Resettled Muslim IDPs chased out of Verugal – Hakeem Just five days after govt. enacted a political exhibition

The government made a "political exhibition" of resettling 75 Muslim IDP families in Verugal, Trincomalee, on August 13, 2009 but five days later the Ichalampattu Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary, chased them out of the area, the SLMC alleged yesterday.

Leader of the SLMC Rauff Hakeem said at a news conference in Colombo, the families that were driven out were natives of the area. "Muslims have been living in Upparu, Verugal in Trincomalee, since 1888 and some of them have land deeds dated 1933."

He, said that the August 13, ceremony to re-settle the IDP families in Verugal was presided over by Cooperatives Minister Abdul Majeed, the Verugal Pradeshiya Secretary and the Verugal Priest. "But just five days after the political exhibition was enacted, the Ichalampattu Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary, thought it fit to chase out the Muslim families, who for years have been pushed from pillar to post."

The resettlement process was good in principle, but the procedures adopted were seriously flawed, Hakeem said. Read more ...