A NAFSO Report on Resettlement in Mullikulam

Resettlement of the Mullikulam People: Whither Reconciliation and Peace in the country? A report by Herman Kumara, convener of NAFSO, following a fact finding mission to Mullikulam. A team of concerned citizens visited the people of Mullikulam - now living in Marichchikattu village, Musali area. We couldnt believe what we were seeing. Are we visiting the allegedly resettled Mullikulam people? It looks more like a pilgrimage place where people stay under the trees while visiting. Is this a real picture of the situation of our fellow citizens who are resettled in many parts of the country? We heard, on FM radio that the Mullikulam people have been resettled with the help of the Government. Is this what constitutes resettlement for the war affected people in our country? It is important to see the realities of theses resettlement schemes as it is this, and not the show developments the Government wants to exhibit to diplomats and foreign delegates, which form the reality for most resettled survivors of the civil war. Who are the Mullikulam People? Mullikulam village is located in Musali D.S. division, in Mannar district in the northern province of Sri Lanka. The first inhabitants of Mullikulam village arrived in 1800 A.D. 100% of the residents are Tamil and Catholic. Agriculture and fishery constituted the livelihoods of the people. Most of them have permanent title deeds for agricultural lands - mainly paddy fields - p to 1200 acres of land are managed by the village. The paddy fields were rain fed by five tanks and water was provided via a major irrigation scheme with one tank in the village. The three decades of brutal war caused serious social, economic, cultural, environmental and political damage to the community.

What has happened during the past two decades? The Mullikulam people were displaced for the first time between 1990 and 2002, when a peace agreement was signed between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. They were then able to live in their village for five years before they became displaced again in 2007. When the final offensive began, the military approached them and asked them to evacuate their home immediately. They were promised that they will be able to return to their home within three days, as there was thus no need to bring their belongs with them, they left without carrying anything. On the 7th September 2007, they vacated their houses. They have been living in different places around Mannar district for nearly five years now. There were more than 400 families living in Mullikulam when they were evicted. Most of them went to live in Thalvupadu, Valkeipetrankandal, Thalaimannar, Nanattam, Madukkarai, and also in Mannar town. They

attempted to go back to their own houses with the support of the bishop of Mannar, parish priest of Silavaturai and other priests of the diocese, as well as many officials including the district secretary, divisional secretary and the navy area commanders. The bishop of Mannar, together with some other bishops, even tried to approach the President to attempt to find a solution. . However, according to the villagers whom the NAFSO team met around Mullikulam, there was no positive response. The secretary of the defense ministry did agree to visit the place and discuss an eventual solution. But, since that visit, in February 2012, no substantial action has been taken and given to the community

Why there is no resettlement for Mullikulam People? There is a proposal to establish a naval base of 1000 hectares in Mullikulam area as was reported in the Ravaya newspaper. However, the demand of the people was very reasonable: "We will let the military use our land even if we have our land titles. But then, after using the required area they can allow us to live in our village. As much as we can, we will live in the remaining homes", a community leader who preferred not to be named said. The reason why the authorities do not allow people to go back to their original village is not known. The Mullikulam people expected to celebrate their church feast in September last year with the permission of the authorities. They received the authorization, but after a short while, the authorities took it back citing security reasons. This is a clear violation of the social, cultural, economic and environmental rights of the people. They finally did get one opportunity to celebrate the mass in their own church; it was for the first holy mass of the village priest who has recently been ordained In what way did the people attempted to regain their own Land? The Millikulam people attempted to regain their land and homes in many ways but none of them were successful. They approached all possible politicians and officials including the president, the Government Agent of Mannar, the District Secretary of Musali, the Navy commanders in the district, the secretary of defense ministry, the UNHCR, and church leaders. They organized a peaceful march in Mannar town, attended many meetings in the south to express their grievances and seek assistance from concerned southern brothers and sisters. However, there was no single response from the authorities to the villagers to hope to be resettled in their own village. How long will they have to remain in this pathetic life?

The only response they received until from the authorities was the statement "Mullikulam people will be out of their original places." In a meeting the additional Government Agent of Mannar said "Mullikkulam people can go and resettle near Mullikkulam." After so many attempts, people became tired of all the burdens of living as a displaced person. They had decided to face the situation and to settle in villages close to Mullikulam - such as Manangkadu or Periyakulam - rather than living under the trees of thick forest in Marichchikattu surrounded by elephants and other wildlife.

