Immediate Action By President To Reconcile The Alienated
By S. Sivathasan -January 17, 2015
S. Sivathasan
Both content and speed of action taken are heartening to the Tamil psyche. The news item of 15 January, given below connotes much.
Land to legitimate Owners
“President Maithripala Sirisena has advised armed forces chiefs to act fast to release private lands that have no security concerns in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Secretary Defence, B.M.U.D. Basnayake disclosed this yesterday.
Basnayake informed that the tri-forces Commanders had already appointed a committee in that regard and work was underway to ascertain the legitimate owners of lands in those areas.
He further said, President Sirisena had advised him and the three Commanders that apart from sensitive and vulnerable areas and lands that had a direct relevance to the three forces, remaining plots should be returned to the rightful owners.”
President’s Directive
“Release private lands that have no security concerns”, is the advice. What time horizon is encompassed? Is it July 1977 to present day in 2015? Quite correctly is it said that the devil is in the details. Definition and elaboration will be helpful to those affected to set their bearings right. If the widest coverage is envisaged by the government or expected by the people, de-freezing of High Security Zones is a part. Consultation with the two Provincial Councils will clarify issues. The citizens will deem transparency a right. Let the Forces Chiefs present, a fresh citizen-friendly image as a harbinger of the healing process, in both approach and action.
What the Decision Conveys
The President inducted for long in politics at local and national levels, understands well what deprivation of land means to owners. The sense of hurt becomes all too grievous when a particular community is singled out for harsh treatment. Yet more when it follows war defeat and the land is used for military occupation. Action delayed or denied would be a travesty of justice. President has cut the Gordian Knot and got away from many an entanglement.Read More
