we need our land and home

Case study – Resettlement of Sri Lankan IDPs

The Mullikulam village is located at Musali divisional.secretariat division, in Mannar district in the northern province of Sri Lanka. The first settlers of Mullikulam village were lived since 1800 A.D. They are 100% Tamil by ethnicity and Catholics as their religious background. People were living with agriculture and fishing for their livelihood. Villagers have permanent deeds for agriculture lands mainly paddy fields up to 1200 acres of land within the village. They were rain fed by 5 tanks and water provided with major irrigation scheme with one tank in the village. Fishing was the other major occupation for most of the villages.

Mullikulam people were displaced in 1990 in first time in the history. They were displaced till 2002 the time of Memorandum Of Understanding, the peace agreement signed between Government Of Sri Lanka and LTTE. They were able to live in their village only 5 years and they became displaced again in 2007. When the final war began, military approached the people and said to vacate their homes immediately and without carrying anything. The promise was given to them that they will be returned home within 3 days and no need to bring anything belong to them. On the 7th September 2007, they vacated their houses with empty hands and have been living in many places around Mannar nearly 5 years now. There were more than 400 families living in Mullikulam when they were evicted. Most of them were living in Thalvupadu, Valkeipetrankandal, Thalaimannar, Nanattam, Madukkarai, and also at Mannar town for the displaced period. In Mullikulam area, there is a proposal to establish a naval base which needs 1000 hectares as Ravaya news paper, one national weekly reported. The 3 decades elongated brutal war caused serious damage to the lives and violated Mullikulam community's social, economic, cultural, environmental and political rights seriously. However, the demand of the people was to get back to their own houses in Mullikulam village.

They were attempted to get back to their own houses with the support of Bishop of Mannar, parish priest of Silavaturai and other priests of the diocese, many other officials including district secretary, divisional secretary, navy area commanders and NGOs Specially NAFSO involved with them. Due to the demand of the people, Bishop of Mannar together with other bishops approached the President and expected to find a solution. However, there was no positive response except the secretary to the defense ministry had agreed to visit the place and find a solution but there was no substantial response received by the community.

Millikulam people had attempted many ways to regain their land and homes back. They had approached all possible politician including the president, Resettlement minister, Ministerial officials, also approached all possible district government officials including district secretary of Mannar, divisional secretary of Musali, Navy commanders in the district, secretary of defense ministry, UNHCR, and church leaders. In August 2011, they organized a peaceful march in Mannar town, submit petitions to the authorities demanding their land back, called media conference, attended many of the meetings in the south to express their grievances and seek the assistance from the southern brothers and sisters concern. For these actions NAFSO supported and educated the people for organizing, networking, advocacy & lobby process. In fact NAFSO together with LST and few other local organizations have reported the case of Mullikulam people at the Universal Periodic Review [UPR], at Geneva last April. This will be taken up at the UPR sessions on Sri Lanka this October/ November. However, there was no positive response received from the authorities giving signal to resettle in their own village. When they got the leadership for their rights they were faced threaten from political sectors and government authorities but they never give up their target to resettle their own lands. In the mean time, these people were permitted to go to neighboring village. In a meeting the additional district secretary of Mannar expressed, "Mullikkulam people can go and resettle near Mullikkulam."

After long attempts, people are tired with all the burdens. They have made their minds to face the situation and had decided to go back to nearer village of Mullikulam which is Manangkadu and Periyakulam. However, so far they were not allowed to settle the place where they expected.

So they decided to settle at Marichchikattu with the aim of settle at Manangkadu village which is adjacent village of Mullikulam, since 15th June 2012.

Mullikulam people said they need to build their lives again after 22 years. So, now there are 212 families with 425 households come to the Marichchikattu jungle and stayed without any basic facilities. Sri Lanka Navy forces had put up two toilets and has provided one water tank which filled with drinking water on daily basis. So, these people request to help for building their livelihood again so they need fishing boats, nets, engines, lamps, water cans, mosquito nets, dry rations, kerosene and other basic materials for living etc.

NAFSO field officer work with these people to find out the basic needs. We have given dry rations for two weeks. In the same time we have done media actions to show the world for getting their facilities and pressure the government to give their basic facilities.

It is unbearable discrimination without any reason they were not allowed to return their original places. Government should think twice before they implement this type of decisions with the people who were badly affected by a brutal war. They should also be gained the dividends of peace in the country as proclaimed by the politicians and people always. So NAFSO has started lobbying to implement the LLRC recommendation too.

GANDI Citizen forum

Build the Gandi Citizen forum in Batticoloa.
NAFSO work with five villages in Bartti district .

