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Once again ... Stolen lands and lives of simple farmers in the face of the blowing wind
The land Center for Human rights received the complaints of dozens of farmers from the villages of Elashrak, Rostm, Abou Farash, and Elkames, Shabrakaet province, Behera governorate. In their complaints the farmers stated that a property claimer is trying to steal their agricultural land, using his influence and his relationships with some police chiefs in Behera governorate. According to the complaints of the farmers, the area of the lands which the property claimer is trying to steal, is 221 acres. The farmers have been cultivating this land since 1952, according to contracts of ownership and tenancy, which the Agrarian Reform Authority had written with them at the rate of two acres pre farmer. This situation continued to be stable and peaceful, until the issuance of land law No. 96 of 92, which led to corruption and confusion inside the governmental bodies, and the appearance of some property claimers trying to steal the lands of farmers. The Agrarian Reform Authority claimed that it owned the land and then claimed that the Ministry of Endowment owned the land and then claimed that the land is owned by the region's credit associations, which means that the disputed land is owned by the farmers, and that all of this is to prepare the stage for the property claimer to use such documents in order to alter the land ownership with the farmer association, and add it to his possessions, in violation to the rights of the farmers to a safe possession of their agriculture land.
The LCHR submitted the complaints of the farmers to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture demanding that they put an end to the violation of the rights of Agrarian Reform farmers which the confused policies of the Ministry expose them to the violations of property claimers and men with influence, who are trying to seize their land. The LCHR also demands that the Minister of Agriculture form a committee of farmers, agricultural associations, the Ministry of Endowment, the Agrarian Reform Authority, and the civil society organizations in the region to find a solution to the problems of the villages mentioned above and to enable them to own their agriculture land. The LCHR also demands that Minister of the Interior issue resolutions that neutralize the police forces of Behera governorate, and prevent them from using their power to terrorize farmers and violate their rights for the sake of social security in the province of Rahmanyia.
For more information please contact the Center.