Tamils from Keppapulavu who were moved out of the Cheddikulam IDP camp by the military this weekend, have appealed to the international community to intervene and allow them to go their original homes, reported TamilNet.
Although the government has proclaimed that there are now no IDPs, many of those who were supposedly 'resettled' have not been allowed to return to their homes, but have instead been moved on to effectively another camp.
See here for the petition. Extracts reproduced below:
"The military establishment and governmental authorities have been as of recent times insisting that we 'resettle' elsewhere. We have steadfastedly refused to resettle anywhere but in our native villages. Owing to our determined stance to return to our native village, government authorities have been using various covert and overt means of undue influence and pressure on us to take up on the offer of alternative lands. One such means of pressure recently exerted on us is the threat that the school operating within Menik Farm Camp will be closed down soon. We fear that in the near future rations provided to us might also be cut off."
"We believe that the Government of Sri Lanka does not have the willingness to resettle us in our native village. We understand that a huge military base has been built in our village and that the GOSL has no intention of resettling us in Keppapilavu. Hence we seek the urgent intervention of the international community to help us resettle in our native villages at the earliest opportunity."
