People of Valikamam North want to resettle in their own lands
BY Mirudhula Thambiah-2016-09-20
Valikamam North Resettlement Society President Arunasalam Gunapalasingham said the people of Valikamam North have always been hoping to resettle in their own lands. Therefore, the Government cannot close down the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) welfare centres in the Valikamam North region.
"Our people are looking forward to resettle in their native places and everyone has their own lands. All must understand reality. Currently, the government and the Ministry of Resettlement are attempting to shut down the IDP camps. They have also proposed to provide alternative land for those who don't have land in Valikamam North. I would like to point out there isn't anyone without land," he said.
Following are excerpts of the interview:
?: The government has announced that it would provide alternative lands for those who don't have land in Valikamam North. What is your position on this announcement?
A: Currently the government and the Ministry of Resettlement are attempting to shut down the IDP camps. They have also proposed providing alternative lands for those who don't have lands in Valikamam North. I would like to point out there isn't anyone without land.
Only the children don't have land, but the mothers and fathers have their own lands. Since it has been a very long time, they have been unable to divide the portions of land to their children. If the remaining lands are released, parents will do the needful and divide the lands among their children who are adults.
Instead, if the authorities collect details of those who don't have land, they will have to record names of a large number. Therefore, if the government takes steps to release the lands the land owners will divide their lands according to the land deeds.
You may be aware that the government introduced a form system a month back, with options in three different types of forms. According to that they assured they would to compensate those who do not have lands in Valikamam North.
But, in most welfare centres, these forms were distributed and the people were forced to fill up the forms by force. Divisional Secretariats strictly said that the people must fill up the form and should be prepared to settle down in areas wherever houses are given.
You may be aware that the government introduced a form system a month back, with options in three different types of forms. According to that they assured they would to compensate those who do not have lands in Valikamam North.
But, in most welfare centres, these forms were distributed and the people were forced to fill up the forms by force. Divisional Secretariats strictly said that the people must fill up the form and should be prepared to settle down in areas wherever houses are given.
According to the government authorities there are 971 families in 31 camps in and around Valikamam North. Initially, there were 1,500 families, as the lands were released the number of families in the welfare centres reduced. Therefore, the authorities also calculated that among the 971 families, only 341 had land deeds in Valikamam North. They also came to a conclusion that the rest do not have land deeds.
The authorities must understand that now it is 30 years and three generations from Valikamam North are living in IDP camps and other alternative areas. Therefore, the children of the initial lot who were displaced from Valikamam North 30 years ago, due to the war, don't have land. The initial residents, who are their parents and grandparents, do have lands in Palaly, Thaiyiddy, Urani and Myliddy. If these lands are released, parents will divide the lands according to the method in Jaffna, either under the dowry system for daughters or directly for their sons.
However, in the current context, the children were unaware of the real situation that they had land and instead they registered with the Divisional Secretaries.
I told these people that resettlement is only when we all return to our own lands, not to alternative lands.
Therefore, the President will resettle 100 families in Maviddapuram from the Konapuram welfare camp on 2 October. But, yet again, 100 families will settle in camps. Although the government has built 100 houses, resettlement will take place only if we return to our native lands.
Therefore, the President will resettle 100 families in Maviddapuram from the Konapuram welfare camp on 2 October. But, yet again, 100 families will settle in camps. Although the government has built 100 houses, resettlement will take place only if we return to our native lands.
However, now our people are vigilant and the form system is done away with. We managed to settle the confusion. They cannot close down any welfare centre. Our people are looking forward to resettle in their native places and everyone has their own land. All must understand reality.
The resettlement system is very confusing they are releasing land in small portions. Therefore, people are not in a situation to resettle in their own lands as they wish.
?: So you say that these 100 families, that will be settled in Maviddapuram near the Kankesanthurai Cement Factory, will face difficulties?
A: Currently the 100 families who have agreed to settle in Maviddapuram are now confused. Their parents have land in Palaly, Myliddy and Thaiyiddy. Now, even if they do not want to settle in these 100 houses, they are being forced to do so by the authorities.
These 100 families are disappointed that they will have to face great difficulties after settling in that area. They will not be able to even involve in agriculture near the cement factory, it is an area of quarries. How can they plant crops?
They will have livelihood problems.
These 100 families are disappointed that they will have to face great difficulties after settling in that area. They will not be able to even involve in agriculture near the cement factory, it is an area of quarries. How can they plant crops?
