A continuous peaceful protest demanding the release of 2,400 acres of Tamil-owned land in Valikamam North entered its second day on Sunday, with demonstrators gathering at the Myiliddy junction.
The protest, which began on Saturday, is being led by local residents whose lands have remained under the control of the Sri Lankan military for more than three decades. Many of the families were forcibly displaced in the early 1990s during the military’s occupation of the Jaffna peninsula and have since been denied access to their ancestral properties.
Protestors held placards bearing messages such as “UN Commissioner, may your visit lead to the release of our lands” and “Is economic development meant for the people or the Sri Lankan military?” They also raised slogans calling attention to how the ongoing military occupation continues to deprive them of their livelihoods and fundamental rights.
The demonstration comes ahead of the arrival of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who is expected to visit Jaffna as part of a four-day official tour of the island. Protestors are calling on Türk to visit Valikamam North and to urge the Sri Lankan government to demilitarise the area and return civilian lands.
Despite repeated pledges by successive Sri Lankan governments to return occupied lands in the North-East, thousands of acres remain under the control of the military. The ongoing occupation has been widely criticised by Tamil civil society, human rights organisations, and international bodies, including previous UN High Commissioners for Human Rights.
Valikamam North, which includes key areas such as Keerimalai, Mayiliddy, and Palaly, remains one of the most militarised regions in the Tamil homeland. Large swathes of land have been transformed into military bases and luxury resorts run by the army, while former residents continue to languish in temporary shelters or live in displacement.
The protest is expected to continue until 25 June, coinciding with Türk’s visit to the region.