01.Valikakandi
02.Koppaveli
03.Thumpalachcholai
04.Vrugamam
05.Kithul
All of them are IDPs resettlement villages after 2010 and 2011 .We organized focus group meeting in each villages and build common focus group.Finally they decided to foam citizen forum to protect their Rights.So they build the forum called GANDI citizen forum in batticoloa district in 04 September 2012.Lavina Hasanthi ,A.Jesudasn and priyankara costa from NAFSO Secretariat joint that meeting .
posted by priyankara costa

Anthropological survey

We have given training on Anthropological survey for the Field officers and volunteers in north and east at 2012 08 30 at NAFSO training center.We plan to do this survey in Mannar ,Trincomali,and Jaffna but field officer of the Batticolao also plan to do that with support from the Team .We select two villages in each district.They prepare the plan to finish this survey within one month .Facilitated by Anthropologist Mr .Sunil Ranasinha

Regional South Regional Workshop on Human Rights in Development

DIGNITY INTERNATIONAL organized the 2nd

Regional South Regional Workshop on Human

Rights in Development from 22nd – 29th July 2012 at

Goldi Sands Hotel in Negombo, Sri Lanka.

The

Program brought together 21 human rights activists and defenders from Bangladesh, India,

Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The facilitators for the workshop were Jerald Joseph

(Executive Director of Dignity International) andNayana Chowdhury (Sri Dorabji Tata Trust, India);with Law & Society Trust (LST) as the local organizer. Jerald Joseph welcomed everyone and gave a brief description on Dignity International. He thanked LST for its great support towards this program . Dignity International works globally and regionally, trying to bring together people from grassroots level, as transformation of knowledge has

always a priority in this organization. Mala Liyanage from LST welcomed everyone and explained about the work LST does, along with the challenges faced

in Sri Lanka

Panelists

Herman Kumara – Convener, National Alliance for Fisheries Solidarity (NAFSO)

Padmini Weerasooriya – Women’s ESC Rights with a focus on Free Trade Zone Workers

Pradeepa Sudarshani – Women’s Health and Housing Issues

Sandun Thudugala - Agriculture and rural issues

Moderated by:

B.Skandakumar - Senior Researcher, Law and Society Trust

Herman Kumara

Sri Lanka’s service sector is growing rapidly. The tourism master plan was prepared in 1984.

“Mahinda Chinthanaya” is the philosophy of the county. The government uses all the lands (coastal, agriculture, etc) for tourism, and built hotels on the coastal area after the Tsunami. There are 14 or 15 tourism zones along the coastal line in Sri Lanka,

transforming into the “wonders of Asia”. What is happening in the name of development?

More than one million farmers will be affected by the air taxi service. People’s culture and rights are violated. The access to the sea and livelihoods are violated, and the income of small scale fisheries contributes to the national income. The Government aims to bring 4 million tourists and

earn 8 million US dollars by 2020.Sea grabbing is happening in the North West of Sri

Lanka in the name of development. It is unjust. It results to security issues for free movement for the people. The land belongs to the Navy, nobody will be allowed within certain proximity. Prevention measures to enter the beaches are enforced and, beaches are covered with barbed wires and fences. The project must be stopped immediately to protect people’s livelihood. People came together to protest, but the army, navy and security forces were present

and intimidated the people. People who took part in the protest were threatened. The ESCR are violated and on the other hand, the safety of these people is at risk. Protesters are labeled as ‘anti- development people

Padmini Weerasooriya

In the tea and garment sectors, 85% of the workers in the Free Trade Zone are women. There are 300,000 workers in Free Trade Zones around the country. They are hired for cheap labour. Most of these women came from afar to work at the Free Trade Zones due to lack of employment in their provinces. They do overtime in order to earn more. According to the Government’s statistics, a family of four needs LKRs44,000/= to live. Both parents

have to work. The children are affected due this. In the last 30 years, the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) women have to operate more than one machine. They encounter health problems. The workers have to sign a logbook, even for toilet breaks. They are facing numerous problems. The men get into relationships with women at FTZ, and upon getting the women, the men abandon the women. These women are being stamped with abusive words and exploited in many ways. According to a recent survey, 60% of the FTZ women are suffering from anemia. More unsafe abortions are taking place, and due to the high chemical usage in factories, women

are diagnosed with leukemia. After the war ended, a lot of Tamil women have to

work at FTZ. But they are marginalized because the medium of communication at the Free Trade Zone are English and Sinhlala. These Tamil women workers are given different uniforms and are transported in different vehicles. The FTZ has been in existence in Sri Lanka for 35 years. Unfortunately, the workers at FTZ are denied to form trade unions.

