 refugee camps.

 When the people who have gone abroad or Colombo is returning to their homes,
the people who have been living there either on rent or on friendly basis since
1990 have to hand over these houses and problem of homeless is on rise.

We asked if what we can do on this together - the Replies are:

1. Data should be collected about the people who have been displaced since 1990
and are living in 68 camps about their previous living places (before the
announcement of High Security Zones) and about their present camps. This was

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Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

undertaken by the team under Mr. N. Inpanayagam from the organization of Rural
Labourers.

2. After that a process should be initiated to make the people vigilant.

3. A conference should be organized to discuss about the Land right, Political rights
and Future activities of Tamil politicians. This should be arranged at the end of
February before the Parliamentary election.

Our Observation

 People who have been displaced by the final war and People who have been
displaced since 1990 have lost their lands and living closer to the camps.

 The government a little tries to solve the problems of the people affected by the
final war and there is a question if it would forget about the people whom had lost
their lands in 1990.
 Although the High court had given a ruling two times in 2006 of removing the
high security zones and establish their land right that was not implemented yet.

Discussion with the people who came from Vanni and living in Kodikamam Refugees’
camp and with the Jesuit Fathers

Venue : Jesuit Fathers’ House

Fathers appointed for the services of the rehabilitation camp Rev. Fr.. Jerad Roiro, Rev.
Fr. Edwin and the representatives of the camp M. Vasannthakumar and Gracious
Participated in the discussion.

 Recently 3,384 families from Vanni refugees have come to Jaffna and about 850
families are living in Alara and Kodikamam area. Others are living in their
relatives’ houses and in other places. Most of them are fishermen. They have lost
their livelihood and affected severely. Now they are getting 250 g rice, 250 g
sugar, 20 g Dhal and 50ml coconut oil from world food organization on per day
per person basis every week. In addition to this CARITAS Jaffna and JRS fathers
are providing meat, fish and yam at many occasions.

 Adults in the camp are allowed to go out and stay for 10 days a month. Making
use of this opportunity some of them do some labour work in areas closer to city
and tried to earn something for their families.

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO),NO: 10, Malwatta Road Negombo – Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

 Widows are not benefited from this system and their children are psychologically
more affected than the children of other families.

 These widows couldn’t get their members’ death certificates and the birth
certificates of their children.

 There are a lot of women in the camps and they have no facilities for privacy and
cleaning. Many sexual activities are going in side; serious social problems are on
the rise. Although they have some freedom now they fear that any moment their
life would in trouble again.

 The government groups came to the camps and forced them to vote for
government in order to get some chance of resettlement. The classic example is
that they were given the bus transport forcing them to participate in the election
meeting of presidential candidate Mahida Rajapaksha. Most of them didn’t
participate in it. They may face the repercussion of it in the future. The
representatives of Daculous Thevanandha promised them to arrange a meeting
with the president at the end of this meeting; but no arrangement was done. They
were made to stand 150m away from the stage from where he spoke.

 They said that they are in the state of falling from pan to hearth.

Opinion of the Priests

 Although it is said that the war is over, problem of the Tamils are as it is.

 People have lost not only the land but also their houses and everything.

 People who are made displaced in 1990 and living in other areas fear that their
problems may be forgotten.

 The act of destroying An LTTE’s cemetery in Satti and transformed it into a

tourist spot has made the people’s pain into hatred.

 All most all the pavement traders in and around Jaffna are either Sinhalese or
Muslims. It may not be a problem now. It would cause problems in the future.

Proposals from the group

 A project should be created to form civil organizations and to upgrade the social
leadership.

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Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

 To protect the value of land and other resources all sorts of strategies should be
utilized and mobilized.

 The youth are psychologically affected and they should be redeemed from that.
Projects should be initiated to prevent the youth from being addicted by the
government sponsored wine stores through the island. It was discussed that
catholic and other religious leaders come forward to act on it.

2nd Day.

 We met Mr. Thavaratnam the Chairman of the mother organization of the

fisheries cooperative societies in Jaffna.

 The previous barriers have gone and now we have opportunities to fish.

 Fishermen have a little freedom now.

 So there is an upward trend in our industry now.

 Some fishermen are sending fish to Colombo now.

 There are some problems in it. The quality of the fish sent is getting low as it is
checked in many check points, at the same time the forces are taking the fish they
like free of charge.

 The permission for using Trawler was given through Minister Doculas
Thevananda during the last PC election and currently 120 trawlers are in
operation. It is serious that we are destroying the sea resources. Our organization
has banned it since 2005.

 At the same time Indian trawlers are coming in large number.

 Fishermen and northern people are having a little freedom now, but we have our
own doubts about its continuity.

