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Another Jaffna resident wants to return to his land in the HSZ
Another resident in Jaffna has filed a case claiming that his fundamental rights have been violated by the Army's decision to deny him access to his land, which is said to be within the High Security Zone of the security forces.

The petition was filed by Shanai Thangarajah, a resident of Pandattarippu, Jaffna. He has cited the Justice Minister, Army Commander and Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Palaly, Jaffna as respondents.

He claimed that even though he made several inquiries from the security checkpoint at Tellippalai to resettle in his own land he had been turned down saying it is within the High Security Zone.

He claims that the decision of the Army not to permit him to occupy his house and continue with his lawful occupation is a violation of his rights to equality, freedom of movement and his right to choose his residence within Sri Lanka.

He states that the main reason for the Army to prevent him from resettling in his own village is that the Kollonkady area comes within the High Security Zone.

He said that according to his understanding there is no legal basis for the concept of a high security zone in the North. The petitioner is a 63-year-old farmer who had been cultivating betel which brought him a monthly income of Rs. 15,000 per month. After he had been displaced in June 1990 due to military operations, he had been living on dry rations provided monthly by the government, valued at Rs. 1008.

He is requesting Court to grant him permission to live in his own land and continue his cultivation. He also requests compensation in a sum as may be determined by the Court. The petition will be supported next week by his lawyer A.Vinayagamoorthi. In a similar case, a resident who had been deprived of returning to his home in an area described as a High Security Zone, had been granted permission by court to return.

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