Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 17:40 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Feb 25, Colombo: Challenging the selection of a multi-national company to excavate mineral sands on the coast between Nilaveli and Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka Marxist party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today filed a petition at the Court of Appeals.
JVP parliamentarians Bimal Ratnayake and Jayantha Wijesekara with the corporation of an inter-company workers union representing the party filed the petition.
Petitioners have named the Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama, Coast Conservation Department, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Sri Lanka Board of Investment and Environmental Development Authority as the respondents of this petition.
They have pointed out that the Minister of Industrial Development has selected a multi-national company to mine mineral sands from Pulmoddai following the approval given by the Cabinet of ministers on December 2nd last year.
The petitioners appealed the Courts to issue a suspension order on this decision pointing out that the project had been given to an Austrian company without adhering to an accepted tender procedure.
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Four house affected & 19 people displaced by fire in Kotagala
National Fisheries Solidarity , PPD Network And Praja Abhilasha Network involved in this issue. 25th february the Coordinator of PA have visited on behalf of these three network and Provided (some materials) to rebuild their houses through FOLISEB Lanka. also provided exercise books and other materials for education. here with few families received clothes too from our network.
Source from : Virakesari dated 24th February 2009
Refusal from the estste manegement for cultivating in the home garden
Source from : Virakesari dated 24th February, 2009
COLOMBO, 23 February 2009 (IRIN) - Food convoys for thousands of displaced in Sri Lanka's north remain suspended after more than a month, despite rising concerns over a growing food crisis.
"The security situation since 16 January has not been conducive for food convoys to go in," Adnan Khan, country representative for the World Food Programme [WFP] said in Colombo, citing concerns over small arms fire and possible landmines en route.
Since the middle of September, the Vanni (which includes parts of Kilinochchi and Mulaithivu districts, about 300 km north of the capital) has been a "no-go" area after security concerns by the government prompted the relocation of aid operations to the northern town of Vavuniya, within government-held territory.
Earlier this month, the UN food agency warned that the entire population of the Vanni faced a food crisis.
"Food assistance is urgently needed for those still trapped in the conflict zone," Khan told IRIN. "The resumption of convoys will only be possible if there is a lull in the conflict, but right now that's not happening."
According to the UN, tens of thousands of civilians remain in the Vanni after heavy fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1983.
WFP began food convoys to the Vanni on 2 October after its relocation from Kilinochchi in the Vanni.
A total of 11 WFP convoys comprising up to 60 trucks at a time continued until 16 January, when they were suspended following violent clashes that resulted in convoy personnel being trapped in the Vanni for almost a week.
An additional convoy carrying WFP food, but belonging to the government, was dispatched on 28 January.
Altogether 8,400MT of food assistance was distributed, including about 800MT of food that WFP procured locally.
Key to the overall operation was the government, according to Khan, as well as other stakeholders, including the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), which negotiated with the government forces and the LTTE for safe passage of the convoys into the conflict zone.
"There were a lot of parties involved in making the convoys happen," the WFP official said.
As WFP and others had withdrawn from the Vanni, government collaboration was particularly important in terms of security clearance, as well as the downstream distribution of the food to beneficiaries, he added.
Sea deliveries
"We have to find an alternative route to provide food for the internally displaced people since road transportation is impossible," S Divaratna, the commissioner-general for essential services, said in Colombo, according to the Defence Ministry.
On 18 February, the government sent 40MT of food assistance by ship to civilians sheltering along the north-eastern coast near Mullaitivu.
But this is just a fraction of what is needed.
The UN and other relief agencies believe up to 200,000 are still trapped in the Vanni, while the government estimates half that number.
"The question of sufficiency is directly linked to the question of numbers," Khan said.
According to WFP calculations, 40MT can only feed about 11,500 people for a week.
WFP sent 10MT of wheat flour by ship under the ICRC flag on 20 February and is in negotiations with the government on regular shipments via government-arranged ships.
WFP is also providing food assistance to some 35,000 ethnic Tamils who have fled to Vavuniya and are staying at 16 transit sites, primarily schools, in the area.