 There no solution for the people who have been displaced since 1990. The area
from Mathagal to Thondamanaru the extent of 20km is declared as high security
zone. This is the traditional fish catching area of the people. There had been 5
fishing harbours and ice mills. Now they cannot be used. People of those areas are

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO),NO: 10, Malwatta Road Negombo – Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

still in the camp. They are eager to go to their villages. But there is no solution for
this problem. If it continues like this there will a war in Valikamam north too.

 Some are dying without fulfilling their wish of going home. Others are living with
the expectation of going back home.

 Today’s youth do not know the value of the lands, but elders worry very much
about it.
 They have made us slaves for such a long time.

Proposals

 The high security zones must be removed and the displaced people since 1990
should be resettled in those areas.

 The fisheries harbours in Mathagal and Thondamanaru should be protected and

the ice mills should be restarted again.

 House owners should be helped to renovate their destroyed houses that are in the
High security zones.

 Action should be taken to ban the trawler fishing.

 When fish is brought from Jaffna to Colombo, it should be taken to a place in

Jaffrna and sealed.

We met Mr. Mr. A. S. Nadarajah, the manager of Jaffna Thinakural and the
chairman of organization for the resettlement of the Valikamam north.

Mr Nadarajah, and his team are working for resettling the people who displaced since
1986. According to him 83,000 people have been displaced in 1983 – 1990 . Some of
these people have gone to abroad and Colombo and rest of the people are living in 68
refugee camps. Some are living in rented out houses in Jaffna town. Their children who
were born in camps have reached their teenage and still living with hardships. The
relatives who come in search of the displaced people in the final war are staying either in
the rented out houses or in the camps. As the war is over ans as the A9 road is opened,
people who have gone abroad or Colombo is returning to their homes, the people who
have been living there either on rent or on friendly basis have to go somewhere else
again.

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO),NO: 10, Malwatta Road Negombo – Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

Minister Doculas cleared that he tries to resettle 10,000 people with the election, and later
expressed that he had no hope on it. The verdict of the high court in 2006 allowing
cultivation was not implemented. Although it was said on the visit of president to Jaffna
on 10.01.2010 there would be solution be made with regard to the displaced people as
well as the high security zone. But nothing was done. If it continues like this there would
be a war again.

Although a little amount of freedom is there, there is a question of how long would it be.
To blunt the feeing of the Jaffna youth about their lands and rights larger number of wine
stores, sports festivals market activities have been increased, and it has increased the
violence against women.

Proposals

 People displaced in 1990 and the people displaces in the final war should be
resettled.

 The commercial activities that misguide the youth should be limited.

 By removing the high security zones, fisheries industry should be improved.

 We expect make network with southern civil organization to solve the land issues.

 We mat the Chairman of the Vadmaratchy Fisheries Society and the

representatives by 5 o’clock in the evening. We met one Mr. Sooriyakumar the
former chairman Vadmaratchy Fisheries Society, with whom we have a long
days’ contact, who helped in many ways. He faced untold hardships and lost his
son. The cruelty of war is reflected in his face and body. He said that his wife is
severely psychologically affected as they couldn’t get any information about the
fate of their son. He explained us about cruelty of the final war.

The matters they mentioned in the discussion

War is over, but people didn’t get anything properly. There is a question if it is
sustainable.

There are some relaxations with regard to the fishing. Anyway the fishermen’s land that
had been declared as high security zones in 1990 is not given back to them yet.

We are still living with fear.

We have no hope either about this Government or about the southern politics.

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO),NO: 10, Malwatta Road Negombo – Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

We have no hope on TNA too. They want to protect their seats. So we are going to
mobilize the fisheries folk and form a party and take action to send our representatives to
Parliament. In Jaffna Fishermen are living in the coastal areas. So we have the capacity to
do that.

LTTE also committed some mistakes during last war. But they were not known to the
leadership. Now we have no leadership.

They were only people who voiced for us. Anyway the story is over. So Government
must take action to build up the people. We hope Mr. Mahindha will attend on these
things in the future. Otherwise there will be war in Vadamarchy.

It is painful that the International community was observing without doing anything when
large number of our people well killed.
All those above mentioned problems should be solved. Southern people should pre
Vadmaratchy Fisheries Society Pressurize for it. Your organization should support the
party we going to establish tomorrow.

At about 7 o’clock, we met the members of 15 families who were displaced from Vanni
during the last war and living with their relatives in Urumpirai. They came from Menic
Farm and doing some labour work here. They were living in Thiruvaiyaru, Iranaimadam
and Santhaprram areas in Killinochi. They shared us these information.

 We all lost our family members in the last war. (Almost all of them lost 2 or 3
members from their families)

 We lived in bungers so many days. We were starving for many days.

 So many people died in front of us breaking into pieces by shelling and aerial
attacks.

 When people were in a queue to buy some dry ration sold by LTTE, two air crafts
rounded twice and bombed on them and killed 600 people. Ther are so many
Instances like this. People were killed LTTE also.

