|
URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP FROM KATHTHANKUDY Sent by email: Seyed Mohammed Kachchi Mohammed - jabirnaleem@yahoo.co.uk 09th January 2007
His Excellency,
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
Presidential Secretariat,
Colombo 03.
His Excellency,
Tense Situation prevailing in Kattankudy
To brief in nutshell, the Federation of all Mosques and Muslim Institutions, an umbrella organization set up in 1985, with the sole aim of safeguarding the rights and interest of Muslims in Kattankudy and its suburbs in both local and national level has been working towards its achievement since its inception. Also it is concerned in building healthy relationship with the Tamil Brethren Community living in the North and East.
In the meantime, we are highly delighted and proud of the peace building process being taken by the incumbent Government under Your Excellency’s able and dynamic leadership in order to reach a durable solution for the ongoing war. We have the strong faith that Your Excellency’s Government is determined to make Sri Lanka a safe heaven for all the communities.
As Your Excellency is very well aware that the Muslims, being a minority Community in Sri Lanka have been cooperative and supportive for each and every peace efforts being taken by the Government. They have whole heartedly demonstrated their willingness and contribution for a viable solution to end this war.
Unfortunately, in the past Muslims in the North and East have undergone untold hardships and calamities at the hands of Tamil Militants from the very beginning of their liberation movements. Notably, the evection of Muslims from the North and brutal massacres of innocent Muslims in the east have extremely hurt the feelings of the Muslim Community not only in Sri Lanka but in the International Muslim forums. In the midst of all these troubles and persecution, we have been very tolerant and have extended our fullest support for Your Excellency’s government unconditionally.
As far as the North and East is concerned, the people living there have been very close and cooperative and share their mutual feelings as the members of a same family. In spite of that some Tamil dominant administrative heads are giving a step motherly treatment for the Muslims educated personality by not placing them in the proper places in both Government Sector and non Governmental Sector.
Recently, the people of Kattankudy and its suburbs do feel an extremely insecure situation from the Tamil militants especially the so called KARUNA FACTION. The so-called Karuna group stationed adjacent to the Special Task Force Camp (STF) in Arayampathy are creating problems by way of obstructing the normalcy and civil administration in Kattankudy and its suburbs ie: Kankeyanodai, Palmunai, Ollikkulam, Keechchampallam, Siharam, Manmunai, Manchanthoduwai, Poonochchi -munai which are situated in the border areas.
As the problems and persecutions are getting worst day by day, we brought the above to the notice of the Security Forces no steps so far taken to arrest this abnormal situation.
We bring to Your Excellency some of the following incidents taken place in Kattankudy by Karuna people to disturb the racial harmony between Muslims and Tamils in the Batticaloa district for your information and remedies:
01- The Tamil people are deliberately settled in the lands owned by the Muslims called “Karbala Village” which is connecting Kattankudy and Palamunai.
02- Dead bodies of Tamil people are forcibly taken from their relatives and buried in the Muslim settlement areas with the presence of Karuna cadres in uniforms and weapons.
03- Tamils displaced from Vakarai area are being taken by the Karuna group and settled in the lands owned by the Muslims though there are sufficient state lands available in the Manmunai pattu divisional Secretariat.
04- The road connecting Palamunai and Kattankudy have been purposely damaged by the so-called Karuna group by digging holes and valleys.
05- The shop keepers running their business in the Arayampathy DS division have been asked to close their business places forthwith.
06- The so-called Karuna faction are in search of the Muslim youths and elites having a selective list with sinister motive.
07- The So called Karuna Faction infiltrate in to the Muslims area and snitch the Motor cycles and Mobile phones at gun point.
The above horrible incidents taken place in Kattankudy have badly hampered the normalcy and stained the relationship between the Muslim and Tamils considerably. As a result the innocent people of both communities are panic stricken so that they can not attend their normal work.
We, as a responsible organization in the Batticaloa district feel that if these incidents and harassment are not stopped at once the normalcy and peaceful relation of both communities will seriously be damaged and bring immense loss to the innocent people.
We, therefore, would like to draw Your Excellency’s utmost attention on the above appalling incidents and do humbly request to take all possible steps in order to control this tumultuous situation prevailing in Kattankudy and its suburbs with immediate concern.
Thanking You.
We remain,
Sincerely,
Al-Haj. M.T.M. Khalid J.P As-Sheikh. A.L.M. Sabeel
President Secretary
Copies to :
1) Hon. Kothabaya Rajapaksa, the Defense Secretary
2) Hon Ranil Wickramasinghe, M.P the leader of opposition
3) Hon Rauf Hakeem, M.P the leader SLMC
4) Hon A.L.M. Athavullah, M.P
5) Hon. Ferial Ashraff, M.P
6) Inspector General of Police
7) Army Commander in Chief
 Deputy Inspector General of Police
9) Senior Superintendent of Police, Batticaloa
10) Asst. Superintendent of Police, Batticaloa
11) Officer In Charge, STF, Arayampath
12) Officer In Charge, Police Station, Kattankudy
13) SLMM, Batticaloa District
The latest incident occurred aftermath of this letter.
1. Shooting incident at Deen Road and one injured
2. Assaulting of a Muslim civilian at Arayampathy border and injured
2. Grenade – throw at boundary Road, Kattankdudy and three muslim civilians injured and hospitalized
4. Encroachment of the private land owned to Muslims at 4th Mile, Kalmunai – Batticaloa Road
5. Setting fire on a house at Palamunai
Unofficial:
Muslims from Kankeyanodai village beaten at Arayampathy border by armed group. |
