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TNPF officials meet with survivors of the landslide in a welfare centre (Pics: Lankasri) |
Politicians from the Tamil National People’s Front visited the area hit by landslides which left at least 11 dead and heard concerns from people who are temporarily housed in welfare centres.
President of the TNPF Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and Secretary Kajendren Selvarajah visited the approximately 2,500 displaced from the Upcountry Tamil community in Koslantha Sri Vidyalayam and Poonakalai Tamil Vidyalayam.
The displaced expressed their concerns over the “unnecessary military presence” within the overcrowded centres and said a pass system has been established for visitors, adding that they felt that the military presence was a form of oppression against them, Mr Selvarajah told the Tamil Guardian.
The victims also criticised that no female officers where in the camps, causing deep discomfort to the female survivors of the tragedy. Calling on the government to take responsibility of providing them with permanent housing in a safer area, the victims blamed the state for failing to resettle the inhabitants of the affected region elsewhere when it was declared unsafe in 2005.
Although the displaced were receiving food and medicine, relief that arrives is given to local authorities and Buddhist organisations, instead of handing it to the victims directly, they said.
Tamil orgs shocked and saddened by Upcountry landslide deaths (01 November 2014)