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23rd Anniversary Of Northern Muslim Exodus In Sri Lanka
by Rifai
( October 28, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lankan Muslims of NorthernProvince still vividly remember those dark days in their life. It was at the end of
October 1990 that Muslims of Northern provinces were abruptly asked to leave their
own homes and properties within the time limits of few hours. They were also asked
not to take any valuable items with them. They were not allowed to take even their
hard earned money or jewelleries. They were not allowed to sell their properties and
belongings to anyone. They were asked to leave their native villages empty handed.
They were forced to evacuate their native place of birth with cloths that they were
wearing. This happened in this so called modern civilised world.
This was some sort of barbarism that LTTE inflicted on harmless and innocent
Muslims of Northern province in Sri Lanka. This was done in the name of freedom
fighting. Tales and stories of unbearable suffering and hardships of these innocent
victims are not yet, properly documented in a professional manner. Of course, some
attempts have been made to document the ordeals of these innocent people and yet,
the voices of these innocent victims have not reached ears and hearts of Sri Lankan
politicians and policy makers. Still some of these people are destined to live as
displaced people in many parts of this Island.
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I was wittingly or unwittingly destined to watch the ordeals of some of these people. I
happened to be in Puttalam when this ordeal was unfolding in 1990. I happened to
watch the suffering of these people who came into Puttalam empty handed without any
basic necessities of life. Some of them came walking hundreds of miles. Some of them
came in empty stomach. Some of them were traumatised with their suffering and
sadness. Some of them were sick and emotionally charged with sorrow and remorse.The entire Muslim community in Sri Lanka witnessed this ordeal in utter shock and
dismay.
The Muslim community did try to console these innocent people and yet, the
magnitude of this suffering was so great and beyond human comprehension and
human taking. I should say that Muslim people of Puttalam and its suburbs provided
much needed help for these people at this crucial time of urgency. I think that no
human being on earth should undergo sufferings like this. It was a really a pathetic
situation. I would need volumes to write ordeals of these people. For the last 23 years
they have suffered a lot in many aspect of their life. They suffered from poverty. Theydid not have good accommodations to live with their families. They could not educate
their children properly. They could not get good employment opportunities. They
faced many social problems. They could not lead a decent life in these displaced places.
What happened to them is an historical account and yet we should record them to
learn lessons from it.
What matters the most today is not about the past but present day situation of these
people. After 23 years of suffering these people are still not being accommodated in
their native places and still live as displaced people. Even after the defeat of LTTEthese people have not been relocated in their native places. It is true that some of these
people have already moved into their native places and yet, most of them are still living
as IDPs in many places. Even most of those people who moved into their native places
they did on their own expenses. It should be mentioned here that successively Sri
Lankan government greatly failed in their political and moral responsibilities towards
these people. Whether we like it or not we should reiterate here that successive Sri
Lankan governments did not treat these people as their own Sri Lankan nationals and
citizens. This is the true fact and bitter truth as well. No one should try twisting this
historical mistake.
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Sri Lanka is a democratic country and its constitution guarantees equal rights to all.
Whether you come from Tamil community or Singhalese community you should have
equal rights as stipulated in the constitution. Every Sri Lankan contributes to the
national economy thorough his hard works and earning. Each community contribute
to the growth and development of this country. There is no justification to discriminate
against any community or any individual in this country. There is no justification tofavour one community over another in this country. Yet, in this case of Northern
Muslim exodus, the successive Sri Lankan authorities have failed to facilitate them to
return to their native places? Why is this step motherly treatment of the Northern
Muslim by the successive governments? Is it because, they are Muslims or is it because
they have no political influence? Is it because they are not nationals of this country?
Why is this open discrimination against them? Of course we all know that some NGOs
and government social services department did provide some food rations to these
people for sometimes and yet, they have not been relocated by the government
expenses.
Suppose that this type of tragedy happened to some Singhalese villages in some parts
of Sri Lanka. What would have been the reaction of these successive Sri Lankan
governments? They would have taken immediate necessary steps to resettle affected
people within few years time. They would not have to suffer 23 years for resettlements
as Northern Muslims do today?
What more is that we have more than 18 Muslims members of parliament today and
yet, they have also failed in their moral and religious responsibility towards these
people? They have not done enough to support these people. They have not supportedthese people in time of their difficulties. They have greatly failed to understand the
suffering of these people. They could not identify the challenges and problems of these
people. They could not persuade successive government to support these people.
These Muslim politicians are selfish and incapable people to help our community
except a few of them. They have even failed to discuss this issue in parliament
successfully. I should greatly appreciate some Tamil leaders who condemn the action
of LTTE and welcome the Northern Muslims back to their native places and yet, our
Muslim politicians have failed to appreciate the good will gesture of these Tamil
politicians. What more is that international Muslim community have greatly failed onthis issue? Though Islam preaches about universal Islamic brotherhood in faith and
yet, no Muslim country or no International Islamic organization came forward to help
these people to resettle in their native places.
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We hope that MR and his government open their eyes and come forward to do some
things constructively to support these displaced people. If this government is
genuinely wanted to protect minority rights it should help minority communities
without bias and discrimination. How long this government could act with two
different faces: Time will tell us that sooner rather than later. It is learned that there
may be some financial allocation in this years budget to rehabilitate and compensatesome of these displaced people and yet, there is no really confirmed by the Sri Lankan
government sources.
Posted byThavam
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