The Asian Peasant
Coalition (APC) criticized Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena for not allowing the Panama people to occupy
their ancestral lands even if the court ordered in their favor.
“We welcome President
Sirisena’s decision on February 11, 2015 through its Cabinet to release 340 acres of Panama lands to its
genuine owners. However, the implementation remains futile. So, Herman Kumara
of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) made a complaint at Human
Rights Commission in July 2015 against divisional secretary (DS) of Lahugala
for not acting on the cabinet decision. Still, Panama people remain landless,”
stated Rafael Mariano, APC Chairperson.
“Since February 2015,
authorities involved, including district secretary of Ampara and DS of Lahugala
keep on promising to distribute the lands but went in vain,” added Mariano,
also the national chairperson of the Peasant Movement of the Philippines
(Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas - KMP).
On July 17, 2010, the
people of Panama lost their homes, their lands and everything they owned when
the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa grabbed their lands supposedly
for ‘eco-tourism’. Worse, most of the lands were placed under military control
as a “high security area.
“Since then the people
of Panama have been defending their lands and livelihood. Hence, the court
order was a product of a militant and unified action of Panama people,” stressed
Mariano.
“We
have been calling our government to hear our but they never listened to us. So,
on March 26, 2016, we occupied
our land amidst the vehement opposition of Air Force. When police attempted to
evict us, our ownership in Paanama lands was confirmed by the ruling of
Pothuvil magistrate court,” said P. Somasiri, a peasant leader of the Organization for the Protection of Panam Paththuwa (OPPP).
“Why only the Panama
lands are not yet given back to the people?
Why in Walikamam North in Jaffna, where lands were released under the same
cabinet decision, was given back to the people and they (people) have resettled
already? Something strange is happening. This is a violation of rule of law under good governance
of the government,” added P.
Somasiri.
On May 21, Panama
people took further step in rebuilding their Valukarama Temple. They placed
Buddha stature and planted Bo tree. This move was to show their ownership of
their village. About 40
young men and women joined the religious program led by Chief monk Rev. Paanama
Chandrarathana thero,”
“We hail the people
from Vesak Poya day, Panama, and Ragamvila people, for their continuing
struggle. We demand
for the urgent execution of the court decision and the Decision of the Cabinet,”
remarked Mariano.
"We call for genuine agrarian and aquatic
reforms in Sri Lanka so that all landless farmers and fishers would have access
and control over their lands, water and its resources for them to have decent
livelihood and dignified life," ended Mariano.
It can be recalled
that on February 24 to March 1, 2013, APC and the National Movement for Land
and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) conducted an International Fact Finding
Mission (IFFM) in Defense of Land and Livelihood in Panama. The IFFM team of 22
local and international participants from Pakistan, India, Nepal, Philippines,
Bangladesh, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, found out that the World Bank and the Sri
Lankan government, under President Mahinda Rajapakshe, were behind the Arugam
Bay Special Tourism Promotion Zone project that displaced 350 families from the
villages of Ulpassa, Egodayaya, Horewkanda, Ragamwela and Shastrawela.
The MONLAR and OPPP are members of the Asian
Peasant Coalition (APC).
Photo credit – NAFSO
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