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| Sunday, 27 March 2005 |
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Editorial
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Buffer zone goes to HRC by Jayantha Sri Nissanka A Civil Society Organisation has handed over a petition against 100 meter buffer zone to the Human Right Commission (HRC) on Friday claiming that this rule has caused immense difficulties for thousands of people. Executive Director Dumidu Punchihewa of the Setha Sri Lanka Development Foundation has made the complaint against Chairman of the Urban Development Authority, IGP and TAFRAN officials. He has requested Chairman of the Human Right Commission to take action against these officials for not allowing people to rebuild their houses and commence business in their lands.Punchihewa also plans to take legal action against the buffer zone decision, according to HRC official. When interviewed Chairman of the Disaster Relief Monitoring Unit of the Human Rights Commission Lionel Fernando said that any citizen or organisation has the right to take action against the Government under the democratic and human rights norms. But the Government has considered the well-being of the majority of people. That may be the reason to impose the 100 meters buffer zone in the south and 200 meters in the East, he said. If the Tsunami came in the night of December 26, what will be the tragedy. There will be not 40,000 deaths, it could have been lakhs of people, he noted. However, Fernando emphasised that the Coast Conservation Act No.57 of 1981 defines the "Coastal Zone" as an area lying within a limit of 300 meters landwards of the mean high water line and a limit of two kilometres seawards of the mean low water line. He emphasised an urgent need to establish an early warning system with the support of affected countries and with other donor countries to avert not only future tsunamis but even earthquakes. When asked his experience with tsunami affected people he said that some people like fishing community still wants to stay within 100 meters and some like to settle elsewhere. Therefore, he recommends the Government to take action case by case.
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Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
