SL Supreme Court to inquire into FR application against Champoor lands acquisition

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 July 2012, 23:37 GMT]
A three-member bench of the Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Monday decided to take up the Fundamental Rights Application filed by four Tamil-speaking farmers, a Muslim and three Tamils, against the appropriation of their traditional paddy lands in Champoor in Moothoor East in Trincomalee district, for inquiry on October 11.

The petitioners have cited the relevant authorities for the acquisition of the lands left by Champoor villagers followed by a massive military operation launched by the Sri Lanka Army in 2006.

The Colombo government, engaged in structural genocide in the country of Eezham Tamils, has now issued an extraordinary gazette notification stating that these lands are needed for mega development projects.

These Tamils uprooted from Champoor area due to SL military operation have been staying in camps at four places, Kaddaipa'richchaan, Manal-chenai, Ki'liveedi and Paddith-thidal as they have been not allowed by the Colombo government to return to their own lands.

The dry ration relief provided to these uprooted Champoor villagers under the World Food Programme has been stopped for the last seven months as a ‘collective punishment’ since they refused to accept alternative lands elsewhere proposed by the Colombo government.

The petitioners have filed the FR application against the SL government move and urged the court to revoke the gazette notification as it violates their fundamental rights.

The FR application filed by four farmers was taken up on Monday before a bench of the Supreme Court presided by the Chief Justice Ms Shirani Bandaranayke. The other members of the bench were Justice Nihal Gamini Ameratunga and Justice S.Sripavan.

After submission by Counsels for the petitioners, the court unanimously decided to take up the FR application for inquiry on October 11.

President Counsel Kanag Easwearan with Senior Counsel M.A.Sumanthiran and Attorney-at-Laws Bavani Fonseka and Arulanantham appeared for the petitioners.

Related Articles:
20.07.12   Acute malnutrition prevails among uprooted Champoor families
07.07.12   Colombo's new highways scheme genocidal demographic change i..
21.02.12   Sri Lanka plans ‘foreign’ enclave to balance India in Trinco..
19.12.11   Champoor uprooted Tamil families live in fear due to continu..
09.09.11   Champoor power plant, an ominous threat to public health
23.05.11   Uprooted Champoor Tamils show resolution to get back their l..