Poonthalir Women Headed Family members met at Marudanamadam

Poonthalir women headed families organization's Sabapathy camp women's religious function and petition  submiission demanding their land back were blocked using through the
community leaders in the camps.
The women were threatened to kill, rape  and further harassments if they attend any function on their land issue.
It is unfortunate that the person who threatened to the women is former chairperson of focus group formed by NAFSO. Various news papers has reported the incident which shows the attention of the society.
However, we met the Poonthalir women leadership, together with Anandi Shasheedaran the provincial councilor of NPC, Sajeewan the vice chairperson of Thellipilai, Subramaniyam, secretary to the northern  province fisher people's unity and representatives from Sabapathy camp, Konatkulam and Neelwani camps to discuss the situation and to plan out for future.
The Women leaders said, "Our former chairperson told us not to attend any function, religious or otherwise on land issue as the army may kill us by shooting. Why army or any one worry when we plead to God to allow us to go back to our villages?"
Anandi Sasheedaran, the NPC councilor addressing the women leaders said, "we all are victims of the war. Landless and displaced. We have been fighting for our own land for 25 years now. I am one among you to fight.  We appreciate what NAFSO is doing to empower women and all affected people in our society."

Sajeewan, the vice chairperson of Thelipillai and also the chairperson of the IDPs organization in the northern province said, "we demand our own land. Farmers lost their fertile land. Fishers lost the coast. Those are converting to tourism industry while displacing the owners of the same lands. We take the lead to reorganize religious function
again and invite to join the same."

NAFSO team emphasis the land issue is severe in Jaffna though the situation similar in many other places. Also the betrayers are every where we work, whether it is Kalpitiya, Mullikulam, Sampur, Negombo, Paanama or Irudeniyaya where NAFSO engage in land issue and displacement due to tourism, infra structure development or otherwise. Even today we had to meet former chairperson of northern province fisher people's unity as he betrayed us at the 15th July land campaign we organized in Jaffna.
So, NAFSO emphasis that we will continue hand in hand with people on the people's land struggles till people continue their struggles.