They will have livelihood problems.
?: The Army is currently building houses for those who were displaced from Valikamam North. How do you view this scenario?
A: These houses are built under the Indian Housing Scheme Project and the United Nations Project. The Army had assured they would build 100 houses without labour charges. Some Rs 800,000 is provided to the families to build houses on their released land. But, only Rs 784,000 is given to build the houses due the imposition of taxes. However, people are in need of Rs 1.2 million to completely build a house. Currently, people are also burdened with pawning their jewels to build houses.
Rs 784,000 is not given to the families in total but in instalments. Also these instalments are paid only after each step of house building work is completed from foundation to the roof. We kindly request the organizations to pay the instalments and then expect the people to build each step.
Rs 784,000 is not given to the families in total but in instalments. Also these instalments are paid only after each step of house building work is completed from foundation to the roof. We kindly request the organizations to pay the instalments and then expect the people to build each step.
It should be noted that most of these houses are not built by the Army but people are building it on their own. Around 140 houses have been built in Palaly only on the effort of people.
?: Jaffna Commander recently said that the people from Myliddy are unaware of traditional fishing methods. What have you got to say?
A: Since historical times, people from Myliddy contributed 1/3 of the fish production in Sri Lanka. Therefore, a fisheries harbour was built in Myliddy after the Galle fisheries Harbour. From days gone by, two ships were operating from the Myliddy Fisheries Cooperation one called, 'Myliddy' and the other 'Galle'. How can he say that we are unaware of traditional fishing methods?
I wrote back to him saying to stop the Indian trawlers before commenting on Myliddy and its fishermen. I clearly told him to settle us in Myliddy and then challenge if we know how to fish or not.
The Jaffna Commander had been positive about releasing Myliddy. Anyways I'm unsure after his comments about Myliddy fishermen.
I wrote back to him saying to stop the Indian trawlers before commenting on Myliddy and its fishermen. I clearly told him to settle us in Myliddy and then challenge if we know how to fish or not.
The Jaffna Commander had been positive about releasing Myliddy. Anyways I'm unsure after his comments about Myliddy fishermen.
It is quite sad and pathetic to say how Myliddy doesn't have any of our valuable houses, temples or churches. All buildings are damaged and our people feel sad to see the situation. I could only recognize the water tank in my house in Myliddy.
?: You said you have spoken to the Jaffna Commander several times with regard to the releasing of lands. What has been his response?
A: He was positive! He said Myliddy will be released from the habour to the entire area, but there will be small Army camps in every place. We agreed to it. We told him, we always lived with the Army, if the war did not occur we will be living with them.
He later said, these camps can be gradually removed. I said it is not problem at all, but to immediately resettle us. He also requested us to show him the places where we are expecting to settle. We took him to our areas to show our places.
However, there are opinions that there will be issues if we settle among the Army. But practically we will be more in population if we resettle in Myliddy, when we crowd in our native place they will become a minority. Around 4,000 families are hoping to settle down in Myliddy. We initially want to resettle in our own land; we will decide the rest later.
He later said, these camps can be gradually removed. I said it is not problem at all, but to immediately resettle us. He also requested us to show him the places where we are expecting to settle. We took him to our areas to show our places.
However, there are opinions that there will be issues if we settle among the Army. But practically we will be more in population if we resettle in Myliddy, when we crowd in our native place they will become a minority. Around 4,000 families are hoping to settle down in Myliddy. We initially want to resettle in our own land; we will decide the rest later.
?: What is the situation of the Palaly Airport and its extension up to the Myliddy Harbour area?
A: The Palaly Airport will not extend to the Myliddy Sea area, but will extend to small areas towards the agrarian lands. Only a small agrarian area will be taken for the airport.
However we are now negotiating on even rescuing that small piece of land. We cannot always be fractious but we will be fractious when we should.
Palaly airport was built in 1942 during the British rule, in the Second World War. If they really want to extend the runway, they can extend through a fly over not through our lands. We will object!
Email: che.myhero@gmail.com
However we are now negotiating on even rescuing that small piece of land. We cannot always be fractious but we will be fractious when we should.
Palaly airport was built in 1942 during the British rule, in the Second World War. If they really want to extend the runway, they can extend through a fly over not through our lands. We will object!
Email: che.myhero@gmail.com
