Kattankudi Muslims help Tamil IDP’s in Aaraiyampathy
March 20th, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Man’s inhumanity to man is transforming Mattakkalappu (Batticaloa) into a district of the displaced. People like Keheliya Rambukwella try to downplay the human suffering by downsizing the actual number of displaced persons. Despite these puerile yet callously insensitive efforts there is no denying that a terrible humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in the district. The latest figures indicate that 38% of the Tamil population in B’caloa are now displaced.
The civil administration and Non – Governmental organizations active in the district are struggling to cope with this sudden and massive influx of Internally displaced persons (IDP’s). The rapid spurt in IDP numbers in March came at a time when the civil authorities and INGO”s were struggling to accommodate the people displaced in December 2006 and January 2007. Despite the best efforts of dedicated professionals and volunteers the challenge of catering to the needs of more than 150, 000 helpless people remains formidable and unfulfilled.
A vast crisis like this brings out at times the best in human nature. One such silver lining in the dark cloud of despair is the commendable efforts of Muslim people in Kattankudi (pronounced Kaathaankudi) to provide limited succour to suffering Tamil refugees in neighbouring Manmunai Pattru or Aaraiyampathy AGA division.
[Children of Sainthamaruthu - Picture HumanityAshore]
There have been communal clashes and resultant tensions between Muslims and Tamils in this region during the past. These have been mainly instigated by scheming politicians and armed militant groups. Yet, K’kudi Muslims have at this time of humanitarian deed engaged collectively in alleviating to some extent at least the suffering of their Tamil brethren.
An overwhelming number of Tamil civilians have fled the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas into Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) areas in the past few weeks. Many of them have registered themselves as IDP”s at the Manmunai Pattru (Aaraiyampathy) AGA division. This is adjacent to the pre- dominantly Muslim Kattankudi AGA division. With the District administration and functioning NGO”s unable to look after the newly displaced in many respects several civilian organizations are struggling to fill the void. The significant aspect in this is that the K’kudi Muslims are not helping their co -religionists but Tamils who are either Hindu or Christian.
An emergency relief program was initiated by K’kudi residents. The K’ kudi branch of the Federation of Mosques & Muslim Institutions along with the Kattankudy Urbam Council, Kattankudy Traders Association, Kattankudy Jammiyathul Ulama, Risala Media World etc play a crucial part in this effort. The local branches of national organizations like Sri Lanka Jamath-e-Islami, Caring Hands, Human Care Foundation and the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka are also assisting in this mission.
Thousands of cooked meals and lunch packets have been provided to IDP”s in Manumanai North by K’ kudi residents. Plastic plates, mats, mosquito nets for infants, hygiene packs etc have been supplied. Mobile medical clinics have been held at IDP camps. Several urgent needs like mats, infant food, medicine etc have been identified and an appeal has been issued for donations. An donation campaign where every K’ kudi household is being solicited for a minimum donation of 100 rupees is going on. The people of K’ kudi seem determined to continue with a sustained help campaign.
So inspiring has been the K’kudi example that SLM Haniffa who heads the Eastern province Federation of Mosques and Muslim institutions has issued a public appeal that Muslims in other Eastern areas too should emulate their K’kudi brothers and help out with Tamil IDP”s in their respective localities. Batticaloa district MP and cabinet minister Ameer Ali has also issued an appeal on similiar lines. If more Eastern Muslims respond to these appeals it would be a great humanitarian initiative illustrating the noble concept of brotherhood in Islam. It will also be a tremendous fillip to civil society peace building given the fractured state of relations between Muslims and Tamils in the East.
It was only some weeks ago that friction ensued between Tamils of Aaraiyampathy and Muslims of Kattankudi. The issue concerned settling displaced Tamils from Vaakarai in lands within Muslim areas. A matter that could have been settled amicably was exploited by cadres from the breakaway Karuna faction of the tigers who now call themselves the Tamil Makkal Viduthalaip Puligal (TMVP). The TMVP engaged in several acts of provocative violence against innocent Muslim civilians. Muslims were barred from doing business in Aaraiyampathy.
The TMVP is fomenting regionalism among Eastern Tamils to counter the northern hegemony of LTTE leadership . There is also an ingrained anti – Muslim chauvinism among many Tamil leaders of the TMVP. Whipping up anti . Jaffna and anti – Muslim hysteria is also a device to mobilise Eastern Tamils. The TMVP is unable to exploit the “traditional” anti – Sinhala cry as “Col” Karuna is now reduced to being – in the words of chairman Mao – a running dog of “Sinhala” imperialism.
Against this backdrop the humanitarian efforts of K’ kudi Muslims in helping Tamil IDP”s was not welcomed by the TMVP in Aaraiyampathy. In a shameful gesture the TMVP tried to block K’ kudi Muslims from helping Tamil IDP”s. They were prevented from giving meals to some camps. A senior TMVP leaders announced that “TAmils should not eat meals supplied by Muslims”. But the needy IDP”s paid litle notice. The K’ kudi Muslims took the meals to some other IDP camps. Despite the despicable attempt by the TMVP to spoil things ,the K’ kudi Muslims are continuing with their humanitarian efforts.
