IUSU demands detainees' names made public

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 May 2010, 19:06 GMT]
Inter University Students Union (IUSU) has given ultimatum to the Sri Lanka government authority concerned to release the names of uprooted persons detained in internment camps enabling their relatives to identify their kith and kin who are reportedly missing during the war or later. In failing to do so relatives of those missing would hold demonstration in front of detention centres with victims’ photographs, said IUSU President Udul Premaratne at a media briefing held Friday. Relatives of the missing persons brought down from Mannaar were present in the media briefing, media sources said.

“We oppose separation and terrorism, but certainly not against granting due legitimate rights to Tamils. The opportunity to promote the national unity after the defeat of terrorism has been utilized by the government only to strengthen its stability and not to bring reconciliation among communities. Tamils would be driven to re-arm if the golden opportunity arisen after the war if the government fails to find a solution to problems confronting the Tamils," said Upul Premaratne.

"More uprooted persons are held in camps. No solution has been found to Tamils held in prisons without any charge for years. We have brought down relatives of those disappeared in Mannaar to Colombo on our tour to that area to collect information regarding missing persons. Like wise relatives have been searching for their missing kith and kin in Mullaitheevu and Kilinochchi.

"We have been taking steps to organize Missing Persons Associations in every district and then to hold a demonstration in Colombo bringing down relatives of the victims. Several displaced have been held in camps in Batticaloa, Kandy and Jaffna. If the government authority releases the names of those held in such camps, it could help their relatives to trace their missing loved ones," said Upul Premaratne.