Statement on the ongoing struggle by the villagers of Keppapulavu to reclaim their lands

30^th January, 2019

Statement on the ongoing struggle by the villagers of Keppapulavu to reclaim their lands

We, the People’s Alliance for the Right to Land (PARL), are concerned about the way in which the Police dealt with protestors in Keppapulavu, Mullaitivu, last weekend, in their demand for the release of their lands. On the morning of the 26^th of January, 2019, a group of courageous and resolute women from Keppapulavu, marched about two kilometers towards their military occupied lands, to demand for their release. As they walked towards the main entrance of the army camp, they were met by a large number (approx. 45) of Police officers and at least five police vehicles (including a bus, lorry, jeeps and a car), parked outside the camp gates. The group of women were soon joined by more displaced villagers, as they stood in front of the Police vehicles parked in manner to deliberately obstruct the protesters from gathering opposite the camp gate. The protestors intended to sit opposite the camp gate until such time that they received a definite and written assurance from the authorities regarding the release of their lands.

There was constant surveillance by a military personnel in civil, who was photographing and filming protestors, observers and their vehicles, from inside the camp, on both Saturday and Sunday, whilst a team from PARL was there in support of the community, to observe and report on the protest.

On January 24^th at about 7.30pm, the Police served summons to Mrs. K. Chandraleela and Mrs. Indrani Vivehanandan to appear in court the following day (25^th). The Mulliyawalai Police had made a petition to the Mullaitivu Magistrates Courts about the possibility of a protest on the 25^th of January, but, the Courts had upheld the people’s right to protest, and instructed the Police not to obstruct. The Magistrate had gone on to instruct the respondents to not block the roads, throw stones at the camp or cause any disruption that would cause any public hindrance.

The Police at the site on the 26^th morning said that they were there to ensure that the Court Order was adhered to. However, it was very clear right from the onset, that the Police had no regard for the protestors, their rights or the directives issued by the courts reinforcing their right to a peaceful protest. This begs the question as to why the Police are more insistent on restraining legal land owners from protesting, rather than in questioning the legality of the army occupation. Police vehicles and personnel were stationed in strategic places by the side of the road, and in the shade, compelling the protestors to stay hidden from view behind the Police bus, or to stay out in the burning sun. We raise concerns regarding the Police restricting the community from cooking their meals in the shade, the military cutting off water supply to the public utility outside the camp, and depriving basic human considerations for a community displaced from their own lands. The people present, including the elderly and children, were greatly inconvenienced and harassed in their effort to exercise their rights reaffirmed by the Court Order.