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Friday, October 23, 2009 - 9.54 GMT |
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Resettlement
deep in tiger terrain too |
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The
former
strongholds
of the
LTTE --
Mullaitivu
and
Kilinochchi
Districts
-- are
among
the
areas in
which
the
internally
displaced
Tamils
of
Northern
Sri
Lanka
will be
resettled
under
the
Government's
current IDP
resettlement
programme.
The
resettlement
of a
total
41,685
persons
from
12,095
families
will
take
place in
the
current
phase of
resettlement
which
began
yesterday,
Oct. 22.
Kilinochchi
was the
administrative
center
LTTE in
what it
claimed
to be
the
separate
state of
Eelam.
Mullaitivu
was the
military
stronghold
of the
LTTE for
many
years,
from
which it
directed
most
operations
against
the
Security
Forces.
This was
also the
Head
Quarters
of its
leader
Velupillai
Prabhakaran.
The
Government
had
earlier
resettled
more
than
15,900
of the IDPs
which
included
the
elderly
and
pregnant
women
who have
been
re-united
with
their
families,
according
to their
wish,
and also
the
elderly
who have
no
family
sent to
institutional
care.
All
children
who have
no
family
care are
resettled
under
foster
care
through
courts
of Sri
Lanka.
The
completion
of the
current
resettlement
would
leave
210,138
IDPs in
relief
centers
whose
resettlement
is also
planned
for
early
implementation.
The
current
phase of
resettlement
will see
displaced
persons
going to
the
Districts
of
Vavuniya,
Mannar,
Mullaitivu
and
Kilinochchi.
Of these
Oddusudan,
Manthai
East and
Thunukkai
in
Mullaitivu
District,
and
Karachchi
and
Poonakary
in the
Kilinochchi
District
were
heavily
damaged
during
the days
controlled
by the
LTTE,
and as
they
forcibly
moved
the
people
as human
shields
with the
advance
of Sri
Lanka
troops,
in the
latter
stages
of the
battle
to
liberate
the
North
from
terrorism.
The
families
that are
being
resettled
are
given
assistance
through
the
following
packages
of aid
depending
on
needs.
Non-food
items
Set of
kitchen
utensils
Agricultural
tool
kits
Six
months
dry
rations
Initial
payment
of
Rs.5,000
Shelter
grant of
Rs.25,000
Roofing
sheets
Land
preparation
cost of
Rs.4,000
per acre
Provision
of seed
paddy,
fertilizer
Provision
of
transport
facilities
Contributions
have
come
from
United
States
High
Commissioner
for
Refugees
(UNHCR),
World
Food
Programme
(WFP)
and the
Government
of
India.
All
other
assistance
is from
the
Government
of Sri
Lanka.
The next
stage of
resettlement
will
commence
no
sooner
the
required
areas
are
completely
cleared
of
landmines
and
after
representatives
of the
IDPs to
be
resettled,
visit
such
locations
and
agree to
re-locate
to such
places.
It is
emphasized
that all
re-locations
are
carried
out on
the
voluntary
agreement
of the
persons
to be
re-located.
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
in a
message
to the
families
being
resettled
states;
"That
period
of
immense
tragedy
is now
over, as
are the
temporary
hardships
you
faced as
internally
displaced
persons.
You are
moving
on to a
new
life, in
the
company
of
family
and
friends.
You will
find new
and
welcome
challenges
of the
future.
My
Government
has done
much to
make
your new
life
most
acceptable
to you,
providing
the
needs
for a
quality
of life
to
enhance
your
dignity
as a
person.
The most
cherished
asset
you have
today
are your
children,
who you
have
sheltered
as best
as you
could.
This is
the time
to
ensure
that
your
children
are
guided
by you
to
benefit
from the
new
facilities
that are
being
provided
for them
and
ensure
that
they are
never
again
allowed
to be
misled
by false
prophets
or
saviours.
Together
you can
build a
new life
and look
to
benefit
from the
many
opportunities
that
will be
available
in the
tranquility
of peace
and
friendship".
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