ஜெனீவாவில் வடக்கு முஸ்லிம்களின் சார்பில், அனீஸ் ரவூப் ஆற்றிய உரை

ஜெனீவாவில் 27.09.2016 அன்று நடைபெற்ற ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் மனித உரிமைகள் ஆணைக்குழு மாநாட்டில் வடக்கு முஸ்லிம்களின் சார்பில், சர்வதேச யாழ் முஸ்லிம் அமைப்பின் ஏற்பாட்டில் அனீஸ் ரவூப் ஆற்றிய உரை

Mr.Chair, Distinguished  Panel delegates, ladies and gentlemen

Human Rights, Equal Rights, Citizenship Rights, Multiculturalism, Rule of Law,

Transparency good governance, and ethnic, religious integration theories and principles are

successfully implemented in many countries.

The expulsion of Northern Muslims (NM) of Sri Lanka in 1990, the re-settlement and its challenges faced by the NM  is an ongoing violation of Human rights till this date. 

Brief History

The Muslims and the Tamils lived in the Northern Province of Srilanka for more than twelve centuries with utmost respect and mutual understanding. The Tamils and the Muslim lived with mutual respect and harmony in culture, education, business, and sports. The Tamils allowed building and maintaining Mosques in thickly populated Tamil areas which are a great symbol of tolerance. 

Election of Muslims to political leaderships in the province is a generous act of the Tamil Nationalism towards the Muslims, which the latter still cherish with profound gratitude.

In October 1990, the heavily armed cadres of the LTTE expelled the Muslims of Northern Sri Lanka from their homes within forty eight hours.

In Jaffna District, the Muslims from Chavakachchri were expelled first.

In Erukkalampiddy on 24th Oct 1990, in Musali on 25th Oct 1990, in Vidathalthivu 25th

October 1990, In Mannar on 26th Oct 1990. All Muslims were demanded to vacate the

premises and handover the valuables to the LTTE. The Tamils, especially the Christian

priests in the Mannar district did their best to prevent the expulsion 

but did not succeed. In the Mannar district, it was raining on that fateful day, the Muslims requested time until the rain ceases even that was denied.

The Muslims from Mullaitheevu, Kilinochi, were asked to leave in the same time period.

Mr.Chair and ladies and gentlemen, let me brief you on what happened on the 30th of October 1990, in Jaffna: 

In the early morning of 30th October 1990 around

7.30 am. Ilamparithy alias Anjaneyan the LTTE cadre in- charge of Jaffna assisted by

eastern LTTE leader Karikalan summoned the Muslim males to the Jinnah grounds and

ordered them to leave Jaffna within two hours. Ilamparithy, emphasized that all properties

both movable and immovable should be left behind. This destroyed the linguistic, cultural,

educational commonalities that existed for more than 12 centuries in two hours.

Muslims did not expect this. It was sudden. They did not know what to do. The

Muslims did not venture to fight back but left Jaffna. At five junction and few other strategic

points LTTE cadres did a body check and confiscated jewellery, valuables and cash, but

allowed people to take only Rs 150.00 ($1.5). Around 3500 families comprising 14000 people left from Jaffna leaving behind more than 500 shops, 10 mosques, 4 schools, and around 4000 houses. 

In the entire Northern Province 15000 houses, 428 mosques, a large number of business establishments, jewelleries, paddy lands were left behind.

Reasons for expulsion:

Untrustworthy, disloyal, traitors, invaders, security risk, necessity, to cause inconvenience, are the reasons outwardly  given but the inner reason, for the the expulsion of Muslims from their homeland, by an armed group, was on the basis of ethnicity or religious identity. 

The UN defines Ethnic cleaning as follows:

 “rendering an area ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove from a

given area persons of another ethnic or religious group” (ref:en.wikipedia.org/Ethnic cleansing )

 The International Criminal Court of Justice describes ethnic cleansing as a crime against humanity.

Which infact the case in the Nothern province Muslims of Sri Lanka.

Multi Culturalism

The multiculturalists advocate political equality for all citizens and respect for ethnic

differences through the principles of democracy. This enables to maintain one’s own ethnic

identity and also recognize and respect others’ identity. Under multiculturalism different

values, cultures and people happily coexist with others while maintaining their own cultural,

ethnic, linguistic affiliations. It promotes a common thread through nationhood to hold

society together and accepts that people have different cultures and crafts a way to live

together. It encourages positive acceptance but discourages assimilation.

Mistakes

The LTTE fought against discrimination, marginalization and the liberation of the Tamils,

had they extended these principles to others, understood the aspirations of the Muslims and

recognize them as their partners in the province rather than treating them as adversaries that

could have revitalized the cordial relations between the two communities. The Muslims also

could have taken initiatives for a free and frank dialogue with Tamil Nationalism and the

Tamil militancy to minimize if not avoids the antagonism and the expulsion. LTTE could

have taken action against any breach of trust or fifth columnist activity that jeopardized their fight, on a case by case basis than punishing the entire community.

Mistakes were done through gun point then and now the mistakes are taking place by the Northern provincial administration and political elements.

RESETTLEMENT AND STRUGGLE OF THE MUSLIMS OF JAFFNA DISTRICT

After the permanent peace of 2009, The Nothern Muslim Community prefer to live with honor, Social and cultural values and resettle on their native land.

In the Resettlement project, The Jaffna Muslims are neglected by some politicians and Government Officers . Already rejected on the Indian Housing Scheme and have been imposed non positive and unacceptable conditions on the Community.

Indian Housing scheme scandle: Allthough 2165 Families were registered to resettle from 2009 to 2012 in Jaffna District, Under the conditions of the project, 

Which are:

1. Families living in refugees camps displaced by war

2. The families of widows ( by war)

3. The families of handicapped indiduals by war.

4. Refugee families due to war returning to Sri Lanka for Re- immigration.

5. The families who lost their family member by war.

Only 310 Family applications allowed on Indian Housing Project, in which 50 000 Homes were built, Only 26 Families were selected as beneficiaries of the Project.

As a result of massive protest by Jaffna Kilinochchi Muslims Federation in 2015, 25 Families were incorporated additionally in the list. In total 51 families beneficiaries on the Project.

In another project called, rs.800 000 house value, Out of the rest rejected from the Indian housing applications,  74 Families were selected on Rs 800,000/- Housing Scheme as beneficiaries of the Project.

The above mentioned five criterias are also listed  in the upcoming Rs. 2.1million worth 65,000 Homes European Housing Project. We demand to add a 6th criteria, for the Expulsed Muslims of Jaffna. All eligible Muslim applications, without any discrimination MUST be approved. 

Example: already residences more families in Paraichchery, Jaffna and who Muslims families are refused to build a home by Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Development and he has proceeded case against that people in Jaffna Court. 

The GOSL, Tamil political leadership, the Tamil, Sinhala and the Muslim leadership accept these in principles. In order to put these in practice, deconstruction of communal, ethnic, religious groupings and construction of national identities are preconditions, for which very strong and sincere political will from all sides is necessary. 

Change of regime, absence of war climate in the country, particularly in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces are conducive to venture on this project. It is hard to accomplish but the right solution. The need for the country and especially the minorities to rebuild their diminished communal harmony is

greater than before.

Mr.Chair, We kindly forward the concerns with belief in the council to be created the Resettlement of Righteous, Democracy and Equality in the North and in Sri Lanka. This must be modified as soon as possible as well.