Tamil parties protest against abductions in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 September 2006, 18:05 GMT]
Representatives of Tamil political parties addressing a press briefing held Friday in Colombo Holiday-In-Hotel said they are going to hold awareness meetings among Tamil people in Colombo from next week against the increase of abduction by the intelligence service of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). They stressed that several Tamil youths in Colombo had been abducted by SLA intelligence unit in past and immediate action should be taken to stop this.

Mr.T.Maheswaran, Colombo district parliamentarian of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), Mr. R.Yogarajan, Vice President of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Mr.P.Chandrasekaran, Nuwara Eliya district parliament and Mr.P.Radhakrishnan, Colombo district parliamentarian of the Upcountry Peoples Front ( UPF) and Ms Padmini Sithambaranathan, Jaffna district parliamentarian of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) participated in the press briefing.

Mr.P.Chandrasekaran is the leader of the UPF and a Minister in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government. Mr.Radhakrishnan of UPF also holds the post of Deputy Minister. CWC is now a constituent of the UPFA government and its President Mr.Arumugan Thondaman holds cabinet portfolio.

UNP MP Mr.Maheswaran said that it has been reported that about thirty Tamils had been abducted in Colombo. This matter has been brought to the notice of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). Every one knows that army intelligence unit has been responsible for these abductions. "We directly blame the Government for this. We would move for a debate in the Parliament when it resumes its sitting on Tuesday. Government should answer to these abductions in Colombo," Mr.Maheswaran said.

Extra judicial killings are taking place in Colombo and North East. The President is keeping silent although he knows the force behind these crimes. Well-planned pogrom against Tamil people is taking place, Mr.Maheswaran said.

TNA parliamentarian Ms Padmini Sithambaranathan said during the last two months about 61 Tamil civilians were reported disappeared in Jaffna district. Fifty persons were reported disappeared since August 11. A nineteen year old advanced level student Renuka Selvarajah of Uduvil Girls College was reported abducted when she was on her way to buy provision after curfew was lifted. Complaints about these disappearances had been registered with the HRCSL in Jaffna. However some more complaints have to be registered with the HRCSL. Several Tamil civilians had been killed and wounded in Jaffna district due to aerial bombardment and multi-barrel artillery fire. Large numbers of families had been displaced. People are undergoing untold hardship to buy their provision due to continuous curfew with the relaxation for few hours. Schools are not functioning properly, Ms Sithambaranathan said.

Mr.P.Chandrasekaran, a Minister in the UPFA government said army intelligence unit is monitoring his activities even after he become a minister. "Recently when I came out of State Rupavahini Corporation premises after attending a programme I saw a white van halted close to my vehicle. When my security officials went near to the while coloured, persons seated inside it said they were from army intelligence unit. I immediately brought this matter to the notice of Inspector General of Police (IGP),"said Mr.Chandrasekaran.

The government should take responsibility for the abduction of Tamil civilians in Colombo and in the North East. Tamil parties should exert pressure on the government to take step to stop these abductions, said Mr.Chandrasekaran.