UNP to launch campaign against abduction, killings, HR violations

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 March 2007, 21:36 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) is to launch a mass protest campaign across Sri Lanka against the increased number of abduction, killings and other human rights violations. The campaign will begin in April led by Ranil Wickremasinghe, opposition leader, said S.B.Dissanayake, national organizer of the UNP.

"We have decided to brief foreign envoys in Colombo about our campaign and to take Rights violations to the immediate attention of the international community," said Mr.Dissanayake

He quoted the discovery of five bodies of male persons in a Mutturajawela swamp in Colombo Friday and Saturday. Abductions and killings are taking place not only in Colombo but also in several places, especially in the northeast province, he added.

The party will formally decide to launch this campaign at the special convention of the UNP to be held on March 17 in Colombo, he added.

The party will seek the support of all political parties including human rights organizations, he said.

"We cannot continue to be silent when innocent civilians whether Tamil, Muslim or Sinhalese are being abducted and killed daily," he said.