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Large scale palmyrah felling to fortify SLA positions

It is reported that the SLA from the high security zone (HSZ) in Eluthumadduval is engaged in large scale felling of palmyrah trees on a day and night process.

To fortify the Sri Lankan military complexes in Nagarkovil, east of Point Pedro, Jaffna, the SLA personnel are engaged in cutting down this traditional palm that gives everything to the Jaffna citizens, within the high security zone (HSZ) of Eluthumadduval. Denying access to the land owners and sealing civilians off, the military is able to transport the felled palmyrah logs through interior roads to Nagarkovil. The civilians living in areas outside the HSZ hear the cutting down and the movement of heavy weight trucks transporting the logs to Nagarkovil. The military complexes are fenced to the height of more than 15 feet with coconut leaves preventing visibility of the fortifying activities that go on inside.

It is ironical that the people of Jaffna, through the Palmyrah Development Board and private initiatives, are actively engaged in a palmyrah replanting scheme whereas the Sri Lankan military is negating the initiative by indiscriminately cutting down matured palms which supply the basic essentials to the Jaffna citizens and also serve as valuable timber for construction of dwellings after it’s utility period which is more than hundred years. The Tamil people are concerned about an occupying alien force cutting down valuable natural resource that does not belong to them.

19 December 2004

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