Pradeepa Sudarshani

According to a famous saying, “The world exists through the rays of the Sun and the milk of the

mother”. 40% of people in this county earn less than USD2 per day.There are more women than men in Sri Lanka. Poverty affects women the most; they are suffering from malnutrition. As a result, they produce malnourished children. Media reports that the income from alcohol sales

has increased this year. The exploitation of women is increasing and Politicians, Principals, even Priests are involved in these offences. A lot of people in the county are not living.

The World Health Organization reported that 13% of the people in Sri Lanka suffer from psychological problems. Sri Lanka is placed on the 8th place in suicide ratings. Women have to face a lot of challenges. Free health services weakening and hospitals are being privatized.

The women are compelled to seek employment aboard even though migrant workers send the

highest amount of money back to the country. However, the Government is not bothered to take

care of their health. When they return, they have to face a lot of issues in the family. Hence, before implementing development projects, the government has to take care of the women migrant worker’s issues.12, 000,000 people in Sri Lanka are homeless. If there are forced evictions, the people should be provided with alternative housing. But this is not the

case in Sri Lanka. The government prioritizes more in hosting Indian film stars and organizing car races. We should forget about our difference and work towards equality”.

Sandun Thudugala

80% of the population still live in rural areas of Sri Lanka. Out of this 80%, 70% survives on

agriculture. The present government came into office with a huge support from the rural folks.

Nevertheless, their needs were not upheld during the development stages in the country

Agriculture should be able to ensure food security of its population, livelihood security of food producers and sustainability of resources. We have failed in all three sectors in Sri Lanka. More than 25% children are malnourished. It is a shame. 50% of the population does not receive 2,030 Kcal per day. Among the pregnant women 13.4% are underweight. 90% of the population living under poverty rate is part of the rural agricultural economy. Agricultural contributes around 12% to the GDP. Access to resources (land, water and seeds), heavy dependency on external inputs, and market access are the issues with regard to agricultural community. After the war, the High Security Zones (HSZ) are turned into economic zones. When the seeds are controlled, the food chain is automatically controlled. The main product of Sri Lanka is paddy. The politicians and their friends are controlling the paddy. The farmers continue to face

Numerous problems.1.2 million people in the world are facing hunger. Sustainability of resources - Soil fertility, water, impacts of climate change and loss of bio diversity. 20,000 farmers have died and more than 200,000 farmers are in the verge of dying because of arsenic.

Sri Lanka’s success stories were based on human development. Over the last 30 years, these

achievements have been undone.

Comments and questions:-

What is the minimum wage for the FTZ

worker?

_ The minimum salary is Rs7,900/-. It is decided by the wages board. There is no

Security for women workers at Free Trade Zones in Sri Lanka.

India faces the same problem; when there are small farmers their contribution to the GDP is not

considered. The farmers should be acknowledged as they are contributing to families. The government should be able to accept and acknowledge that. _ How is the campaigning situation with regards to the small farmers? The development trend is the same in South Asia.

Is the civil society taking any action against these development projects in Sri

Lanka?

o There is very little space for civil society to campaign. Before this, the government used

to target journalists and human rights defenders. Now, the government has begun

to curtail the activities of the civil society. The recent paddy farmer’s campaign was

named as an “NGO driven protest!” We are importing 85% of our dairy

products for consumption. We depend on imported food. Comment from a participant- In Bangladesh, we face the same problem in the garment industry. _ With USD 8million from the tourism, it ought to create more employment opportunities, don’t you agree?

o By 2020, Sri Lanka wants to bring 4 million tourists and earn 8 million dollars. 75,000

new jobs will be created and 25,000 rooms at hotels will be added according to the

Government. Tourism is seasonal. Rural population is used to agriculture and fishing.

We will be losing and not gaining through the current development. We are losing the space for the civil society in Sri Lanka. Platform for Freedom is working with media, civil society and

politicians.

_ Are there any laws to protect the farmers?

o No

The ESCR committee has made suggestions to the government. The government says it

will build 500,000 houses, but so far it has only built 11,000 houses.

Comment- How are we going to challenge the development project? The Government of Sri Lanka supported the elimination of terrorism. But after that, they started to crush the journalists and human rights defenders. What is happening now? We have a lot of international pressure. But, what about local pressure? The international pressure will not continue for a long time. There are 72 organizations which are on the ESCR committee in Sri Lanka. The document has to be a campaigning document. It is an issue between life and death. White van and extra

judicial killings continue in Sri Lanka during the post war period. We have to overcome the fear of psychosis. We have to challenge the government.

Posted by priyanakara costa