Commission on eastern killings to record evidence

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 March 2005, 12:32 GMT]
The commission appointed by Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Kumaratunga to inquire into attacks on the Liberation Tigers in the east will record evidence from 28 March to 8 April 2005, according to a media release by the President’s officer in Colombo Monday. The commission on “alleged attacks on LTTE” will record evidence “to ascertain the circumstances and/or the motive leading to the attacks on those alleged to be LTTE Cadres”, according to the release. Tigers dismissed the commission as “eyewash” last week, pointing to the fate of four Presidential commissions that inquired into massacres of Tamil civilians in the east by Sri Lankan armed forces.

The following is the full text of the media release from the Sri Lanka President’s office:

“President Chandrika Kumaratunga on 3rd March 2005 named two judges to serve on the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on alleged attacks on LTTE cadres in the east of the country.

“The Judge of the Vavuniya High Court Mr. J. Visvanathan will chair the said Commission and the other member of the Commission is the Judge of the Ampara High Court Mr. W. T. M. P. B. Warawewa.

“The Commission will record evidence from Civilians, Armed Forces, Police and the LTTE to ascertain the circumstances and/or the motive leading to the attacks on those alleged to be LTTE Cadres.

“Evidence will be restricted to the circumstances relating to the incidents of killing, causing injury and attempts to kill or injure by use of firearms or explosives mainly in the Batticaloa and Ampara Districts of the Eastern Province during the period 1st February, 2005 to 2nd March, 2005.

“Inquiries will be held in the Ampara Courts Complex from 28th March, 2005 to 01 st April, 2005 and in the Batticaloa Courts Complex from 4th April 2005 to 8th April 2005.

“Those who desire to give evidence or submit written representations should furnish their names, addresses and telephone numbers [if available] to the Secretary to the Commission on or before the 24th March, 2005”.