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Heavy firing over buffer zone
By Anthony David
A UN agency has expressed serious concerns over the government's enforcement of a buffer zone in the resettlement of tsunami victims as protests grew among others also with some complaining that they were being hit by another tsunami.

UNHCR's Senior External Relations Officer Robyn Groves said yesterday the proposed resettlement plan had been taken up with the government. The government proposal, which is being implemented, involves the resettlement of people in new areas while restricting construction within a 100-metre zone from the coastal line in the south and 200 metres in the north and east.

"We have raised concerns about the resettlement plans," Ms Groves said. "We have also called for clarity and transparency in the proposal, particularly about the plan to have the restricted zone of 100 metres in the south and 200 metres in the north-east," she said.

The United Nations High Commission of Refugees which assists in resettlement programmes does not support involuntary resettlement. The government's plan to restrict construction around specified areas in the coastal areas around the sea and resettle the original inhabitants in new locations has run into a controversy in the absence of laws, delay in proper implementation of the government decision and protests from tsunami victims.

Fisheries Minister Chandrasena Wijesinghe said the government policy decision to implement the restricted zone had run into a string of problems including some of the affected parties putting up their damaged houses within the restricted zone.

"In the absence of a law to implement the decision and delay in formulating the laws, we will run into further problems," the minister said. Police have been instructed to enforce the 100-metre zone restriction, but the directive was being implemented in a haphazard manner with the restriction strictly being enforced in some areas and not so strictly in other areas, according to reports from coastal areas.

Coast Conservation Director Dr. R.A. Samaranayake said the decision to have a 100-metre buffer zone in the south and 200 metres in the north-east was based on practical reasons.

"In our overall assessment of the tsunami disaster, we found that the Southern damage was less compared to the northeast areas. This is the reason for the difference," he added.

Fisheries Minister Wijesinghe said the government was keen on implementing the restricted zone in a bid to save lives and property if another tsunami occurred but admitted that a practical approach was needed.

Tourism Ministry Secretary P. Ramunujam said the cabinet on Wednesday would be taking up the issue about the restriction following concerns from the tourist sector including those who have partially completed renovation of their buildings.

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