 When army was coming forward we ran, and we were caught up in

Puthikudiirruppu area. There is no truth in the government’s story of mines. There
are no mines in the areas where we lived. There is no problem in resettling us.

 Saying they are destroying the LTTE, Government has revenged the people.

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Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

 We lived in the caps longer period than that of the war period. Here we have little
freedom and happiness. But we can’t believe that it is permanent. We have no
trust in this Government.

 We have lost our leadership who can speak about our problems.

 Now southern people are coming here for enjoying in the name of pilgrimage. But
we can’t go to our own villages. We can’t see our relations in the manic camp.

 Our brothers and sisters are living in southern camps arrested on suspicions.

 We have no wishes in life. We hate to live. Our people have made into slavery.
We must have a free life.

Third day 23rd January 2010

We met TNA MP Mrs. Pathmini Sithamparanathan and her husband Mr.

Sithamparanathan Dean Faculty of Arts Jaffna University. Answering to our questions
they answered so:

 People in north are enjoying a little freedom and happiness. But this is not
permanent.

 Culture is deteriorating. Violence against women and abortion are on the rise.

 People have no concern about the presidential election. Only the press had created
it.

 We have some problem about TNA’s readiness to support Mr. Fonseka and about
our leadership. Any way in the after LTTE period, we have only TNA to speak
about Tamils’ issues. We have to solve internal party issues and go forward.
Because of threats we faced only we went abroad during the war time. We alerted
the international community by updating what is going on here. When we speak
about the problems of Tamils in Parliament, the ruling party makes all the
disturbances. We have no support from opposition even.

 We have no power to serve in Jaffna. There are disturbances from a government

minister, and our coworkers are facing threats of murder.

 Although war has come to an end, people should be developed.

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO),NO: 10, Malwatta Road Negombo – Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

 Some development works are going on without the opinion of the people.

Proposals

 We expect to work with the youth in the future. We want to alert the people about
the violence against women.

 The southern people must be alerted. We can cooperate on this.

 Action must be taken to resettle the people displaced from Vanni.

Expectation of the people displaced due to war

 First they want the freedom by ending the military rule that put them into a
surrounded fence.
 They want to go resettle in their traditional villages where they lived before war.

 As they had lost everything they had, we must get the basic things from the
government to restart their lives.

 Others in prisons or in rehabilitation camps as LTTE suspects should be brought

before the law for verdict.

 Get back the fishery land that comes under the high security zone for fishermen.
Protecting the fertile red soil of peninsula farmers and stopping the improper
construction.

 Uplift the basic facilities and take care of the educational and health facilities of
the people in the camp until they are resettled.

 A proper frame work should be done to control the criminal acts, alcohol
addiction and robbery.

 Make an environment where there is no political revenge.

 Instead of the distorted communication that engaging again in the arm struggle,
make an environment where you can get opinions and information freely.

Our recommendations and proposed responsibilities

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Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
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 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

During this visit on 21st – 23rd January 2010 we observed that the basic rights of these
people have been violated. Many of them are psychologically affected. Although they in
the down fall, due to their children they want to go to their own villages come forward in
life. Most of their expectations can only be fulfilled by the current government and its
officials. They do not much about what is going on in south. In this background we
submit the following as our recommendations and responsibilities.
Consolation and Alerting

 There should be a mechanism to maintain contacts with the displaced people and
to arrange discussion with them.

 Initiate some psychological counseling to redress psychological affects of the

people in and out of the camps.

Forming a suitable network

 To bring out the read development in the north and south, organize an alerting
process and a communication system.

 Opportunities should be expanded for the youth of north and south to share their
experiences.

 Making use of the contacts we have in south, we must make arrangements to

supply news to the Thinakural Newspaper, give room for the news from north in
Fisheries solidarity news paper “Sithusara” to bring the real situation in north to
the south.

Pressures

 Implementing a way of pressurize the sectors that are responsible for getting the
LTTE suspects who are in detention camps, to bring before the law for verdict.

 To forward their requests and expectation to the government mechanism should

be made.

 Ministry of Fisheries and Ministry of defense should discuss with fishermen and
engage in activities to remove high security zone in the areas where fish is in
abundance.

 Organizing humanitarian groups to pressurize to implement full the idea of

putting full stop to liquor in order to remove the Bar culture in Jaffna.

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO),NO: 10, Malwatta Road Negombo – Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
fishmove@gmail.com
 JAFFNA VISIT – 21 AND 23 JANUARY 2010

Expanding the friendship

 Engage in expanding the friendship with newly introduced leaders, politicians,

media men we met in this visit and the people who have been working in PPD
project.

Report Making

A. Jesuthasan
Priyankara Costha
D. Rose Mary
F. Rajan

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO),NO: 10, Malwatta Road Negombo – Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 312239750 Fax: +94 314 870658
fishmove@gmail.com