The government has asked WFP to be prepared for up to 50,000 displaced in Vavuniya; however, that number may be revisited.
"We need to be prepared together with the rest of the UN and NGO family to see how we can be of assistance," Khan said.
An earlier government plan envisioned that up to 100,000 people may flee south in need of assistance.
By: Mr. Herman Kumara
"The security situation since 16 January has not been conducive for food convoys to go in," Adnan Khan, country representative for the World Food Programme [WFP] said in Colombo, citing concerns over small arms fire and possible landmines en route.
Since the middle of September, the Vanni (which includes parts of Kilinochchi and Mulaithivu districts, about 300 km north of the capital) has been a "no-go" area after security concerns by the government prompted the relocation of aid operations to the northern town of Vavuniya, within government-held territory.
Earlier this month, the UN food agency warned that the entire population of the Vanni faced a food crisis.
"Food assistance is urgently needed for those still trapped in the conflict zone," Khan told IRIN. "The resumption of convoys will only be possible if there is a lull in the conflict, but right now that's not happening."
According to the UN, tens of thousands of civilians remain in the Vanni after heavy fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1983.
WFP began food convoys to the Vanni on 2 October after its relocation from Kilinochchi in the Vanni.
A total of 11 WFP convoys comprising up to 60 trucks at a time continued until 16 January, when they were suspended following violent clashes that resulted in convoy personnel being trapped in the Vanni for almost a week.
An additional convoy carrying WFP food, but belonging to the government, was dispatched on 28 January.
Altogether 8,400MT of food assistance was distributed, including about 800MT of food that WFP procured locally.
Key to the overall operation was the government, according to Khan, as well as other stakeholders, including the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), which negotiated with the government forces and the LTTE for safe passage of the convoys into the conflict zone.
"There were a lot of parties involved in making the convoys happen," the WFP official said.
As WFP and others had withdrawn from the Vanni, government collaboration was particularly important in terms of security clearance, as well as the downstream distribution of the food to beneficiaries, he added.
Sea deliveries
"We have to find an alternative route to provide food for the internally displaced people since road transportation is impossible," S Divaratna, the commissioner-general for essential services, said in Colombo, according to the Defence Ministry.
On 18 February, the government sent 40MT of food assistance by ship to civilians sheltering along the north-eastern coast near Mullaitivu.
But this is just a fraction of what is needed.
The UN and other relief agencies believe up to 200,000 are still trapped in the Vanni, while the government estimates half that number.
"The question of sufficiency is directly linked to the question of numbers," Khan said.
According to WFP calculations, 40MT can only feed about 11,500 people for a week.
WFP sent 10MT of wheat flour by ship under the ICRC flag on 20 February and is in negotiations with the government on regular shipments via government-arranged ships.
WFP is also providing food assistance to some 35,000 ethnic Tamils who have fled to Vavuniya and are staying at 16 transit sites, primarily schools, in the area.
The government has asked WFP to be prepared for up to 50,000 displaced in Vavuniya; however, that number may be revisited.
"We need to be prepared together with the rest of the UN and NGO family to see how we can be of assistance," Khan said.
An earlier government plan envisioned that up to 100,000 people may flee south in need of assistance.
By: Mr. Herman Kumara
Land Rights Campaign begins
Anjman Mozareen Punjab has once again started a campaign for land rights. 68000 acres of land is in possession of Military Farms and Army Welfare Trust. The land is located in Lahore, Okara and Pakpattan district of Punjab. The agricultural land is mainly cultivated by tenants.
The tenants were asked to become lessee in year 2000 by Musharraf dictatorship. The scheme was to hand over this land to multi national companies for corporate farming. The tenants resisted and formed Anjaman Mozareen Punjab (Punjab tenant Association). The AMP became a vehicle of resistance with the help of progressive political and social organizations.
The resistance by AMP became one of the most militant movements of peasantry in Punjab history. Instead of becoming lessee, they refused to pay the share, they were paying as tenants. The women played the leading role. Seven were killed, scores injured and hundreds arrested during the peaceful but militant movement.
