Keppapulavu has arguably been one of the more contentious sites in the post-war context. It witnessed one of the first protests against military occupation following the end of the war. The SF Headquarters currently occupies the land where the Keppapulavu community once lived.

Summary

Villagers from Sooripuram, Seeniyamottai, Keppapulavu and Pilakudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu District got displaced during the final phase of the war as government forces swept over the final strongholds of the LTTE in May 2009. The villagers are of two origins. A small percentage of Maveerar families (families that were relocated by the LTTE of their cadre killed in combat), and original residents of the land who have been in the area for over 100 to 200 years. Those displaced were taken to Menik Farm camp in Vavuniya and were kept against their will until the closure of the camp in 2012.

Once they were released from Menik Farm in 2012, close to 360 families from Kepapulavu were unable to return to their land due the Security Forces Headquarters that had been established during the time of their displacement. The families were offered alternate land in the adjoining Seeniyamottai as a temporary measure. To date, almost 10 years since their return, the Government has not released the full extent of their lands despite numerous promises that were made. The villages have initiated a number of protest campaigns including a street side protest which was held continuously for over 4 years. Their continued protests had won them some demands, with parts of the lands released in 2017. However, they were compelled to suspend their protest due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The state fails to engage them in meaningful negotiations and there is no certainty in their futures. Their lives are defined by the injustice they experience.

The Oddusudan Divisional Secretariat in Mullaithivu district comprises the villages of Sooripuram, Seeniyamottai, Keppapulavu, and Pilakudiyiruppu. Residents in all these areas were forcibly displaced from their lands (approx. 520 acres) by the military in 2009. These lands were immediately taken over by the military and Army and Air Force bases were built established on these lands. By 2017, following the protests, approximately 350 of the 520 acres were released to the people. Currently, 171 acres still remain under the occupation of the Army on which the Mullaitivu Security Forces Headquarters is locarted. On part of the land taken over (171 acres) there existed a school - the Mullaitivu Keppapulavu Government Tamil School, a church, a multipurpose cooperative society, a nursery, a community hall, five common wells, a play ground, a Christian cemetery and a Hindu cemetery. The displaced families have a total of approximately 120 school going students.

The generations old livelihood of the villagers in Keppapulavu was cultivation and fishing. The Security Forces Headquarters is situated in the land in which the Keppapulavu community once lived which had direct access to the agricultural and fishing waters of the lagoon. One of the main concerns of the villagers is that the military is keeping fertile lands which they once used as their income, planting trees and farming, which is now benefiting the military while its previous residents are struggling with their day to day life. The communities are unable to engage in their traditional livelihoods from their alternate land and face many economic and social issues as a result.

The return of the Rajapaksha government in 2019 discouraged a number of protestors. The prolonged campaign also resulted in differences within the community – with some being disheartened and weary and willing to accept whatever alternative that was presented. Their campaign suffered a further setback due to the COVID-19 outbreak which banned gatherings and protests. The outcome of their demands are inconclusive and there is no sight of a permanent solution to their ongoing issues.

Summary of issues

In September 2012, 150 families were relocated from Menik Farm to the ‘Keppapulavu Model Village’ an area formerly known as Sooripuram, situated adjacent to their original villages. It was uncleared land which people described as “in the middle of nowhere”. Those ‘dumped’ there were not given any assistance to put up shelters. They ended up constructing shacks from scraps of material taken from Menik Farm. The 150 families were requested to sign a form accepting their new lands by the former Government Agent of Mullaitivu. In January 2013, a further 146 families settled in Sooripuram. They stayed with host families and relatives in the area.

A total of 171 acres of land in Keppapulavu is yet under military occupation. When the villagers got displaced, they left with nothing, and they have been offered ¼ acre plot of land in an alternate area with no access to their traditional livelihood. Those who have been resettled in model village in Sooripuram have got plots of 20 perches. They have since planted coconuts, mangoes, bananas and some other trees which have started bearing fruit. Permits have been provided for these lands. The houses they have been provided with was said to cost Rs.350,000, but it is actually worth much less. The walls of the houses are cracking, and there were no wells provided. Hence the villagers have dug their own wells. The toilets are just a hole with planks on top, which are often destroyed in the rains. If they are given their lands back or an alternate land is provided, they stand to lose the gains from their crops they have cultivated, like coconut, mango, etc.

The majority of the villagers are fisherfolk who had easy access to the lagoon and sea from Keppapulavu. From the alternate lands offered they do not have direct access to engage in fishing. They encounter several economic and social problems as a result. It is impossible for the villagers to rely entirely on daily wage labor. Villagers engage in all forms of activities to generate an income. Within the model village ‘Vadiyan’ (a form of local alcohol) is being produced and sold giving rise to numerous other social problems. The people reared cattle prior to their displacement during the war. They no longer see their cattle in the area. 21 wells in the area have been completely closed. The school well was built 2 years before the villagers were displaced and is now fully closed. These were new wells that were cemented and built with stones. People wonder if those who were massacred during the last phase of the war in 2009 or the Tamils who were made to disappear were buried in those wells. They stated that this could be another reason why the military are refusing to leave this area. There is limited public transportation services available and particularly school children find it difficult to attend the closest school located 4km away. They have asked for the services of a CTB bus but have not provided the service.

Highlights of their struggle

The community has attempted a variety of strategies from meeting political leaders, including the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, writing appeal letters, organizing protests and filing cases. The villagers of Keppapilavu have been agitating for 4 years for the release of their lands.

Prior to their release from Menik Farm, in 2010, the original residents of the land were summoned by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa who stated that the land was provided to Maveerar families. The residents proved their claim to the land with 60 deeds and 20 permits which they took with them. After this they received a letter from the secretariat that this land was for the people, however, nothing happened thereafter. In 2011 an appeal was filed at courts by the residents.

The protestors are mainly women and they had been continuously protesting for over 4 years. It is they who sit in the protest hut through seasons of scorching heat and heavy monsoonal rains, and the sometimes bitterly cold nights in the dry zone. Their days including paid labour and all the unpaid care work is organized around this political action. It has taken a huge toll on their health and wellbeing.

On 24th March 2016 the people resorted to conduct a fast on to death protest. On the third day the Chief Minister (CM) of the Northern Provincial Council via a letter had promised to look in to the matter and provide a solution within three months. Upon this promise, the fast was terminated.

On January 30, 2017, the state announced that the remaining land would be released. However, as this release of land did not take place, 138 families from Keppapulavu, commenced a continuous sit-in protest outside the entrance of the Security Force Headquarters, which was also the entrance to their lands. These families were demanding the release of 482 acres of land, which included their community buildings.

In April 2017, protest leaders, accompanied by Tamil politicians, met with the army and reached an oral agreement that 100 acres would be released. The release date was once again postponed.

On August 2017, the military released 243 acres of occupied land in Keppapilavu, to their original owners. Later that month, the Resettlement Minister, D.M. Swaminathan, told the people that the Cabinet had approved for his Ministry to pay Rs. 148 million to the Army Commander to relocate army buildings and equipment located in the 111 acres of land that were to be released. The people have questioned as to why Rs. 148 million that are in principal public funds allocated for people’s resettlement is being “gifted” to the Military in exchange for returning people’s lands.

In June 2018, a meeting was held at the Karaithuraipattu Divisional Secretariat, with the 55 persons who owned lands within the occupied area, amounting to a total of approximately 60 acres in Keppapulavu, to discuss the possibility of legally acquiring and paying compensation for their lands. Five families agreed to receive monetary compensation and the rest refused on the basis of wanting to return to their lands. Those who refused continue to protest for the return of their lands.

On the 26th of January 2019 villagers of Keppapulavu mainly women, marched 2 kilometers towards their military occupied lands, as part of their protest against the illegal occupation of their lands. Close to the main entrance of the army camp, they were met by approximately 45 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 that were parked to deliberately obstruct them from gathering near the camp gates. The protestors had intended to sit opposite the camp gate until such time that they received a written assurance from the state on the release of their lands. On the next day, the protestors were informed that a court order dated 27th January 2019 ordered them to maintain a distance of 75 meters from the army camp.

On the 27th of January a court order was given that the protestors are to maintain a 75-meter distance between the protesting site and the army camp premises which the protestors adhere to. 7 times cases have been filed against the protest activists.

Latest Update

People who have already resettled nearby the army camp face many difficulties because of the army camps. The livelihood of these people is animal husbandry. Therefore cows go inside the camps. Army attacked the owners of the cows saying that they willfully sent the cows inside the camps.

The people have decided to file a case regarding the return to their land. People don’t accept the alternative lands provided to them. They were quoted saying “This is our native lands. There are schools, kovil and other institutions in those lands. We will not yield our lands.”

There is a plan going on to construct a university in Kepapilavu. There are 44 families (65 Acres) in that land and they don’t have any legal documents for the land. People received a letter form DS saying that the people in the land should vacate from the lands within 14 days. People say that they are not against development. But they demand that development projects do not jeopardise their livelihoods and rights.

Key demands

Release of all remaining occupied lands and removal of the security forces from all civilian spaces
To be given full access to the sea and sources of livelihood so they can restore their livelihoods
To be permitted to keep the Model Village houses given to families over the course of their displacement
To be provided with adequate material and financial assistance to rebuild their lives, including the return of boats, nets and other resources they had left behind in 2009
To rebuild/develop community infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, cooperatives and other such infrastructure
All Sinhala settlements should be stopped
Decrease the military as the war has ended, and there is no need for military presence.
An international inquiry is necessary, and an international body should ask the military to leave as they have no faith in local mechanisms.
Military should not intervene into the problems of the public.
A system similar to the Chelvanayakam-Dudley pact in relation to plans related to land.
Request support for their protests; so that they can have a big protest at least once a month to gain momentum.
To help take the news of their protests and issues to the international community, so that the government will have pressure from the international community.

Last Updated on 21.03.2021