U.S. Alarmed By Peaceful Protestors’ Detention

By Colombo Telegraph -March 6, 2013 

“The U.S. Embassy is concerned about reports that hundreds of Sri Lankan family members of the disappeared were blocked in Vavuniya by Sri Lankan authorities while traveling to Colombo.  These family members are calling for information about their missing loved ones.  The Embassy calls upon Sri Lankan authorities to allow free movement of these citizens.  The right to freely express opinions is universal and protected under Sri Lankan and international law.” says the US Embassy Colombo.

On 5th March 2013 the family members, who were travelling to Colombo to participate in a protest campaign and to hand over a petition to UN regarding their disappeared relatives, were blocked in Vavuniya by a joint operation of the police and the military.

“The United States is constructively working with international partners to support of these basic freedoms through the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution in Geneva.  We continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to follow through on its own commitments to its people by implementing recommendations made in their Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Report.  The LLRC recommends thorough investigations into disappearances as well an establishment of a mechanism to address cases of the missing and detained.  Since last year’s UNHRC resolution the United States has grown increasingly concerned by the lack of progress on these issues, as well as backsliding on other important areas of fundamental democratic rights.  All Sri Lankans should enjoy the same rights and live in dignity, sharing a democratic, secure, and prosperous future.”  the Embassy further says.

Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Sri Lankan envoy on Human rights said last week;

“The Government is in the process of devising measures to pay compensation to the owners of properties within such areas or provide them with alternate land. I must re-emphasize that the military is in no way engaged in civil administration which is the sole responsibility of civilian officials. There are absolutely no restrictions on travel today in the North and civilians enjoy complete freedom of movement.”

GA refused to met up people in Vavuniya

[ Wednesday, 06 March 2013, 01:50.43 PM GMT +05:30 ]

Government Agent of the Vavuniya district refuses to meet up people stage protest on demanding to rescue their disappeared relatives.

People started their protest campaign at the Vavuniya municipal council grounds this morning and marched up to the GA office to hand over petition. However police personals stopped the protesters at the gate and GA Bandula Harichchandra refused to accept the petition. Later on he agrees to meet up group of people representatives, sources said. People expressed concern over this activity and also questioned about his activity on rescuing their children. (2nd Lead) Petition handed over to additional GA Protesters stage continues protest in the A-9 main road. Additional GA was aware on the tense situation and decided to accept petition from the protesters. (3rd Lead) Military personals warns protesters in Vavuniya Military personals and members of the army intelligence unit continuously warned relatives took part in the demonstration over disappeared people at Vavuniya town this morning. Army and members of Army Intelligence Unit blocked a group of people heading to Colombo from the north to take part in a demonstration over the disappeared. All these people were detained at the Vavuniya municipal council grounds last night. People commenced their protest campaign at 11.30 am in the Vavuniya Municipal Council grounds and marched up to the District Secretariat. Protesters were not permitted to enter the divisional secretary compound. Due to this people stage 2 hours protest at the main entrance of the divisional secretariat and demanded GA to accept their petition. However GA left the office by the next entrance and ordered other officials not to collect petition from these people. People were disappointed over this activity and later on people stage protest in the A-9 main road. They pledge official to find out their disappeared relatives. However around 2.30 pm additional district secretary accepted the petition from the protesters.