Pararajasingham urges end to prison attacks

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 January 2000, 19:09 GMT]
Tamil United Liberation Front, Paliamentary leader, Joseph Pararajasingham, has called on the President to halt recent attacks on Tamil inmates detained at Kalutara prison.

In a ltter to the President, he has sought her immediate intervention and restoration of normalcy and preventing any future attacks by bringing the perpetrators to justice.

"It is an ugly blot on the system of prison management in Sri Lanka," Pararajasingham said in the letter.

"You may recall the two mass killings of Tamil prisoners in State custody in the year 1983 at Welikada jail which is supposed to be most secure jail. Since then Kalutara prison has been following that example of deplorable uncivilized behavior by armed prison officials," he said.

He added: "What happened yesterday (06.01.2000) was followed today (07.01.2000) and has left in its bloody trail, two deaths already and nearly 35 injured and some critically and some maimed."

"It is sad to note that Your Excellency has not even issued a statement condemning the incident and expressing sympathy to the helpless victims and reassuring their safety," he said.