Colombo, Sri Lanka: Abductions of Tamils in the city of Colombo and its suburbs have increased in recent times. Up country Tamils’ Front summoned a press conference last Friday to highlight these abductions. Representatives of Tamil National Alliance, Ceylon Workers Congress and T.Maheswaren, UNP Member of Parliament participated.

All speakers strongly condemned such abductions and appealed to President Rajapakse to take immediate steps to stop any further abductions of Tamils.

That the Tamils are harassed in Colombo and in many parts of the south of Sri Lanka is nothing new. This sorry situation has prevailed in Sri Lanka for the last 25 years. All Sri Lankan Tamils are subjected to such harassment irrespective of whether they are from the north-east or up-country.

Every successive government has failed to take steps to put an end to this harassment. Whenever complaints are made of violence unleashed on Tamils, assurances are given but no actions are taken to bring the culprits to book or to stop these acts of harassment and violence. They have to be seen as a chain of oppressive measures on the Tamil community in this country. These are not isolated incidents.

According to UNP Parliamentarian Maheswaren, more than 30 Tamil youths and traders have been abducted in the city of Colombo during the last few days.

It is strange that such abductions take place in Colombo and suburbs when the security in the city has been beefed up and when there are checkpoints all over. These abductors who are commonly called unknown persons, are able to operate freely in the city without any fear what so ever.

It can be observed that this culture of violence is preferred by forces that advocate war. Certain sections of the government are in connivance with these undesirable forces.

An English translation of the Editorial in Thinakkural, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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