Driven away from their land in 1990, around 100 settler families had gone to resettle in their village, when they got to know that their land had been seized by a very close associate of minister Risath Badurdeen.

The man in question has re-demarcated the 48 acre land, erected a fence and is faking documents to claim ownership for the land, all with the support of Badurdeen.

A human rights activist in Mannar has told jdslanka.org that no one is raising a voice in support of these people, stricken by poverty and the caste problem, who continue to be oppressed despite the change in government.

Oppressed people

They had come to settle at Thangiady when the railway line began to be laid during the British rule, and 90 per cent of them are railway department labourers.

The rest are cobblers and basket weavers.

A dilapidated kovil is the only evidence to support their claim for the village that is located on the A14 road to Thalaimannar, seven km away from Mannar town.

Badurdeen

Badurdeen, a minister in the former Rajapaksa regime too, had been accused of bribery, corruption and abuse of political power, and had been strongly criticised by the then opposition.

He had proposed the clearing of a 2,388 acre area in Vavuniya, Mannar and Mannar forest reserves, and was the resettlement minister when civilians’ land was taken over for a military camp at Tharavankottai.

Badurdeen was also accused in the abduction and murder of HR activist in Puttalam, Pattani Razik in February 2001.

He crossed over during the recent presidential polls, and obtained a cabinet position.