Residents against new SLA camp in Barathipuram

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 11:39 GMT]
People of Barathipuram, a Tamil village between Muttur and Killiveddy, located at 58th milepost, have complained to Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials are preparing to establish a new camp in their village. Mr.Thurairatnasingham promptly has sent his protest to the President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse requesting him to abandon the plan for the new camp, sources said.

Villagers told Mr.Thurairatnasingham that army officials have visited Barathipuram and selected a site to set up the new camp.

"Peace prevails in the village in spite of several incidents taking place in the adjoining villages. SLA is currently conducting daily patrol in the village without any hindrance. In this circumstance the establishment of a new camp in the village is likely to force the Tamil people to vacate their houses as they are scared of the presence of soldiers," said Mr.Thurairatnasingham in his letter faxed to President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse Tuesday, sources said.

Mr.Thurairatnasingham has brought to the notice of the President that there is already an army camp functioning within 1 km in Jinna Nagar. The setting up of a new camp in Barathipuram would disrupt the normal life of Tamil people and would cause immense harm in taking forward the peace process, Mr.Thurairatnasingham said.