During the movement, Pakistan People Party and Muslim League Nawaz promised to give this land to the tenants when they will come to power. A year has passed while both in power. Not much is done to fulfill this promise.
On 17 April 2008, over 5000 tenants and peasants participated in a peasant conference held at Okara Military Farms on the international day of peasants. They reminded the both parties to do what they promised.
We heard that three member's federal cabinet committee is formed to solve this issue. Not a single meeting of this committee took place during one year.
In November 2008, we revealed in a press conference that some agriculture land in Renala Khurd belonging to tenants is been allotted to some military generals and officers in 2007 by the then Punjab government of Pervaiz Ilanhi. We made it clear that we are the occupants of this land and we will not hand over this land to the military officers.
In December 2008, I reminded Mian Nawaz Sharif in a meeting at his residence about his promise. He was very keen to do something. He asked my contact and promised that he will take initiative to have a meeting with the tenants. There are no developments until now in this regard either. I also told him that the land is owned by Punjab government and military is occupying the land without any legal documents.
On 19 January 2009, over 2000 tenants gathered at Renalkhurd in a public meeting by AMP demand the land rights. The police occupied the platform in the morning and asked the organizers to cancel this public meeting. They refused and later when the peasants started to arrive in the tractor trolleys, the police fled from the place and the meeting went ahead.
On 16 February 2009, the AMP leadership including Mehr Abdul Satar, Nadeem Asharaf, Shabir Choudry, Liaqat Ali alongside with Peoples Right Movement convener Asim Sajad addressed a press conference in Islamabad. Daily Dawn reported the press conference in detail with the title "tillers of military farms seek ownership rights". The report says, "When the state repression at Okara Military Farms was at its peak in 2002 and 2003, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif spoke out in favour of the tenants and promised that one of their first action upon coming to power would be to withdrawal all false criminal cases against the tenants and allot them the land they had been tilling over 100 years. The APM and PRM office bearers pointed out that a year's time was sufficient for the elected government to take the necessary measures to transform property rights to the tenants".
The AMP leadership has decided to organise more public rallies during the next two months. On 29 February 2009, a public rally will be organized at Depalpur, On 12 March at Kulyana Estate Okara, on 29 March Lahore Pengali Military Farms and on 16 April, a peasant conference will be held at Okara Military Farms.
They have decided to print posters, leaflets ands stickers to fly post all over the country. It is estimated that over 20,000 peasants will attend the Okara conference on 16 April 2009. The conference will be attended by the peasant representatives from all over the country and internationally, The AMP is part of the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee. PKRC has decided to coordinate the campaign and work alongside with AMP in mobilization.
by:Mr.Herman Kumara
The tenants were asked to become lessee in year 2000 by Musharraf dictatorship. The scheme was to hand over this land to multi national companies for corporate farming. The tenants resisted and formed Anjaman Mozareen Punjab (Punjab tenant Association). The AMP became a vehicle of resistance with the help of progressive political and social organizations.
The resistance by AMP became one of the most militant movements of peasantry in Punjab history. Instead of becoming lessee, they refused to pay the share, they were paying as tenants. The women played the leading role. Seven were killed, scores injured and hundreds arrested during the peaceful but militant movement.
During the movement, Pakistan People Party and Muslim League Nawaz promised to give this land to the tenants when they will come to power. A year has passed while both in power. Not much is done to fulfill this promise.
On 17 April 2008, over 5000 tenants and peasants participated in a peasant conference held at Okara Military Farms on the international day of peasants. They reminded the both parties to do what they promised.
We heard that three member's federal cabinet committee is formed to solve this issue. Not a single meeting of this committee took place during one year.
In November 2008, we revealed in a press conference that some agriculture land in Renala Khurd belonging to tenants is been allotted to some military generals and officers in 2007 by the then Punjab government of Pervaiz Ilanhi. We made it clear that we are the occupants of this land and we will not hand over this land to the military officers.
In December 2008, I reminded Mian Nawaz Sharif in a meeting at his residence about his promise. He was very keen to do something. He asked my contact and promised that he will take initiative to have a meeting with the tenants. There are no developments until now in this regard either. I also told him that the land is owned by Punjab government and military is occupying the land without any legal documents.
