Tamil representatives urged to boycott OMP office opening in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 August 2019, 02:22 GMT]
The coordinator of Mullaiththeevu district organisation of the families of persons subjected to enforced disappearances, Mariyasuresh Easwary, has urged Tamil politicians and representatives to boycott the opening event of the Jaffna office of the Office for Missing Persons, scheduled for Saturday. “We have already received information that Minister Mano Ganesan has abandoned his plan to attend the ceremony. It signals that they understand our concerns and respect the call made by all the five district organisations of the families of the missing persons that jointly appealed to the media four days ago,” she told TamilNet.



However, there are sections within the southern polity that want to project an image to the international community that the SL State was showing progress in addressing the issue of enforced disappearances using the deceptive OMP as an eyewash measure.

“Even the chairpersons of the OMP, who promised not to proceed with their work before satisfying the five specific demands, which we had put forward to them, are now proceeding with the deceptive move as they just want to comply with the agenda of the state,” she said.

“We have repeatedly explained to the international community that the OMP is a farce. However, the IC also wants to proceed with the deceptive project, which is disappointing,” she further said.

However, it is a good sign that the Tamil minister has reportedly abandoned his plan to grace the event, she said urging for a widespread boycott of the opening ceremony.

“Also today, we witnessed yet another tragic death of a father who was searching for his son who was missing since 2009,” Mariasuresh Easvary said.

Thirugnanasambanthar Ponnuthurai, the father of Vakeesan Thirugnanasambanthar, lost his life in a fatal road accident while his wife and a daughter have sustained severe injuries. Mr Ponnthurai was residing in Ka'nuk-kea'ni in Mullaiththeevu district. His son was reported missing since 14 April 2009.

More than 40 parents have perished since the families launched their continuous protests in the North and East.

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