“Today we are back to our lands” says Panama People
After forceful chasing
away from their lands by unknown armed persons, Paanama, Raigamwela, Sashtrawela
people were displaced since 17 July 2010.
However, it is well
known fact that there is no possibility to enter outside group into their lands
with out attention of military as they are within 500 meters away from their
lands.
"We can not say
exactly who but there is no possibility any group to enter our lands with arms
and chased us away without the support of military." Says Punchi Appuhamy,
a displaced but a landowner in the village.
Now the people are
ready to go back to their lands with the Cabinet decision. Cabinet of the newly
elected government after 08th January, decided hand over 340 acres in Ragamwela,
Sashtrawela villages.
"We do not want
any others land. We want our people's land back to our people. We are thankful
to Cabinet ministers and President and PM for their decision to return our
land." Said Rev. Paanama Chandraratana thero. "We want all people to
assist us to settle our lands in peaceful manner." Added Rev.
Chandraratana.
There are hundreds of
people eagerly awaiting to get back to their villages. But the leader of Paanam
Paththu Protection Organization P. Somasiri was the key player in the struggle,
a lagoon fisherman who lost his employment and land. He said at our meeting
yesterday, "there is a Cabinet decision to give our land back. The
Pothuwil magistrate court release us totally from the court case against us on
illegal tresspassing the land. The human rights commission of Sri
Lanka has recommended
to release the land. What we want is to allow us to go back to our lands
peacefuly." Somasiri said at a preparatory meeting held at Paanama
temple.
Today people are ready
to go to their lands while Police came to Somasiri's home last night. Spreading
the rumors that there will be arrests, shooting and not to allow people to get
back to their lands.
Bravo Panama Militant People, Bravo
Before they went to their land the ASP of
the Pothuwil police facilitated to bring the Ampara district secretary and
Lahugala divisional sectetary and had long and heat arguments with people
without success. The officials expect to follow all the legal steps anđ take
long time to settle the land dispute.
The people are in a
grave concern whether those Cabinet decisions would change if Mahinda Rajapakse
come into power by general election 2015 though the possibility to reelect
Mahinda and the crowd is highly unlikely. The people are gradually moving to
their lands and we will update the situation time to time.
Ampara District Secretary Meet Panama People
The Pothuwil ASP facilitated to bring both Ampara district secreary and Lahugala divisional secetary amidst to Paanama protestors though they did not say a single word than they will settle the issue soon. People disagreed and decided to move to their land amidst stern resistance by police.
Police Pose Stern Opposition to Panama people
Though they were
cooperated in the morning when people are decided not to listen the District
sectetary's advice and return to village the police did not want to cooperate
any more. Though there was no batton charge or tear gas people raised a stern
opposition to the community who attempted to enter in to their villages.
People Took One Step Back with a Plan to Take Two Step Ahead
People spent several hours in a shade of a tree near the entrance to the lands area they belongs and lived for more than 4 generations later forcefully taken by the previous government using "Un-identified Persons". Finally,Police took step to go to the court and get an prevention order on entering to the lands, under election law and regulations instead of revealing real situation to the court. a parliamentary election have been gazetted to be held on 17th August, during the time period of an election, gathering of group of people more than 5 is a violation of the law.
Men and Women village leaders discussed with the police and inform them that people are going to take one step back for now but only for two weeks time period. If authorities are failed to take necessary steps to settle the land issue, will be brake any barrier of authorities and enter in to the lands they lost five years ago.
Police verbally agreed the villagers and the people temporally left the place and returned to the "Fully Displaced Status" again only for another two weeks.
National Fisheries Solidarity Movement fighting against land grabbing together with the people in many districts of the country who are the real victims of the issue. Panama Issue is one of the main such issue and NAFSO working together with few other civil society organisations who's also fighting to establish a good governance in the country.
