On 23rd Anniversary Of Northern Muslim Exodus In Sri Lanka
Dr. Rifai Naleemi
Sri Lankan Muslims of Northern Province still vividly remember those dark days in their life. It was at the end of October 1990 that Muslims of Northern provinces were abruptly asked to leave their own homes and properties within the time limits of few hours. They were also asked not to take any valuable items with them. They were not allowed to take even their hard earned money or jewelleries. They were not allowed to sell their properties and belongings to anyone. They were asked to leave their native villages empty handed. They were forced to evaluate their native place of birth with cloths that they were wearing. This happened in this so called modern civilised world.
This was some sort of barbarism that LTTE inflicted on harmless and innocent Muslims of Northern province in Sri Lanka. This was done in the name of freedom fighting. Tales and stories of unbearable suffering and hardships of these innocent victims are not yet, properly documented in a professional manner. Of course, some attempts have been made to document the ordeals of these innocent people and yet, the voices of these innocent victims have not reached ears and hearts of Sri Lankan politicians and policy makers. Still some of these people are destined to live as displaced people in many parts of this Island.
I was wittingly or unwittingly destined to watch the ordeals of some of these people. I happened to be in Puttalam when this ordeal was unfolding in 1990. I happened to watch the suffering of these people who came into Puttalam empty handed without any basic necessities of life. Some of them came walking hundreds of miles. Some of them came in empty stomach. Some of them were traumatised with their suffering and sadness. Some of them were sick and emotionally charged with sorrow and remorse. The entire Muslim community in Sri Lanka witnessed this ordeal in utter shock and dismay.
The Muslim community did try to console these innocent people and yet, the magnitude of this suffering was so great and beyond human comprehension and human taking. I should say that Muslim people of Puttalam and its suburbs provided much needed help for these people at this crucial time of urgency. I think that no human being on earth should undergo sufferings like this. It was a really a pathetic situation. I would need volumes to write ordeals of these people. For the last 23 years they have suffered a lot in many aspect of their life. They suffered from poverty. They did not have good accommodations to live with their families. They could not educate their children properly. They could not get good employment opportunities. They faced many social problems. They could not lead a decent life in these displaced places. What happened to them is an historical account and yet we should record them to learn lessons from it.Read More
