Amnesty concerned for Tamil politicians

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 August 1999, 23:14 GMT]
Amnesty International, the London based human rights group said today it is concerned for the lives of several politicians belonging to Tamil political parties represented in Sri Lanka's parliament who are said to have received threats from the Liberation Tigers.

"Many of them have received threatening letters and telephone calls, in the name of the LTTE, or front organizations such as the 'Sangilian Force', 'Ellalan' and 'Pandara Vanniyan Group'" said Amnesty in a statement issued today.

Citing newspaper reports, which quoted the Sri Lankan police, Amnesty said Rajavarothiyam Sampanthan, Secretary General and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), and Veerasingham Anandasangari, Vice President of the TULF are on a hit list.

Nadarasa Raviraj, acting mayor of Jaffna, and other politicians belonging to the TULF, have also received warnings said Amnesty.

K Sivajilingam, Chairman of the Valvettiturai Urban Council and member of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), is also reported to be at immediate risk.

Although some of these politicians have been provided with protection by the government of Sri Lanka and are being accompanied by armed bodyguards, Amnesty International's said in its view, this does not alter their civilian status.