‘Muslims Are Being Unfairly Treated In Mannar’ Says Citizens’ Commission On Expulsion Of Muslims From The Northern Province By The LTTE
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah
“At the root of the escalation of this problem is a perception among the Muslims that they are being unfairly treated in Mannar. They have no faith in either the civil administration or this particular magistrate in Mannar. There is a perception that they have been marginalized through civil mechanisms. ” says the Citizens’ Commission on the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province by the LTTE. The commission released its conclusions and recommendations after a fact-finding visit to Mannar. Below we produce its report in full.
Citizens’ Commission on the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province by the LTTE
Findings of fact-finding visit to Mannar – 8th and 9th August 2012.
On 18th July 2012 there was a protest outside of the Magistrate’s Court in Mannar that turned violent. According to media reports the incident occurred in relation to a dispute regarding a fishing harbor in the Uppukulam area of Mannar. The Citizens’ Commission on the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province by the LTTEhas been engaging with the northern Muslimcommunity since 2009. The Commission felt that an impartial investigation into the causes of the disturbance was necessary. Therefore a delegation consisting of two Commissioners—Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara, and representative of the Commission Secretariat Ms.Nafiya Khalik and two members of the Commission advisory group engaged in a fact finding exercise in Mannar on 8th and 9th August 2012.
The current report is based on the above visit during which interviews were conducted with affected communities (both from Uppukkulam and Vidathalthivu), Additional Government Agent, Representatives of the Bar Association, Police and Department Head of Fisheries Corporation in Mannar.
