Abandoned War Displaced From Border Villages-Rugam
January 8, 2009 at 3:37 pm · Posted Public Articles
“Since my birth I lived here. Due to LTTE violence we were displaced as refugees. However I returned with others here last month. Unfortunately no body come and cares about our resettlement yet. No facilities, even a pot for cooking” this is rumble voice of 70 years old women of Rugam resettlement village.
I got this comment during my recent visit to the border village of Rugam in the district of Batticaloa, about 12miles from Chenkaladi town at Chenkaladi-Badulla Road . In the Batticaloa District, Chankaladi-Badulla road since 1983, over 12 Agrarian villages with people from Muslim community were destroyed or villagers were displaced due to the civil war between the LTTE and government. Villages, which were in LTTE-controlled area as well as on the borderline, were affected. Rugam is one of them. Thick jungle, destroyed infrastructures; indicated the LTTE activities.
The Rural Development Society (RDS) president Mahroof: “this village established on 1912 close by Rugam Tank; build on 1818. Early in 1972 348 families were lived. Most of them displaced follow the ethnic issues in 1985. 158 families’ were evocated in 1990. 09 people of among them stayed adamantly. Finally the LTTE killed them.
I asked few others regarding past experience of Rugam Village . What they wanted to highlight was that the village was wealthy and its members were satisfied with the environment within it. A middle-aged framer said “They were covered most of Batticaloa people’s vegetable and fruits need before 90’s. It had been fruit garden, vegetable garden, paddy field etc.
I could be seen; men and women both are worked together and reconstruct the boral way. One of them said they got together to help each other during times of disaster, common events as well as common celebrations. For example floods, strom, religious celebrations etc, they told me. A teacher from this village told me “this village officially not declared by the government in the resettlement village name list yet .when we asked regarding this matter with Minister of Resettlement said : now we are consider recent Tamil displaced people’s issues. Will consider regarding Muslim’s issues in future”.
In the situation of 143 families resettled them selves currently. No basic facilities. Casimbawa Ibrahim, 70years old says “I have Maintain 3Acre paddy land and vegetable garden. I have to go 500m far from my paddy land to take water for drinking and irrigation in Rugam Pond. Difficult to move at night time due to lack of electricity facilities in this area”. As I delved further into life in the village, a villager said that the people were worried about bias of government responsible officers. “Electricity power supply given till main road of Chenkaladi- Badulla. Only 500m between our village and transformer. Officers don’t take interest to provide supply. It’s happened before 90s’ also. We paid Rs.1 per acre tax for our paddy land. They covered other taxes and levy through the government officers. Unfortunately they failed to provide receipt for the payment most of time. In the same time they didn’t take any efforts to provide died or permit to our lands”. Said Ibrahim.
Regarding NGOs working there, they said normally the NGOs also don’t provide any assistance for our community, she said. Only ECARDS currently consider our matter. When I asked about what needs the people in the village had, they said they needed basic facilities, infrastructures, more educational facilities and self economic capacity building. They are need for common well to drinking water. A STF officer in charge in this area has provide three plastic water tank and filling water once a week by bowser. But couldn’t say sustainability.
Rugam GMMS; established on 1942 completely destroyed. No symbol to identify the land. Its’ seems to jungle. 400 Tamil Muslim students were in 1990’s with 6 teachers. Poetry Puratchi Kamaal was Headmaster of school. Temporary shelter, roof made by Gadjan has prepared for Nursery school. “We are going to be starting a nursery school with 40 students. In the same time we don’t have furniture, school bags and books to open school. January has started. A member of provincial council had been assisted 200 Gadjan for each family. We used that Gadjans for viewing roof” said RDS president. The mosque of Rugam not completed yet. Part of Mosque building; which used for Madarasa completely damaged. “Birds spoils inside the mosque at night time due to lack of windows, doors of Mosque” said base imam of the mosque.
Cookery items, agrarian equipments, temporary shed, self employment assistance are essential need for these people.I observed ECARDS office bearers working with these people and chatting with them; Executive Admin Secretary of ECARDS says “over 52 Agrarian Muslim villages displaced from LTTE controlled area before 90s. The challenge is to enroll these villages name in the Resettlement list. We are trying to assist with reconstruction work as well as psycho social work, capacity building and legal advises. We are welcome assistance for our work. If any body feel to help this abandoned could conduct to the following number: 94777246375 or 94776672873 Mail: iso.ecards.org@gmail.com
When I discuss with Tamils working with Muslims; “We don’t have any issues; we are all Tamil Muslims lived peacefully. I request the village president to restart ‘Kanthoory’ (its one of Muslims religious traditional function. providing rice and curry to all people living surrounding area) than I will give a cattle for that” this sentence says beyond every insurgence human being and co-existence never die due to terrorist activities.