SL Navy blocks resettlement-seeking Tamils from entering Mu'l'likku'lam
The occupying Sri Lanka Navy Friday morning stopped a group of 75 uprooted Tamil families, who were demanding resettlement in Mu'l'likku'lam village in Musali DS division of Mannaar district. Earlier, on Wednesday, the uprooted Tamils met the Bishop of Mannaar, Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, and requested their Catholic priests to accompany them in their effort to gain access to their native village that remains occupied by the SL military since September 2007. Responding, the Parish Priests of Thoaddave'li and Chilaavath-thu'rai, Rev. Fr. Nehru and Rev. Fr. Rasiah, accompanied the villagers. However, the SL Navy camped at Mu'l'likkulam junction stopped the uprooted Tamil families stating that they had no permission to enter the village. The families immediately sat in front of the SLN camp and staged a protest till they were forced to relocate to a nearby locality, Periyaku'lam.The officers of the occupying SLN told the protestors that they would only be provided access to enter Paraloaka Maathaa Church in their village for prayers.
When the protesting Eezham Tamils demanded access to their livelihood, to engage in fishing in their sea and to engage in agriculture in their lands, they were told they could only engage in fishing. But, the occupying SL Navy was particular in telling the people that there would be no access to their houses.
In the meantime, their village has been transformed into a military cantonment, informed sources say.
Mu'l'ikku'lam has become a strategic point of occupation to the Sri Lankan forces that aim to Sinhalicise and colonise the land and the historic waters of Eezham Tamils.
More than 4,500 civilians were forced to flee Musali division in Mannnaar district in September 2007.
Since their eviction, the people of Mu'l'likku'lam have been continuously protesting demanding their village to be opened for resettlement and have been appealing to the SL authorities for five years. All their demands were neglected by the ruling UPFA politicians.
The villagers, displaced from Musali, have been temporarily staying in Peasaalai, Thaazhvup-paddu, Keeri and in Thalaimannaar and have been subjected to various harassments by the SL military throughout the last five years.
Chronology:
19.06.09 Sinhalicisation insinuated in Musali
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