A Fundamental Rights Petition against the Land Grabbing and
destruction of livelihoods in Panama filed by a group of farmers and fishers
representing the Organization for the Protection of Panam-Paththuwa was taken
up for hearing by the Supreme Court on Thursday, March 28, 2013.
The defendants not being present, the case was postponed to
be taken up next on 10th July, 2013. A
three member panel of judges comprising of Rumy Marshook, Sathya Hettige, and
Eva Wanasundara presided.
The complainants seek justice over a number of counts
including physical attack, burning of their houses and belongings, forced
eviction, land grabbing, destruction of livelihood, threat and intimidation
etc., that continue unheeded and unaccounted for despite repeated protests,
official complaints and legal action.
The petitioners reported that the land they were evicted
from is now being built illegally under heavy security. They disclosed that the
Lahugala Pradeshiya Sabha objected the illegal construction of the land, and
later filed case in the Pottuvil Magistrate Court. The hearing last, of 19th
March 2013, the court had pronounced that the aforesaid constructions were
illegal and therefore should seize until decision is made.
three of the petitioners (L-R: P. Somasiri, U.
Aththanayake, P. Shankar Moorthy) who attended the proceedings
representing
the villagers leaving the court premises.