Puttalam Muslims portray a divided house

Two factions – one representing the Muslims displaced from the north living in Puttalam and the other representing Muslims permanently residing in Puttalam is emerging as a rift between a Minister and a Deputy Minister in Puttalam triggered off street protests this week.

In the Puttalam town, the army backed by police took to the streets on Monday to keep protestors away and prevent an imminent clash. But the rift is widening and a clear division between the two factions is becoming apparent.

On Monday the town was brought to a standstill due to a protest campaign orgnanised by supporters of Deputy Minister of Livestock Development Abdul Baiz. A counter-protest was launched by Minister Rishad Badhiutheen’s supporters.

Mr. Badhiutheen hailing from Mannar has been representing the needs of some 100,000 Muslims displaced from Mannar and the Northern Province. These displaced persons spread over more than 132 camps, have been living in Puttalam for the past 20 years.

Supporters of Minister Badhiutheen believe that the increased inflow of assistance to the displaced in recent months has created jealousies and angered the permanent Muslim residents of Puttalam. Among the recent assistance received, has been a housing scheme under which 7,800 houses are being constructed.

Of these 6,000 of are to be handed over to persons displaced from the north. The balance 1,800 are to be handed over to permament residents of the Puttalam District. Permanent residents of Puttalam claim that most business opportunities too have been grabbed by the displaced persons who have been living in the area for more than 20 years.

Last Sunday while Minister Badhiutheen was explaining the proposed housing projects at a meeting of Muslim representatives which was arranged at the guest house of the District Secretariat, North Western Provincial Council member M.I. Shahiyya reacting strongly said the permanent residents of Puttalam had been left destitute..

Reacting sharply Mr. Badhiutheen stressed that Provincial Council members did not have a right to speak on behalf of the people in Puttalam and there were others to do so. At this Deputy Minister Baiz retorted saying Mr. Shahiyya had the right to speak about the people in Puttalam if people from Mannar could speak about people in Puttalam.

Mr. Baiz demanded 30% of allocations made for the housing project be reserved for the indigenous residents of Puttalam. He blamed the people of Mannar for having destroyed Puttalam. Mr. Badhiutheen then ordered Mr. Baiz to leave the premises. Since Mr. Baiz did not leave the premises the Minister’s bodyguards are reported to have forced Mr. Baiz out.

Thereafter a protest campaign was organised to be held in the Puttalam town on Sunday evening. Subsequently Mr. Baiz is reported to have arrived at the main Mosque in Puttalam and declared that a protest campaign should be organised in the town the following day. However sections among the Mosque administrators expressed different opinions on the proposed protest.

In keeping with the decision taken, residents were informed that the protest had been cancelled. But, Mr. Baiz’s supporters took to the streets on Monday to launch a hartal campaingn drawing angry reactions from Mr. Badurdeen’s supporters.