Manna Hatta Manna Hatta!-Mullikulam People demand their Land Back.

Manna Hatta Manna Hatta! They cheated us! They cheated us! This is what the native Americans, the so called Red Indians said, when their land is being grabbed by the White Colonizers. Similar situation has occurred once the Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Bishop Rayappu Joesph facilitated to take a decision based on what Gotabaya Rajapakse, the secretary to the ministry of defense told to Mullikulam people. According the Mullikulam community, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has told people on 26th December 2012, that "If you agree to what Mr.Gotabaya Rajapakse says, I am assure everything will be implemented from tomorrow." So people agreed to get houses for all people by August 2013, once the Mullikulam church feast celebrates there. The land will be given to people beyond the 750 meters from the church. 2 tanks out of 9 will be released for agriculture purposes. The sea area which is around 3 Km long will be released for fishing practices. The 16 beach seine points could be re-operationalize. Unfortunately, none of these were done by the GOSL. So, people say MANNA HATTA! The people have come to a stage where they think there is nothing to do under the earth. They have done all the sacrifices. They are living under the trees with out any safety more than one and half years by now. Once we a NAFSO team visited there, the community was so depressed. There was no hope for their future. No proper education facilities for their children. There were 27 houses being given to the families where Navy officers are occupying the houses. But, most of the people around 100-120 families are living under serious difficulties. Even the families who are living in those 27 houses are also has serious accusations against the contractor. "Walls of our houses are already broken. We can not live in these houses on rainy days,. Water come to inside.We are much better compare with the people who are living in the tents." The frustration, due to broken promises are growing. "There is nothing to loose for us. We lost everything. We can fish only 1.5 Km length out of 3 Km only. It is used only 2 beach seines in our grounds out of 16 and the military push us away from our coast." We want our land back. Unless Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith should mediate for regaining the land, we will have to come to street protests or more. As a sign of Mullikulam people to revive the demand, agreed to write the government needs to write to authorities and planned campaigns. We are with the people in that process till the land being given time.

Herman