The final solution: People agreed to settle in the neighboring village of Manangkadu "There was no other choice for us than to come to this place. We can't be supported anymore by the families who were helping us for more than 5 years. We decided to settle at this place last Friday, 15th June. We need to build our lives again after 30 years. So, we decided to come to Marichchikattu at this point with the aim of settling in Manangkadu village which is the adjacent village of Mullikulam, said another community leader who also preferred to remain nameless for understandable reasons. 285 households came to the Marichchikattu jungle and stayed without any facilities. "Mosquitoes and elephants are everywhere, we cant sleep at night. We do not have any peaceful life but we came anyway for the future of our children. We had to, even with these difficulties, because we may not get anywhere else to settle after this. We are scared of losing everything again" says Winifreeda Croos, a fisherwoman, one of the first settlers in the village. How do they survive without having any protection? The Navy has to protect them from the wildlife. "We are really unfortunate people. The UNHCR expected a signature from the Musali District Secretary to provide their assistance. But, he refused to sign the letter saying that it bypassed him and that we had to go to higher authorities and other people. What can we do? We approach anyone who can help us. Our own DS is treating us like this." A community member stated. People are living under the trees sometimes without a tent to cover their heads. How long can Sri Lankan citizens, authorities, and politicians ignore this suffering community?

Another serious question remains. The people were given an area of land belonging to forestry department. Also, the land people claim for their settlements are in an buffer zone where part of the land belongs to forest department. There therefore needs to be clearance by the forest department to settle those people. Otherwise there may well be yet another displacement of those wearied people at a future point. The Navy, who control the area, allowed the people to go to Mullikkulam Church and to fish in the sea. But when they were originally evicted, they were told not to carry anything and to vacate the village within 24 hours. All their fishing gear was left behind with their other belongings. So, even once they have the opportunity to go back to sea, they have no equipment to fish with. "Fishing is our main occupation and we want to go back to the sea for fishing. But, we need basic equipment to begin our livelihoods. We do not have even a net or a catamaran to go to the sea. So, we expect some assistance to revive our livelihoods." says Mr. Francis Joseph, a fisherman leader in Mullikulam community. These people are living without any basic facilities. The Navy had put up two toilets and has provided one water tank which has to be filled with drinking water on daily basis. These people need Fishing boats, Nets, Engines, Lamps, Water cans, mosquito nets, dry rations, Kerosene and other basic materials for living. During this resettlement process, Thottaveli parish priest Rev. Neru, and Silavaththurai Parish Priest Rev. Rasanayagam, NASFO district coordinator of Sunesh: Croos were with the community. They have helped the people from the time they arrived to the present day. What is the response of some Southern religious leaders to the situation? "I was shocked to see this situation. I am a sinner to see all these sufferings of the people here in Mullikulam. What is the crime these people committed to live under the trees like animals? All these people are brothers and sisters of our society. We all have serious responsibility to see the situation critically and to help them. We should be shame to see these people living like this." Rev. Buddhiyagama Chandrarathana Thero, who was a member of the field team, shared his utter frustration with us. "We cannot imagine why these people cannot be allowed to go back to their own village with houses and all the basic facilities there. It is unbearable discrimination without any reason they were not allowed to return their original places. Government should think twice before they implement this type of decisions with the people who were badly affected by a brutal war. They should also be gained the dividends of peace in the country as proclaimed by the politicians and people always."Rev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda, a human rights activist, stated to the team.

What do the LLRC recommendations say? A quote from the LLRC:

Tamil and Muslim families who lost land due to HSZs 6.13. In the Mannar district's Mullikulam village, (Musali DS Area) 150 families have been displaced due to a newly created Navy installation. The Bishop of Mannar informed the Commission that occupation of land by the military should be an act of last resort, and in each such case of land loss, alternative lands should be given in consultation with the affected families. With the establishment of peace, most people yearn to return to their land. 6.65 It is imperative that all families who have lost land and or houses placed within officially declared HSZs, or even within small plots of land locally identified and used for security purposes be found alternate lands as a matter of utmost urgency and that anyThe Mullikulam people are also citizens of Sri Lanka and they should have a space to live in peace and harmony in the country. We are talking of reconciliation in the country. The Secretary to the President had mentioned that they will implement the LLRC recommendations fully - as reported Ravaya news paper on 18th June. We are waiting to see a better future for Sri Lankan citizens through understanding and close cooperation among the communities. Will these actions of authorities allow this to happen? Herman Kumara, Convener, NAFSO after field visit at Mullikulam community on 18th June, 2012. Photographs by Melani Manel Perera, Journalist.