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Tamil livestock farmers in Mayilathamadu and Madhavanai, Batticaloa, who are protesting state-sponsored Sinhalese settler violence, alleged that they were threatened by a group affiliated with paramilitary leader and Rajapaksa ally, Pillayan.
As rallies took place across the North-East on May Day, Tamil farmers in Batticaloa marked 231 days of continuous protest to highlight the longstanding grievances of Tamil cattle farmers and their families who have been suffering from the violent encroachment by Sinhalese settlers on the grazing lands traditionally used by the Tamil farmers.
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The incident took place when a procession of motorcyclists reportedly affiliated with Pillayan toured the area, threatening the farmers and their families.
Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan, is the head of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), and stands accused of assassinating former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Joseph Pararajasingham amongst other abuses.
The farmers said the incident reminded them of the armed conflict when threats and violence by paramilitary groups were prevalent. “We are fighting for our livelihood, in hunger," they said. “The individuals who came in several motorcycles threatened us."
The farmers lamented that two of the protestors were arrested by the Wildlife Department adding that they will continue to protest until their demands are met.
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“May Day marks 231 days of continuous protests, we want to bring this to the attention of the president,” they added.
The Mayilathamadu and Madhavanai Livestock Farmers Society organised a mass protest on 23 December 2023. They have been calling on the Sri Lankan government to intervene and address their concerns, however, little action has been taken to address their grievances.
