TNA parliamentarians condemn disappearance of students in Eastern Province

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 May 2009, 16:12 GMT]
“How could the government say that normalcy has been restored to Eastern Province and that civil administration takes place when many students in Batticaloa, Ampaa’rai and Trincomalee have gone missing?” Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa parliamentarians asked, in a joint report which called on the government to take action to have the abducted students released at the earliest, sources in Batticaloa said.

The report was issued jointly by P. Ariyanenthiran, Ms. Thangeswary, Kathirkaman, T. Kanagasabai and S. Jeyanandamoorthy, Batticaloa district parliamentarians.

“The government which maintains that normalcy has been restored to Eastern Province should find the persons responsible for the abduction of the students,” the report further said.

Excerpt of the report follows:

“Satheeskumar Thinuska, a girl student of Batticaloa Koddaimunai Junior Viththiyaalayam, has gone missing after going to school early this week. Her father, who had been taken for interrogation by an unidentified armed group two years ago, is still missing. Meanwhile, Valluvan Mathi, a 15-year-old student of Ea’raavoor Vipulaanantha Viththiyaalayam, has gone missing.”

“In March, Regi Jude Varsha, a 6-year-old girl student of St. Mary’s Girls’ School in Trincomalee was abducted and later killed by armed men who demanded ransom from her parents.” the report pointed out.

“Due to students missing mysteriously parents are reluctant to send their children to schools and this affects the educational activities in the schools.”

“Incidents of this nature show that persons ranging from the elderly to students are unable to move about freely in Eastern Province.” the report said.

Meanwhile, the parents and public who continue to agitate against the abduction of the students say that the police are responsible for the abductions.