Land dispute in Panama
Posted on June 22nd, 2016
RANJITH SOYSA
According to reports the Police is planning to evict 50 odd farmer families from Panama if they do not vacate the lands occupied before 30th June 2016
It is indeed an act of cruelty by the Police and the other authorities for not allowing the peasant families to continue their activities on their ancestral lands which they have been occupying from the time of 1848 rebellion against the British colonialists. The Cabinet recently approved the release of the land to these families in February 2015, but, a powerful garment factory businessman/ politician in the area is determined to build a 5 star luxury hotel in the land and is dictating terms to the Police and the other government agencies to evict the poor farmers.
It has to be mentioned that the Pottuvil Police filed action against the occupants –case no 8455/PC/2009 -and the Pottuvil courts issued a judgement on 06-05-2015 saying that the petitioner –the Police- failed to prove that the land occupied by the parties was a forest reserve and the Court rejected the Police claims and allowed the occupants to continue their stay in the subject land. Yet. the Police was reactivated by the unseen forces and again filed a case on 26-11-2015 against these occupants. The Court again rejected the Police action by stating that it is wrong/illegal to file action repeatedly citing the same offense regarding which the Court has previously issued a judgement. Further, the Court stated that such action tends to waste the time of the respondents and affect adversely their day to day activities. The Court also mentioned that a person’s the right to live has to be protected and advised the Police not to violate the basic human rights through wasteful efforts.
The respondents appealed to the Human Rights Commission and the investigation report HRC/AM/105/10/B/OT was issued on 27.08-2010. This report also accepted that respondents should be allowed to occupy and engage in farming activities and if they have to be evicted it is necessary that a proper, government approved procedure should be used.
The Police is attempting again to take action, if the occupants do not leave from their land on or before 30 June 2016.in spite of two judgements already given in favor of the poor. Such a repulsive series of illegal activities against these poor occupants of Panama land is nothing but the violation of their of basic human rights.
The ordinary people are watching the situation with immense interest to see whether the justice will prevail.
RANJITH SOYSA
June 22nd, 2016 at 5:31 am
We do not need provincial councils which only promotes separatism. The provincial councils only duplicate the already existing system of ministry, district secretary, divisional secretaries, grama niladhari system which has functioned for decades. In addition, there are the municipal, urban councils and pradeshiya sabhas who elect their officials to ensure that there is local government representation and to ensure that local matters are dealt with. The ministry, district secretary, divisional secretaries, grama niladhari system is how government plans get implemented at the district, divisional and the grama niladhari level. The only thing the provincial councils do is duplicate this already existing system and is totally unnecessary. Since Sri Lanka is a small country. Therefore what is agreed at the parliamentary level in terms of plans can be implemented islandwide via the ministries. If anyone in any province wants to suggest anything innovative, they can do so via their MP at the parliamentary level. A small country such as Sri Lanka needs a strong central government and just one plan for the entire island to move forward. For this the existing ministry, district secretary, divisional secretaries, grama niladhari system is sufficient. At the local level there are the municipal, urban councils and the pradeshiya sabhas to take care of local matters.
June 22nd, 2016 at 8:17 am
Is the Police guilty of contempt of court by disregarding the rulings given by the courts?
Could the IGP and the Officer in Charge of the respective police stations be prosecuted for this offence or is there no law and order in the country today, and any court decisions against the interests of powerful politicians and businessmen, treated disrespectfully?
June 23rd, 2016 at 1:49 am
Ranjith; Subjects of Indian Empire have no human Rights. Within the Indian Union or the Indian Empire. Can you give me one example.
Indian Imperialists will go to any length to destroy the Sinhalese in the island.
June 23rd, 2016 at 5:28 am
This is what is happening as POLITICOS in Lanka gain more and more power, and the law abiding SLAS Officers, and other Law & Order folk are side lined.
Lanka headed toward dangerous terrain of Lawlessness …..