Tamils across North-East Sri Lanka demand release of disappeared in new wave of protests

09 February 2015

Hundreds of Tamils protested across the North-East demanding the new government to release and reveal the whereabouts of their detained and disappeared, whilst calling for an international probe into the whereabouts

of the disappeared.

In Jaffna, hundreds of men, women and children carrying photos of their missing loved ones, marched from Jaffna central bus station to the Jaffna Divisional Secretariat building to hand over a memorandum to Sri Lanka’s new president demanding that the whereabouts of the detained were revealed and that they were immediately released, reports Uthayan.

Protestors march to the Jaffna Divisional Secretariat to demand the release of the disappeared and an international probe into their whereabouts Photograph:Colombo Mirror

In Mullaitivu, Tamils searching for their disappeared gathered outside the Divisional Secretariat building, yielding placards calling for an international

probe into the investigation.

Speaking to the Colombo Mirror, the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) General Secretary, S Gajenthiran, said,

“Former army commander, who led the genocidal war against the Tamils, but was later sent to jail on corruption charges, has been reinstated within days after President Sirisena came to power. Similarly, former Chief Justice who was controversially dismissed on corruption charges had been reinstated. But not a single Tamil has been released even one month after this new government coming to power,”

“We need full international investigation into what has happened during andafter the war and the UNHRC should release its report in March as scheduled,” he added.

The Northern Provincial Councilors, including, M Sivajalingam and B Gajatheepan were also present.

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One protester, lamenting the governments inaction on the issue told press,

“This government should release all the people who were made to disappear and publish the details of their whereabouts without cheating and dragging time in the name of a domestic probe. If President MaithripalaSirisena is really genuine, innocent and god-fearing as he looks, he should release our children without further delay”

Another protestor describing their story said,

“The army personnel on patrol came and said they wanted to search our home. They abducted my son from home. It’s seven long years since he was abducted without a trace. I am still searching for my son. We still believe that this government will release all our children."

Sri Lanka's domestic 'missing persons' commission delays conclusion (08 Feb 2015)

Tamils in Mullaitivu demand new Sri Lanka govt returns disappeared loved ones (08 Feb 2015)See our earlier posts:Our children were killed by the Army - Tamil mothers testify (15 Dec 2014)Presidential Commission chair dismisses CPA criticism (05 October 2014)Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances lacks credibility - CPA (02 Oct 2014)

'Deceptive' Presidential Commission on Missing Persons an attempt to mislead people – TNA (17 August 2014)

Chair of govt commission accuses NGOs of inflating disappearance numbers (12 August 2014)Bishop of Mannar refuses to participate in Sri Lanka's domestic inquiry on missing persons(10 August 2014)

Cross-party concern over 'betrayal' of Sri Lankan soldiers in Presidential Inquiry (28 July 2014)

TNA remains sceptical over government commission (27 July 2014)

CPA criticises expansion of presidential commission mandate (25 July 2014)

UNP expresses ‘serious concern’ over government u-turn on presidential commission (22 July 2014)

Over 18,000 cases submitted for disappearances commission (06 June 2014)

Desperate search for disappeared continues (16 February 2014)

‘Government commission is a fake’ NPC Deputy Chairman tells Japan (12 Feb 2014)Disappearance investigation commission a farce - Ananthy Sasitharan (02 January 2014)TNA rejects presidential commission to probe disappearances (29 July 2013)Rajapaksa appoints disappearance commission (14 August 2013)

Another commission... (26 July 2013)