SL military deploys paramilitary against Tamils in rural areas of Batticaloa North

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 June 2019, 20:36 GMT]
SL Military Intelligence has re-introduced Tamil paramilitary personnel who interfere in the day-to-day civil affairs of the poverty-stricken Eezham Tamils in the rural areas, situated 45 km northwest of Batticaloa in Koa'ra'laip-pattu North (Vaakarai) division. The occupying SL Army wants to know everything in detail from private gatherings involving relatives of the families to public events and land usage of the resettled people through the paramilitary personnel who were previously on the pay-list of Karuna and Pillayan groups, informed sources said.

Vaakarai area was under the de-facto Tamil Eelam administration of the LTTE before 2007.

After 2009, the Tamil people living in rural areas have become far more deprived of infrastructure facilities than they were during the times of war. The SL State agencies are slowly grabbing their lands.

The people are under constant threat to reveal everything to the visiting SL military intelligence along with the paramilitary operatives.

The military surveillance is widespread in the villages of Maang-kea'ni, Kaayaang-kea'ni and Farm Colony, according to Rural Development Society (RDS) members, who did not wish to be named due to security reasons.

The people clearing their lands for agriculture or to construct huts are being questioned on their motive behind every visible activity.

The SL paramilitary personnel ask for documentation of their ownership to the lands. They also question the people about the source of funds for each activity.

The SL military behaves like the ultimate authority of providing ‘clearance’ to assistance programmes even after the Divisional Secretariat authorising the ownership of private lands, particularly in cases where it has selected eligible beneficiaries for housing schemes.

The TNA councillors are also not spared from such harassment.

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