Why no apology over civilians killed in North and East?

by Ananth Palakidnar-Sunday, 11 Aug 2013

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna District Parliamentarian and Spokesperson, Suresh K. Premachandran, who yesterday lauded Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa, for apologizing for the death of three civilians in Weliweriya, has questioned as to why the minister or his government hesitate to extend an apology to the killing of thousands of innocent civilians in the North and East. Premachandran, commenting on Minister Rajapaksa’s apology said, he appreciated the minister’s action in admitting the killings of three innocent civilians by the Security Forces personnel.

“Following the Weliweriya incident several political parties in the South, such as the UNP and the JVP, along with certain intellectuals said they can now realize, going by the conduct of the Security Forces during the Weliweriya incident, how the army could have treated the civilians in the North and East.

What I want to say is the Weliweriya incident is an eye-opener for the people in the South with regard to the atrocities committed by the Security Forces in the North and East,” the TNA MP said.

“Even the Defence Secretary and the government acknowledged the deaths of innocent civilians in the North and East, when the war was in progress. Therefore, why can’t the government extend an apology to the innocents killed in the North and East? The government’s approach towards the Weliweriya incident shows its prejudice against the innocent civilians in the North and East,” Premachandran charged.

17 year old girl missing in Mannar 10 August 2013 A 17 year old girl has been reported missing in Mannar.  The girl, named Suganya, was last seen by a member of her family, at a bus stop in Mannar midday on Thursday, when she'd come to see her parents. Her parents reported her missing to the local police station on Friday. Suganya and her family reportedly in India till they moved back to the North-East ten months ago.