Mullai District Gama Officers protest against Army interfering in their duties, at District Office

All Grama Officers of Mullaitheevu District staged a protest in front of the District Secretariat yesterday protesting the Army interfering in duties.

The protest follows an incident in Kokkutoduwai where Colonel Samantha Silva of the 593 Brigade had warned, threatened and taken over their Official and National Identity Cards, which were returned later following the insistence of the Divisional Secretary with the Area Army Commander that this is a gross interfering in the duties of the Grama Officers.

Before the war 72 Sinhala Fishermen were granted permission to fish in the villages of Kokkilai and Kokkuthoduwai. After war, with the abetting and aiding of the armed forces around 200 fishermen were engaging in fishing in this area causing much discomfort to local fishermen.

Although, the Fisheries Minister had ordered to take action against to expel fishermen engaging in fishing, without permission, even before two weeks passed, 25 of these fishermen had put up fishing Wadis and engaging in fishing in Pilipainthakal. They had removed concrete post from a private owner- neighbor. This owner had complained to the Grama Officer and the Grama Officers of Kokkuthoduwai and Kokkilai, had went to the area for investigating the complaint. Then the Sinhala fishermen not only had got into an altercation with the Grama Officers but also had assaulted and injured  GO, Jesuratnam and had sent information to 593.

One Colonel Samantha Silva had come there, threatened the Grama Officers and forcefully the National and Official Identity Cards. Following this the GOs had informed Karaithuraipattu Divisional Secretary.

The DS had contacted the area Commander of the Army and had questioned him as to who gave permission to interfere in the Civil administration and that they shall be responsible for any untoward incident that may happen there. Following this the Army had returned the Identity cards and had instructed the fishermen to tell the e police that the army was informed because the Grama Officers demanded bribe from them.

The District Secretary Rupawathy Ketheeswaran when contacted over the incident, She said the DS had already informed her of the incident and her efforts to contact the District Army Commander had failed so far.

The injured GO,  Jesurathnam had been admitted to Mancholai Hospital and receiving treatment.