President
Maithripla Sirisena’s Friday 24 March 2017 gazette notification,
declaring nearly 100,000 acre lands adjacent to Wilpattu National Park
as “ forest reserve” has not surprised anyone as he has been
pampering the very Sinhala racists whom he pledged to contain. In fact this has been racists wish and President Maithri has fulfilled it.
Muslims in the area fear that this Gazette covers their lands too.
The past two years had shown the Muslims that President
Sirisena and his government have abandoned the island’ Muslims.
Instead, contrary to all his election pledges, he has been quite open
in implementing Sinhala racists’ agenda.
The
Gazette notification order was signed during President Sirisena’s
official visit to Russia despite Muslims submitting documentary evidence
to prove claims to their lands. Helpless Muslims in the area were
only trying to return to their lands to rebuild their lives.
The
lands involved were gazetted for what Forest Conservator General Anura
Sathurasinghe described was to prevent further encroachment by people.
Muslims
are fed up with the so called Yahapalanaya government’s hypocrisy.
This gazette notification shows that President Sirisena is promoting
Sinhala racist agenda against Muslims in the same way Rajapaksa regime
promoted racist elements against Muslims.
In
an article in January this year under the title President Sirisena’s
order to extend Wilpattu National Park-Is it to please racists and
deprive Muslims of their lands? I highlighted the Muslims’ legitimate claims to their lands. 
Here is the article;
President
Maithripala Sirisena’s order on 30 December 2016 to issue a gazette
notification extending the land area coming under the Wilpattu National
Park has shocked the Muslims. They fear that this announcement includes
nearby villages such as Marichichukaddy, Karadikuli and Palaikkuli
where Muslims lived for generations with valid title deeds before they
kicked out by LTTE.
Muslims
in the area pointed out that “we have not encroached even an inch of
land in Wilpattu or anywhere else. We only wanted to return to our own
lands and the allegation that Muslims encroach Wilpattu National Park
or destroying forests is calculated lie to prevent us from returning to
our lands”.
They
pointed out that relevant officials and all others involved are very
well aware that these were Muslim villages and their dilapidated houses,
schools ,mosques and other such structures still remain there. When
they tried to return to their lands after the war in May 2009 racist
elements created many controversies distorting facts giving ethnic twist
to prevent them from returning to their lands.
A six member team of academics led by Professor Shahul H. Hasbullah
of Peradeniya University prepared last year an extensive research
document on the issue of Musali South Muslims returning to their lands
under the title “Denying the Right to Return- Resettlement in Musali
South and the Wilpattu Controversy. Their plea was “Help Us Return
Home”. They appealed to all to help them return to their lands and homes
with dignity to end their more than three and half decade old
sufferings.
In
his author’s note Prof Shahul H Hasbulla stated that; “When the
“Wilpattu controversy” flared up, the turn of the debate surprised me. I
knew for certain that the contested area in question was not located in
Wilpattu. In a published newspaper article, I emphasized the issue of
returnees, which in my view, is the crux of the matter. But the ongoing
debate paid no attention to this issue. To the contrary, the public
discourse continuously labelled returnees as ‘criminals’.
The
bleak situation spurred me to take on the mission of uncovering the
truth. I visited all corners of “Musali South” in order to get to know
its history and its peoples, reflecting on the claims and counter claims
of land ownership. I learned from the people who were paddy, chena and
cattle farmers; sea, lagoon, river and tank fisher folk; teachers,
religious dignitaries; men, women, young and children of all
religions.
According to our findings people have lived in the Musali Region for generations. They toiled on
this land and roamed the region for various livelihood activities
without any interruption, while keeping the tradition of protecting the
forest and the environment. They are a part of the nature and culture of
the region. ”.
Muslims
sandwiched between successive governments and the LTTE suffered
immense and the plight of Musali South Muslims was no exception as they
too were kicked by the TTE within two hours’ notice. They suffered in
refugee camps and temporary shelters where they were longing for the day
to return to their lands and resume their traditional life.
While
Musali South Muslims were in refugee camps the Rajapaksa Government
had acquired major part of their traditional lands under various
pretexts knowing very Well that the owners would claim this land once
the ethnic war ends.
First
around 40% of their traditional lands in the Musali South was acquired.
This was followed by the acquisition of another 30 percent of their
land without any consultation or consent to establish security
Establishments. Added to this Muslims owned lands were acquired to
establish a naval agricultural project. Furthermore a Navy Regional
Commanding Office was established in two prominent villages and the
Muslims were prevented from entering their own lands, dwellings and
other properties.
Thus
Musali South Muslims were deceived and deprived large extent of their
traditional lands despite possessing genuine title deeds and permits.
Judging
from the subsequent anti Muslim campaign under Rajapaksa government
aimed at virtually eliminating the Muslim community it is not difficult
to now realize that Muslim owned Musali South lands were acquired to
deliberately deprive them of their traditional lands.
It
was under such circumstance came President Sirisena’s order to issue a
gazette notification extending the land area coming under the Wilpattu
National Park and declare it a ‘Wildlife Zone’ .He told the officials
to include all the adjacent forest areas of the Wilpattu National Park
that presently does not coming under the Wildlife Department.
Muslims of the area point out that;
- No Muslim driven out by the LTTE during the ethnic war ever entered the Wilpattu National Park or any other nearby area.
- Wilpattu National Park is situated in the North Western and North Central provinces and all resettled areas belong to Mannar District
- Southern border of Mannar District is Moderagama River ( Upparu).Wilpattu National Park is located south Moderagama in the Puttalam District.
- All resettled Muslim refugees who lived in their own land were resettled in the Mannar District
- All these resettled refugees have their own government issued annual permits , LDO permits and have their own private deeds which were given as early as 1905.
- Mosque built in 1940 and renovated in 1970 is still there in dilapidated condition with its Minaret and date of construction written on its front wall.
- There are tanks supplying water to paddy fields built more than a century ago.
- Those who went to resettle only tried to clear the jungle grown up during the 26 year period when they were in refugee camps.
Thus
the unfortunate Muslims from these three Muslim villages
Marichichukaddy, Karadaikuli, said that they did not encroach or do not
want even an inch of land from Wilpattu or anywhere else. Their re
settlement has nothing to do with Wilpattu National Park.
Muslims
asked the government to facilitate their return. It was under such
circumstance that President Sirisena signed on Friday 24 March 2017,
gazette notification declaring as “conservative forest” with immediate
effect.
According
to Mr. Sathurusinghe following the gazette notification presidential
and parliamentary approval will be needed to acquire or clear any land.
He said entry will be restricted and entrance would only be allowed for
educational or research purposes
Unfortunate
Muslims remain deeply frustrated s they find no one to turn to. Will
the so called Muslim parliamentarians come forward to ensure the rights
of beleaguered Muslims or continue to kiss the feet of the power to
ensure their positions and perks.
This gazette notification strikes at the very root of the government’s so called reconciliation efforts.