Tamil MPs protest, SL parliament suspended second day

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 06:43 GMT]
Parliamentarians of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Upcountry People's Front (UPF) and Western Province People's Front (WPPF) Wednesday resumed their sit-in protest in the well of the House for the for the second consequtive when the parliament resumed its sitting, Wednesday morning. Speaker M.J.M.Lokkubandara suspended the sitting for the day because of noisy protest by the Tamil MPs demanding the Sri Lanka Government to stop the killings, arrests and harassment of Tamil speaking people by the State armed forces, using Emergency Regulations, parliamentary sources said.

When parliament resumed its sitting Wednesday morning at 9.30 a.m. Tamil parliamentarians blocked the way in the well of the House through which the Speaker reaches the podium with Sergeant-at-Arms Mr.Palliayguru leading him with Mace. However, the Speaker arrived through the rear entrance and took the Chair.

While the Speaker began to attend Bills moved by the government, Tamil parliamentarians rushed into the well of the House and started shouting slogans and carrying placards.

Later they began sit-in protest carrying placards with slogans, ‘Government stop killing Tamils’, ‘Government responsible for Pararajasingham murder’, ‘Stop genocide of the Tamils’, ‘Withdraw security forces from North-East immediately’, ‘Government stop attacking Tamils’, the sources said.

The Speaker suspended the sitting for the day around 9.50 a.m. After the adjournment Tamil parliamentarians left the well of the House.

Tamil MPs at the press conference held after the first day protest in the parliament, Tuesday said they would continue their protest in and out of parliament till "the atrocities by the State armed forces in the North East and other areas against Tamil speaking civilians are brought to end."

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