Why is it so difficult for the government to verify all that and give back our land?” asks Ms. Sellamma, sulking at the number of photocopies she has had to make for different petitions. “That’s where my daughter ran a small grocery store,” Ms. Sellamma points out. Although scattered, a key reason for the protests to persist for a month, according to protesters, is the opening up of democratic space. This message has to go to the south so that the people there appreciate our protest better.”For many, land is not only “home”, but also “food”. “Note that all the recent protests have been about natural resources – access to land or the sea, in case of fishermen, says Mullaitivu fisher leader A. Mariyarasa.

Source: The Hindu March 01, 2017 22:07 UTC