TNPF threatens to mobilise people against govt. over land dispute

By Dinasena Ratugamage

Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam said, on Thursday, that they would mobilse all Tamils against the government if it didn’t refrain from taking over private lands in the North.

Ponnambalam issued the warning after joining a protest against the expansion of a Navy camp in Mullaitivu.

“There is no need to expand this facility at a time when there is no war. Even if there is a valid reason, the government can easily use state lands. There are plenty of state lands in the North. Why try to take over land given to people by land licences?” the MP asked.

A section of protesting politicians

Ponnambalam said that the only purpose of taking over private land was to demean the Tamils. It was unfair to discriminate against Tamil people simply because they were a minority, he said.

“The President must intervene and put an end to this. Otherwise, there will be unrest in Mullaitivu,” he said.

Earlier Ponnambalam was among a number of Tamil politicians who joined a demonstration opposing an attempt to take over a plot of private land by the Navy.

The demonstrators also surrounded the Survey Department officers who had arrived to survey the plot of land. Mullaitivu Police had to escort the Survey Department officers to safety.