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LCHR warns of a disaster in Kafr El Gereda similar to what happened in Sarando
LCHR has received dozens o complaints from the farmers of Kafr El Gereda village and the villages surrounding it – Kafr El Sheikh governorate stating the public corporation for agrarian reform have neglected them and didn't fulfill its duties in protecting their lands. During the fifties, the agrarian reform corporation has given these farmers an area of 1000 feddans. In 1994, it gave usufruct of this land to the farmers who still remain in it. Therefore, the farmers have farmed this land and gained benefit of it. The farmers were paying the price of this land on long-term installments. In 1999, a decision was issued to take back this land and give it to one of the old big owners, claiming that the beneficiaries of this land have violated the benefiting conditions. The owner has changed the ownership documents of this land at the agricultural administration, and then filed an eviction lawsuit against the farmers, but the court has rejected the lawsuit because there aren't enough evidence that prove the ownership of the land. The farmers have filed a lawsuit against the agrarian reform corporation demanding their right to own the land.
According to the texts of the law "96/74 – 178/52" the public corporation for agrarian reform has distributed an area o then thousand feddans on farmers who are supposed to own this land, which cannot be taken from them anymore. The law also stated that the previous owners must receive compensation for the lands that were taken from them and distributed among the farmers. The public corporation for agrarian reform has chosen this particular area of 1000 feddans to be returned to its previous owner according to law no. 69 for the year 1984. Unfortunately, the public corporation for agrarian reform has left the problem between the farmers and the owner's inheritors unsolved, which could lead to violent event between these people.
LCHR sees that a committee must be formed to settle this matter and put a fair solution to the problem, which provide the farmers with their right to safe farming and provide the owner's inheritors with the necessary compensation from the Ministry of Agriculture.
LCHR has presented farmers demands to the Ministry of Agriculture, in order to avoid violent events that might happen if the farmers and the owners were left to face each other. The Ministry of Agriculture must guarantee farmers right to safe farming and decent living.
For more information, please contact the Center.