Militarization not only from North but also spread out to the South

This poster display in the southern area .It says many thing

 

International Day Against Enforced Disappearances -At Vavuniya

Most of the CSOs leaders,Members,religious leaders,Political leaders ,Women and men whose relatives were disappeared participated this seminar which was conducted in Vavuniya urban council hall on 30 th August 2014.

Most of the CID members stay around the hall

Most of the CID members stay around the hall

where our children

where is my child 

my husband disappeared 

Commemorate Hiroshima Day on 17th

The People's Cultural group which NAFSO represents organized a cultural program last Sunday at NAFSO secretariat.
There were two main programs conducted at the program
Art workshop and exhibition
Seminar on Hiroshima and initiatives towards Peace and Reconciliation.
The children those attended were guided with the nature and the people and allow them to draw arts by their own.
In the afternoon, Dr. Sunil Wijesiriwardena who was the main speaker shared how to face the present socio- cultural, economic and political crisis through education and building small groups in the grass root level to national level.

The youth and adult who attended the WS shared their difficulties why they are reluctant to come forward amidst all these tensions.
We are looking forward to bring the all possible groups to work together.

land grabbing in Trincomalee

When you see this photos you can realize many things
These places used and owned by the people but due to the war these people displaced. Although people planed to resettle these land  after 2009 they were not allowed. Thousands of Acers grabbed in Nelaveli road . 

Get education for anhancing the knowledge

There was education program on VGGT [Voluntary Guidelines on the responsible Governance of Tenure of Land Fisheries and Forests.],VGSSF[Voluntary Guidelines  of Small scale fisheries ] and Reforming change  16 th of August at Trincomalee District cooperative hall. District comity leaders ,CSO leaders and Fisher cooperative leaders  participated the program.

   

Panama people campaign for their land

leaders of the Panama got together with CSO leaders and discussed their present issues of the their land on 06 of August 2014 at Panama Buddhist temple. We found the threaten that people faced from the security before the meeting because people were blocked and asked not to participate the meeting ,and also high officers of the Army came to temple and discussed with Buddhist monk not only that Five CID Member came and following the CSO leaders .So people asked one question .Do we have freedom to express our issues?
This is the reality of the rule of low .
How ever people who participated the they have big confidence to get their land .

        

Way forward tothe rights

we have conducted the NAFSO General body meeting on 07 th and 08 th at NAFSO Training center
Network organization coordinators, leaders of the general body and field staff participated that discussion .

 

Change with reform

We have conducted education work shop on VGGT ,VGSSF on 15 th of August at Kopavelli community hall in Batticoloa District .In the same time  discussed on change with reform.All the participant expecting the change but they also very much concern on reform.35 participant from 06 villages of the area participated that meeting .
Then they discussed with GRAMA NILADARI   on the drinking water issue because of the drought  they faced big trouble for the water.GN got the issue and promised to  discuss with DS.   

President of  GANDI forum explain the situation of the area

GN got the Information on the water issue

Land rights training for the leaders

NAFSO is leading land rights campaign among affected people around the country.  Kalpitiya fisherfolk communities affected by tourism zone in Kalpitiya is one of the area where we work. Irudeniyaya communities around 13 villages affected with the proposed elephant corridor from Kahalla- Pallakele wild life sanctuary to Hakwatuna oya reservoir. Mullikulam community affected with militarization and then tourism promotion in the area.  Negombo people affected from tourism promotion and islands of the lagoon are being occupied by investors. Simillarly, Paanama people in the east coast are face military threats at the beginning and now the issue is same as many other places. The military occupied land now converted to tourism and Paanama Lagoon Cabana is running by Navy with super class rates.
All these places, it is farmers, fishers, fish workers and women are the worst hit with these activities.
How to face these issues is our dilemma. But this should not undermine the brave and committed engagements of Somasiri, Dinesh, Pathmanathan, Suba, Kumari, Shirani, Abey, Saman and many men & women in those places.

We have conducted the land right training  for these leaders at NEGOMBO NAFSO Training center on  09 th and 10 of August .

Main focus 

*To conduct the Social analyzes to understand the issues and found the root courses.

*To Educate  on VGGT and GSSSF
*Educations of Land Law and UN mechanization.
*To prepare action plan for the Future