DS officials in Vanni seek guarantees for their safety

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 July 2008, 08:28 GMT]
Expressing fear of being targeted by claymore attacks while serving the civilians in Vanni, two Divisional Secretaries (AGAs) presently working in Mullaiththeevu and Ki'linochchi districts have requested the Government Agents (GAs) of the two districts to be transferred from their present postings. The two divisional secretaries while condemning the killing of their colleague Nanthakumar have pointed out that they face severe hardships in providing services for the public in their administrative areas and have requested the Government Agents of the two districts to ensure their safety.

Nagalingam Nanthakumar, Secretary of Thu'nukkaay division of Mullaiththeevu district was killed on June 29 while traveling to his office.

Meanwhile, so far no one has been appointed to fill the vacancy created by the slaying of Thu'nukkaay DS.

In the mean time the artillery and DPU attacks by the Sri Lanka Army in that area have escalated recently triggering large scale exodus of civilians from the region. In addition the government employees in the region have expressed fear to visit the area, sources from the Government secretariat said.

In order to find an interim solution for filling the vacancy of Thu'nukkaay AGA Mullaiththeevu Secretariat approached Maanthai East AGA requesting him to take up the additional responsibility of the position of Mullaiththeevu . However Maanthai East AGA has pointed that he is unable to perform even his own duties and has requested to be transferred to Mullaiththeevu secretariat.

As a result of this new development Mullaiththeevu GA Mrs. Emelda Sugumar confirmed that it has become difficult for government employees to perform their duties in the administrative areas of the AGAs of Mullaiththeevu and Maanthai East.

Meanwhile, Thavachelvan Mugunthan who previously served as the divisional secretary for Pazhai and assumed duties as the DS for Poonakari last year July 16 has informed N. Vethanayagan, the Ki’linochchi GA Friday that the Claymore attacks on government employees, ambulances has increased in the recent times and has requested to be transferred from the area.

Poonakari Divisional Secretariat was damaged in SLA artillery attack in 2006 and relocated to Jeyanthapuram, where it is functioning in a temporary building with minimum facilities.

Chronology: