Tamil landowners in Valikamam North, Jaffna, continued their protest for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday, demanding the return of over 2,400 acres of land still occupied by the Sri Lankan military within the so-called ‘High Security Zone’ (HSZ).
In a powerful assertion of their rightful ownership, landowners brought and displayed their official deeds at the protest site, held at the Myiliddy junction. The demonstrators are demanding that the Sri Lankan state release their private lands, which have been held under prolonged military occupation since the height of the armed conflict.
The protest began last Saturday and has seen a continuous presence at the site, with participants preparing and sharing meals together. Determined not to leave, they have vowed to continue their campaign until their lands are returned.
Many of the lands in Valikamam North were seized by the military during the 1990s, displacing thousands of Tamil families. Despite repeated pledges by successive Sri Lankan governments to return the land, large swathes remain under military control, often used for camps, farming, or commercial ventures operated by the army.
The protest highlights the ongoing struggle of Tamils in the North-East for the restoration of their land rights and an end to militarisation, more than 16 years after the end of the armed conflict.
