A protest exploded yesterday against Minister Rishad Badihudeen at Mullaitheevu concerning land distributions to people. People gathered enormously and protested against Minister.
Minister Rishad Budihudeen was perturbed and confused of settling the disputes, ultimately he and his accomplices retreated from the locality.
People at the protest alleged “we are facing a variety of hardships for the past 30 years without lands, and in this state, Minister Rishard Badihudden is attempting to distribute lands for his supporters”.
500 acres Thekkankadu locality is near the 6th milepost at Mullaiyawalai. By completely destroying this jungle, Minister Rishard Badihudeen has taken measures to colonize 445 families in this vicinity, supporting him.
In view of this, land surveyors on last 21st visited the area to survey the said land. But the Mullaitheevu people gathered and opposed the surveying and send them back.
Minister Rishad in this state yesterday Saturday visited Mullaitheevu to attend many events. He had made arrangements to destroy the forest and to allocate lands to his supporters who had accompanied him.
Minister’s accomplices arrived yesterday morning to the said forest locality with 5 "Falco" machines. This came to the awareness of the Mullaitheevu people and they began to assemble from 7.00 a.m in the morning.
People gathered at the vicinity warned the Ministers supporters without providing lands to us, if attempts done to clear the forest, they will smash the "Falco" machines. Some slept in between the machines not permitting the machines to move.
These oppose activities of people, continued yesterday and until afternoon Minister Rishard Badihudden did not appear. Finally he arrived at about 4.30 p.m and the Mullaitheevu people gathered and a massive chaos prevailed.
People said, “940 families are without lands in the Karaithuraipattru divisional secretariat unit. Without granting lands to us, we will not permit to issue lands to your supporters”.
“You became the Minister from our votes. But now you should not function on behalf of your supporters”. “We did not vote for that”, and all jointly with the same intention explicitly notified and did not move from the locality. Minister was unable to cope up with the situation.
During this commotion, Vijithan an employee attached to the Mullaitheevu district local council department, (an organizer for many protests in Vanni region against "Udayan" press) spoke on behalf of the Minister and Mullaitheevu people bellowed at him.
Vijithan appealed from Mullaitheevu people, “lands could be given in the east of Mulliyawalai, the boarders of Maangulam, Mullaitheevu main road, and allow to settle the supporters at the middle of Mullaiyawalai”
People got annoyed and reprimanded him, and they were firm in their final decision.
This caused arguments for one and half hours between the people and Minister Rishad and finally Minister said, on Monday (tomorrow) he would hold discussions with the Government Agent of Mullaitheevu district secretariat to find a final decision and retreated with his supporters as their mission was completely nullified.
Meanwhile personnel from forces, police and intelligence unit in many hundreds were deployed at the said locality.
Recently a case was filed at the Colombo Supreme Court opposing to the activities of destroying the forest and to colonize the people, and the inquiry was postponed to June 3rd, and in this situation, Minister was engaged in this attempt was said.
Sunday , 07 April 2013
