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

Annual district seminar-Ampara district

DIFSO organized the annual seminar at Aleadiwembu Culturel center on 05 of August 2014.Kannagipuram one and two, Vinayagapuram, Oluvil, Thiraikeni, Adalachchanai groups members participated the seminar. NAFSO conviner and Aleadiwembu local government  chairmen Mr.T.Rathnaval participated as chief guests.
Village leaders shared their activities which they conducted last 12 month .and they explain how they empower with the trainings which they got from the DIFSO and NAFSO.
They have organized the exhibition of their  self employment projects. 

 

 

 

 

 

Change with reform -

We have conducted meeting on the reforming campaign at NAFSO training center last 28 th of July .
Main focusing  are
*How to face the Defense ministry circular
*How to challenge the court orders which violated our basic human rights .
*Evaluated our last month reforming activities
04 CSO organizations joint this meeting

Defence Authorities goes beyond its mandate:

This is the final version of the statement of the Lawyers Collective.

Defence Authorities goes beyond its mandate: Lawyers Collective

Attached Communication was issued under the hand of the Director of National Secratariat of NGOs, an arm of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently.

The MoD does not enjoy any specific legal authority under any statute whatsoever to control  freedom of speech and association of citizens,  who act collectively through civil society organisations. In the circumstances, it is clear from the attached Communication  that the Defence Authorities have  acted beyond its mandate.

Analysis of the Communication shows that the Defence authorities appear to believe that the civil society organisations do not have  any right to conduct "press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and dissemination of press releases".  All  governments that respect democratic values respect the rights of citizens to engage in such lawful activities. Only authoritarian regimes  prevent such democratic engagements.  If the Government of Sri Lanka is serious in preserving the democratic character of the country, it must respect its own Constitutional freedoms such as Freedom of  Expression and Association.

The communication of the Director of National Secretariat for NGOs  is an indication of the limited understanding of powerful Sri Lankan defense establishment on the civil liberties. The conduct of the MoD in issuing such communication  further strengthens the allegation that Sri Lanka has now become an Authoritarian State. 

JC Weliamuna & Lal Wijenayaka 

Conveners of Lawyers Collective

7th July 2014

Colombo