'Resettled' by forced labour, without food or freedom to move

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 November 2009, 02:30 GMT]
The few thousands who have been resettled in selected divisions of Mullaiththeevu and Ki'linochchi districts, are reportedly affected by the lack of food supply, news reports reaching Vavuniyaa said. The 'resettled' are actually kept in schools in those areas and are extracted of forced labour to clear the locations of resettlement. Their freedom of movement is restricted. The whole operation doesn't look like resettlement of 'citizens' but of slaves, said a Tamil official on conditions of anonymity.

6,037 IDPs were 'resettled' in Thu'nukkaay division of Mullaiththevu district up to 18 November and 2,821 were resettled up to 17 November in Jeyapuram, Akkaraayanku'lam, Muzhangkaavil and Naaachchikkudaa of the Ki'linochchi district. Some more are now being 'resettled' in Valaippaadu and Kiraangchi villages of Ki'linochchi district. These areas are located west of A-9 highway and are not part of the core regions of Mullaiththeevu and Ki'linochchi districts.

Even though dry rations are supplied by the World Food Program through government operated co-operative societies, these are inadequate, and the concerned people have been deprived of wholesome food for more than a year now.

The 'resettled' live under severe restrictions for travel and free movement.