Challenge: Prove, ready to quit!

‘I challenge anyone to prove, even ready to quit’-Rishad

• ‘No Pakistani or outside settlors’-Rishad
• Says supporting re-settlement of all communities
• “Ready to take you there and show!’-Rishad
• Says a vilification campaign is on

A top Lankan Cabinet Minister issued an open challenge on 07 May to anyone who could prove that he “re-settled any Pakistani nationals within the Northern Province” -and vowed that if proven, he is ready to call it quits immediately. “Today I challenge anyone who could prove that I re-settled any Pakistani nationals or outsiders within the Northern Province-and if proven, I am ready resign from my portfolio immediately” vowed Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka) on 07 May in Colombo.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing a special media briefing held at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce on 07 May against the apparent vilification campaign taking shape in certain media segments targeting him that, among others, alleged that Muslim IDP resettlements led by him are damaging the Wilpattu Forest Reserve in Northern Province.

“During the past few weeks, some television and the news media have negatively reported on continued and illegal Muslim resettlements in the Marichchikatti Grama Seva division which is outside the Wilpattu National Park. One privately owned media channel, during the last seven days, alleged that I have been destroying the Wilpattu jungle areas and also mentioned that I have been working to create an exclusive Zone to settle Pakistani nationalities and people from other Districts in this zone. These are campaigns of vilification” said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: “The recent media reports said the Wilpattu National park had been affected by the alleged land grab by me and alleged that I am also involved in illegally resettling Muslim people in these areas. Today I challenge anyone who could prove that I re-settled any Pakistani nationals or even other outsiders, that is people from other Provinces, within the Northern Province-and if proven, I am ready resign from my portfolio immediately” vowed Minister Bathiudeen and added: “A certain anti-Muslim movement that most of us know of, is also in this campaign. I have been honoured by HE the President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinge who together appointed me to this Cabinet portfolio and I have respect for this position. I invite all the media to tour the regions at issue including Wilpattu area and I am ready to facilitate the tour for you, and once there, I am also prepared to walk with you wherever you want me to go with you, to prove that no illegal settlors by me are anywhere in North. Recent negative media reports are attempts to deliberately tarnish my image. I am in total support of re-settling whoever was displaced in North-Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims. I also thank the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the Commanders of tri-forces, the forces themselves as well as all other people for the support and commitment given to re-settle in the aftermath of end of war in 2009. Though most IDPs of other communities were resettled somehow, Northern Muslim IDP issue continues and as these lands to which they returned were un-inhabited for over three decades, they have become shrub filled forests and permission was needed from the Forest Department to clear them, so that the re-settlement work could begin. The Muslim refugees do not get any support from anyone on their resettlement efforts. Last year Pakistani Government’s housing assistance for Muslim IDPs was extended to the Government of Sri Lanka but even that was a result of my own initiatives. As a Cabinet Minister of a democratic country, I am highly concerned about the rights of all citizens. I have been fulfilling my responsibilities to serve the needs of the people of Sri Lanka including the war affected people.  I shall not withdraw from fulfilling my duties towards the war affected people of Sri Lanka just because of such allegations.”

In 1990, with the ethnic cleansing of Northern Muslims by the LTTE taking place, Muslim families were driven out from their original settllements, and they ended up empty-handed in camps for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Puttalam. Consequent to the LTTE’s eviction of Muslims, the people of Musali division in Mannar also were displaced in 1990. Due to these evictions, 22000 families started to live in more than 100 camps. 5700 families in the Musali Divisional Secretariat Division in Mannar district were ready to resettle after registration with relevant authorities.