On 19 January 2009, over 2000 tenants gathered at Renalkhurd in a public meeting by AMP demand the land rights. The police occupied the platform in the morning and asked the organizers to cancel this public meeting. They refused and later when the peasants started to arrive in the tractor trolleys, the police fled from the place and the meeting went ahead.
On 16 February 2009, the AMP leadership including Mehr Abdul Satar, Nadeem Asharaf, Shabir Choudry, Liaqat Ali alongside with Peoples Right Movement convener Asim Sajad addressed a press conference in Islamabad. Daily Dawn reported the press conference in detail with the title "tillers of military farms seek ownership rights". The report says, "When the state repression at Okara Military Farms was at its peak in 2002 and 2003, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif spoke out in favour of the tenants and promised that one of their first action upon coming to power would be to withdrawal all false criminal cases against the tenants and allot them the land they had been tilling over 100 years. The APM and PRM office bearers pointed out that a year's time was sufficient for the elected government to take the necessary measures to transform property rights to the tenants".
The AMP leadership has decided to organise more public rallies during the next two months. On 29 February 2009, a public rally will be organized at Depalpur, On 12 March at Kulyana Estate Okara, on 29 March Lahore Pengali Military Farms and on 16 April, a peasant conference will be held at Okara Military Farms.
They have decided to print posters, leaflets ands stickers to fly post all over the country. It is estimated that over 20,000 peasants will attend the Okara conference on 16 April 2009. The conference will be attended by the peasant representatives from all over the country and internationally, The AMP is part of the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee. PKRC has decided to coordinate the campaign and work alongside with AMP in mobilization.
by:Mr.Herman Kumara
Friday, February 6, 2009
The razing of houses continues along the sewage drain that extends from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to the new sports facilities behind INA market.
These are pictures taken this morning in the Kotla Mubarakpur stretch.
In the 35-40 years that these families have dwelt here, their homes have been razed twice before. As this is the third time, they have learnt to cope, being that their livelihoods are here and they hope, as promised before the last election, that all the dwellers here would get pukka houses nearby. This being their main incentive, apart from their existing livelihoods nearby, makes them determined to continue to stay in the rubble.
The local MLA has been hiding from them since the houses were razed, they said.
Into the third day now, they have reconstructed makeshift homes which they dismantle each morning. The police trouble them all day. At night, poles and plastic sheets again reconstruct a shanty town. Some have shifted to the pavement across the road, where a few homes that already existed were not touched. Others have set up huts in a nearby park.
Two small temples have been left standing. The larger temple is already expanding its footprint, as new barbed wire demarcates extra area for expansion. "We have to do this. Look how small my baby is. Can he live in the open in this cold?" a mother said. The night temperatures touch 11*. She said the temple belongs to her father in law.
The grand dog belongs to 'someone very big in the supreme court' who owns a cargo/tempo service. A large plot within this area of demolished huts is used for parking his vehicles. These tempos were not touched by the bulldozers.
The toilet with a cemented WC has been built over a sewage pipe. 'If they bulldoze that, sewage will explode over them,' I was told, and the morning mist comes over the site and opens the sewage drain. Huts multiplied into hundreds in this ugly, filthy drain over the past 45 years.
Families, buffaloes, pigs, and geese, all lived in utter squalor.
They used the material people like me threw out to build themselves homes.
Gently he chisels intact bricks free to use again.
A shoe and a ball of wool. Signs of lives lost in the rubble
These were walls and windows
Behind a temple left untouched. A new barbed wire fence. Huts that come up each night and are taken down each morning.
This is the temple with idols on the side wall just above the rolled tarpaulin, and nightly huts visible behind.
Her home, her child, her work.
This bathroom has a sover braided charpoy for one wall.
Children are our future.
reflecting out times
' We shifted here.'
' I built this toilet with my own hands.'
Today those huts behind are to be razed.
Strange how raising huts and razing huts sounds just the same in English, but
to Delhi, by and large, either process makes no difference.
source by: Mr.Herman Kumara
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