Dutch national evicted from Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Hotze Beresman a Dutch national was asked by the Sri Lankan army in Batticaloa yesterday to leave the area immediately.

Mr. Beresman is advisor to the Dutch donor agency HIVOS which funds many NGOs in the Batticaloa district.

He was in Batticaloa from Dec.5 meeting community leaders and NGOs which have received funds from HIVOS.

On Monday he applied for permission from the Third Brigade HQ of the Sri Lankan army to visit areas in Batticaloa which are under the LTTE's control.

Yesterday the local commander Brig. Marambe called him for an interview . The army later told him to leave Batticaloa immediately. The army called everyone in Batticaloa who met Mr. Beresman to question them about his mission and the dealings they have with him.

Mr. N. Shanmugaratnam the well known writer and researcher from Norway who was Mr.Beresman's companion was also questioned. But he defended his right to stay on in Batticaloa on the ground that he is a Sri Lankan citizen.