MPs allege Police hand in Valaichenai violence

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 June 2002, 16:10 GMT]
The three Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians of the Batticaloa district Saturday alleged that the Police too had a hand in the violence in Valaichenai Thursday and Friday. In a letter to Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe they charged that Police officers in charge of the area had acted partially. They asked the Prime Minister to appoint a Commission of Inquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge to inquire into the violence.

The following is the full text of the letter sent to the Prime Minister by the three TNA parliamentarians Mr Joseph Pararajasingham, Mr. T.Thangavadivel and Mr. G.Krishnapillai : -

"We wish to bring the following facts for your kind consideration and redress.

"We jointly visited the scene of the destructive incidents that took place on 27th and 28th of June, 2002 at Valaichenai.

"On inquiries made by us from eye witnesses of both communities, and in particular the Tamil residents affected by the incidents, the Valaichenai Police was allegedly responsible and their ineffectiveness in controlling the situation that led to these unwarranted deaths, injuries to persons and destruction to properties.

"According to most of the eye witnesses, deaths and injuries to persons including the burning and looting of shops had taken place during the curfew hours. On the morning of 27th, the Valaichenai Pradesya Sabah office was burnt during the curfew hours. The security forces responsible for maintaining the curfew have even failed to safeguard this government property.

"Many witness from both communities and in particular Tamils have complained against the ASP of the Valaichchenai Police division Mr.Jamaldeen and the OIC of the Valaichchenai Police station Mr.Piyasena for not maintaining impartiality in the discharge of their duties and failing to maintain the law and order in the area.

"It was also brought to our notice by some of the eye witnesses that CID officers Mr.Faiz, Mr.Mansoor, Mr.Ramez and Mr.Uvais were alleged to have fired at most of the victims and it was particularly mentioned that Mr.Faiz was responsible for the death of a Tamil youth Mr.Kandeepan by shooting.

"At the meeting held in the Divisional Secretaryís office, Valaichenai chaired by the Government Mr.C.Shanmugam, it was agreed in the presence of the acting Inspector General of Police Mr.T.Anandanarajah, that both these officers should be transferred from this station with immediate effect.

"Under these circumstances, we jointly appeal to you to take steps immediately to appoint a Commission of Inquiry headed by a retired Senior Supreme Court Judge to inquire into the incidents and to bring the perpetrators before the law.

"We also urge that adequate special compensation be paid to the following: -

a) Next of akin of persons who died in this incident

b) Persons who sustained injuries

c) Houses and shops damaged or completely gutted by fire

d) Any other relief."