In 2010, 1200 acres of land belong to Paanama people have been forcefully grabbed by armed forces. Paanama people continued their struggle to get the land back without fear even within the autocratic regime of Mahinda Rajapakse. People's action lead to defeat MR regime at the Presidential election in January 2015.
While listening to the people's demands the newly elected President Maitripala's cabinet had decided to release 340 acres of grabbed land from Ragamwela and Shastrawela on 11 February 2015.
There are 25 acres of land in the same area are under the air force as the total land grabbed from both the villages.
Now it is almost 4 months gone after taking the cabinet decision since February. Once people attempted to enter into their lands, the military had blocked their entry to the land and informed people that there is no information and orders given by the authorities to release land.
When people approached the district administration, the divisional secretary had told the community that, "there is no
clear identification of the ownership of the land. So, we can not release any land to people."
Now, the situation is serious as there is no attention of civil society, out side world. Every one think the problem is solved. Paanama people are in a dilemma how to expose the reality of the ground situation as people are still displaced and living in a miaery.
Somasiri, the organizer of Paanam Paththuwa Surakeeme Organization says, "the officials can not tell those land belong to people. Because they are the responsible to inform the land grabbers that there is no ownership of land to any one. Then as the responsible authorities how they release the land to owners. ? Now, we are ready to prove the ownership."
At the last PARL meeting the team decided to intervene the situation and assist Paanama community to find ways to prove the ownership.
Raajan Francis, Praja Abilasha coordinator and Sajeewa Chamikara director of ECT, attended the assist to Paanama community and being engaged in the field to facilitate the process.
As a result of the field visit Raajan says, "People are enthusiastically engaged the data collection as they want to get their land back as earliest. People want to submit the document we prepared to President Maitripala when he visit Samudra Maha Viharaya at Pothuwil area on 20th June. But before that all the officials who are against the release the land back to people. Because the officials should know there are people who own the land prior to President Maitripala. We send 85 page document to all the possible officials by registered post."
"We continue our support to Paanama people until they get the land back." added Raajan.
Somasiri, the leader says "we will fight until we get all the land back to our people."
We congratulate Paanama people for their commitment and courage to fight without any fear.
While listening to the people's demands the newly elected President Maitripala's cabinet had decided to release 340 acres of grabbed land from Ragamwela and Shastrawela on 11 February 2015.
There are 25 acres of land in the same area are under the air force as the total land grabbed from both the villages.
Now it is almost 4 months gone after taking the cabinet decision since February. Once people attempted to enter into their lands, the military had blocked their entry to the land and informed people that there is no information and orders given by the authorities to release land.
When people approached the district administration, the divisional secretary had told the community that, "there is no
clear identification of the ownership of the land. So, we can not release any land to people."
Now, the situation is serious as there is no attention of civil society, out side world. Every one think the problem is solved. Paanama people are in a dilemma how to expose the reality of the ground situation as people are still displaced and living in a miaery.
Somasiri, the organizer of Paanam Paththuwa Surakeeme Organization says, "the officials can not tell those land belong to people. Because they are the responsible to inform the land grabbers that there is no ownership of land to any one. Then as the responsible authorities how they release the land to owners. ? Now, we are ready to prove the ownership."
At the last PARL meeting the team decided to intervene the situation and assist Paanama community to find ways to prove the ownership.
Raajan Francis, Praja Abilasha coordinator and Sajeewa Chamikara director of ECT, attended the assist to Paanama community and being engaged in the field to facilitate the process.
As a result of the field visit Raajan says, "People are enthusiastically engaged the data collection as they want to get their land back as earliest. People want to submit the document we prepared to President Maitripala when he visit Samudra Maha Viharaya at Pothuwil area on 20th June. But before that all the officials who are against the release the land back to people. Because the officials should know there are people who own the land prior to President Maitripala. We send 85 page document to all the possible officials by registered post."
"We continue our support to Paanama people until they get the land back." added Raajan.
Somasiri, the leader says "we will fight until we get all the land back to our people."
We congratulate Paanama people for their commitment and courage to fight without any fear.
0 comments:
Post a Comment