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2017-10-02
Many of the disappearances happened during the ethnic conflict and the JVP
Insurrection where thousands of people were kidnapped by armed men without a
trace.
Several years later, when the Good Governance regime came into power, the
Office of Missing Persons was proposed and signed. However the physical
establishment of this office is still in
limbo.
During a recent visit to Kilinochchi, the Daily Mirror met the families of
disappeared persons in the area. Inside their tent, hundreds of photos of missing
family members have been mounted on its sides, some faded and some still in
good condition. A few chairs dispersed here and there and a few bed sheets on
the ground coupled with their levels of hopelessness made us realise what they
were going through. Although they were reluctant to speak to us at first, a few
mothers came to us with signs of hope in their faces and related their stories as
follows :
Daughter was handed over to the Army near the Vattuval Bridge
-Kulasingham Saundalai
Kulasingham Saundalais daughter was handed over to the Army near the
Vattuval Bridge in Omanthai on May 21, 2009.
That was the last time I saw, says Saundalai as she sat down to share her story
with the Daily Mirror.
"As soon as the war ended I was asked to hand her over to the Army"
As soon as the war ended I was asked to hand her over to the Army and I was
promised that she would return. But to date Im still waiting for her. I didnt get
any compensation and no Missing Certificate or anything. I only have her photo.
I dont know what her value is, so giving money wouldnt make me satisfied
unless I see her again. We staged this protest a few days back and we will
continue until some sort of action is taken. In an earlier instance we also voiced
our sorrows to the President himself, when he visited Kilinochchi but so far
nothing has been done. I remember him telling us that he will probe into the
matter but theres no solution as yet. If you look around, we all are catching up
with age and one day when we all die, who will be there to voice out against
those who went missing?
"Our children and spouses went missing after we handed them over to the
forces. Its not like they went missing during the war."
They did give some compensation but I refused to take it because my family
members are priceless and they just cant get away with showing us some money.
Its alright if they want to keep the LTTE person with them but why did they take
my two children and the granddaughter? They deserve to live. Our children and
spouses went missing after we handed them over to the forces.
Its not like they went missing during the war. When we met the President three
months ago he asked the authorities to publish a list of names of those who were
missing but that too fell on deaf ears. When he was coming into power, this was
one of the promises he made.
But what has he done so far? Theres no point setting up an office because by the
time its setup this will be a lost cause. I always remember my children and please
tell how a mother could simply forget their children or even assume that they are
dead?
"He was sent to the Chettikulam refugee camp but that was the last day I saw
him. Some families of missing persons were resettled..."
When we visited the families who were protesting at the Kilinochchi town, we
realised that they were giving information to various individuals claiming to be
representatives of various NGOs. But what information these individuals require
and for what purposes remain a question. The Daily Mirror also learned that
several NGOs allegedly have financially supported protesters as means of
encouraging them to continue it. On one occasion we were told that each
individual is paid Rs. 1,000 per day for sacrificing their day in the scorching heat
inside a dust-filled tent.
According to Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director of the National Peace Council of
Sri Lanka, the families were eagerly waiting to see the response from the
government.
They know about the Office and that it has been signed but I think that the
immediate thing that should happen is to appoint a Commission. They should
then appoint commissioners who have confidence in the matter.
I would like to see at least one or two people representing the victim community
being appointed as commissioners because they know the issues well. If so, the
victims will also have some confidence in the process. We also need a public
education campaign to explain to the masses that this is something that should be
done. People think that the setting up of the OMP would lead to a war crimes
trial. The Army Commander himself has set a good standard and if anyone has
violated human rights, then it becomes a crime. Theres nothing to be
whitewashed and therefore the standards need to be followed up. Therefore it is
important to setup a commission as quickly as possible and also send out a
message of care for these families. They should be given compensation because
even if they refuse to take it, if thats what the government could do best, then
they should do it.
When asked about the allegations vested upon NGOs, Dr. Perera further said that
the people who protest are very poor and theres no one to support them.
Therefore someone has to take the initiative to support these families. They too
have children who need to survive. So, if someone is giving them money, that is
only to sustain them and not to make them rich. It is not fun to be sitting in the
sun and voicing out their concerns all day. Therefore it is a gross misinterpretation
to say that they are being paid, but actually they are being supported to do what
they really want to do and seek justice.