The conduct of the TMVP that claims to free the Eastern Tamil from Northern oppression has been disgusting during this crisis. The Karuna faction has not rendered any worthwhile assistance through the manpower it possesses. It is a stumbling block to many NGO”s as the outfit demands financial allocations for itself in order to look after the refugees. In many instances the TMVP has placed obstacles to NGO efforts. Moreover the TMVP hovers like vultures to abduct IDP children as child soldiers. The Amnesty International recently drew attention to this in a statement.
While the TMVP continues with its petty, racist politicking the Kattankudi Muslims continue with their good work. I sincerely hope that they and Muslims elsewhere in the East will not be deterred by the Karuna faction. Such demonstrations of inter – faith goodwill and inter – ethnic amity are sorely needed in the beleaguered East.
Recently when Sufi Muslims fled Kattankudi to escape the wrath of Wahabis it was the Aaraiyampathy Tamils who gave them refuge. Earlier when the Ysunami struck people of different races and religions helped each other. Their common suffering forged a bond that was shred to pieces when the state and politicians got involved.
Political leaders and self – styled liberators may say that the people of the Eastern province and in a larger sense the people of this Island cannot live together peacefully. That is not so. The ordinary people want to live together. They want to help each other. The shining example of Kattankudi Muslims is further testimony that our human bondage transcends other artificial barriers.
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Entry Filed under: MinorMatters
8 Comments Add your own
1. Suresh M | March 20th, 2007 at 8:28 am
I hope this tragedy that instigated by the terror State, would result in stronger bond among Tamil speaking population in the East, as they have been living before the start of Ealam war.
It would be helpful if the author of this story identifies a couple of agencies that are active in relief operations. Also, how we could help them from other part of the universe.
2. Dr K Chandradeva | March 20th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Dear Mr Jeyaraj
I have been a regular reader of your papers for the last 3 decades. You are one of the most talented writers I have ever come across.
I would love to meet you, Sir
3. Dr. A.R.M. Imtiyaz | March 20th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Human communities often identity with ethnic and religious symbols. Those symbols are with us since Almighty create us with the different cleavages. But such cleavages can poison the human harmony and stability, when political actors such as leaders and activists manipulate those identities in their quests for a power.
The above piece of Mr. Jeyaraj while emphasizing (Kattankudy) Muslims help to the Tamil IDP’s, slightly exposes the truth that communities can cohabit well even in a divided environment as long as political forces take no actions to politicize differences.
Moreover, I am glad voices are emerging to expose the duplicity of so-called liberation leaders of Eastern who are waiting to exploit every singe opportunity to weaken the collective Tamil leadership against the oppressive state and to harm the unity of Tamil and Muslim nations.
4. Param | March 22nd, 2007 at 8:01 am
Dear Mr. Jeyaraj,
Thank you for highlighting the plight of the poor IDPs in the Eastern province, specially fron Batticaloa. The current situation and the behaviour of various actors (local and international) expose the real motives of those actors.
You are doing your duty, that is to inform the local and internationality of the true situation. Plase do not give up.
I am sure there will be some people with big heart and would come forward to help these people.
5. Dr K Chandradeva | March 22nd, 2007 at 1:27 pm
This article by DBS made me emotional and brought back the memories of excellent Tamil-Muslim relations that we enjoyed during my childhood in Trincomalee where I was born and brought up. I studied at the Hindu College where a good number of Muslin students attended. Ethnic harmony at the school was magnanimous; to my knowledge there was not a single incident of ethnic friction. I feel extremely sad that the current civil war in Sri Lanka has made some strains on the relations between Tamils and Muslims.
I am delighted to see the timely generosity of Muslims of Batticaloa towards Tamil refugees. I bow my head to the leaders of the Muslim leaders who are coordinating this campaign.
At this juncture I recall goodwill gestures that our organisation extended to a Muslim charitable organisation in Katankudy during the last couple years. About two years ago, the Muslim Orphanage, Katankudy asked our organisation, the Medical Institute of Tamils – South Thames Region (I am Vice-president of this organisation) for a financial assistance to their orphanage. This was discussed at the committee meeting of the MIOT and we promptly made generous donations in 2005 and 2006. The Muslim leaders were very pleased with our response and we have been having regular correspondence with this orphanage.
Tamils and Muslims in Sri Lanka and bonded by their mother tongue. We have to do every thing we can to sustain the good relations between us. I sincerely hope that these two communities will put some unfortunate and unpleasant past experience behind, embrace each other and look to a peaceful and bright future.
6. Kannan | March 23rd, 2007 at 9:46 am
Dear Jeyaraj,
You did a wonderful job in this article. It brought me up all my old days for a moment. I educated from Shivananda Maha Vidyalayam where lot of Muslim students from all over the eastern province did there education, few of them even boarded in the Ramakrishna mission.
We used to visit our Muslim friends home during their ‘Perunal’ and they come to our home during the New Year and ‘Theepavali…….What a wonderful days…..
Your article like this will help the community identify the right political actors such as leaders and activists who do not manipulate ethnic and religious identities in their quests for a power.
In this advanced technological world it may even help correct those so called liberators.
7. Chandras | April 8th, 2007 at 8:39 am
DBS,
We salute you for your findings and revealing the facts.
Epporul yar yar vai kedpininum apporul meiporul kanpathu arivu.
8. mohamed fairooz | June 18th, 2007 at 5:02 am
thank you for your article.
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