The state terrorism of abductions and killings and violence unleashed on innocent Tamil civilians has reached its height in the Tamil homeland of North-East under the control of Sri Lankan security forces.

In Colombo, abducting Tamil traders and later releasing them after obtaining large sums of ransom has become the order of the day. Never before has this country witnessed such gun culture with impunity.

The government officials and the Prime Minister boast that they had chased the LTTE from Sampoor and that Colombo has been secured from terrorists. But the abduction of the Tamils and the demand of ransom don’t seem to be matters of concern for the government.

T.Maheswaren, Colombo Tamil Parliamentarian has pointed out this matter in very strong terms to the defence secretary and defence officials. It must be noted that he has charged that this government and security officials are responsible for this deliberate and planned violence let loose on Tamils.

The violence on innocent Tamil people in the North-East is certainly state terrorism and racism. The state terrorism that has been perpetrated on Tamils over the years has reared its ugly head again today. In the Jaffna peninsula, people are abducted by unknown persons coming in white vans despite the fact that there are check points at every nook and corner and mind you, in spite of the curfew.

When we observe these trends, it can be felt that certain sections are given unwritten permission and excessive powers to commit atrocities to suppress Tamil Nationalism in the North-East. The international community, too, has realized this fact.

The Leader of the Amnesty International personally told President Rajapakse in his recent visit to London that there is evidence that the state sector is responsible for the culture of violence such as abductions and disappearances.

Asian Human Rights Commission has stated that white van sans number plate is identified with killings and disappearances and other act of violence. They have also accused that pro government groups are responsible for them.

While President Rajapakse is confronted with such accusations of violations of human rights by the international community, the judgment regarding the observance of human rights by the state is a mockery in the eyes of the world.

The Supreme Court has held that the proclamation made by the President in 1997 that Sri Lanka has adopted the International covenant of civil and human rights does not fall within the scope of the Sri Lankan constitution.

Supreme Court has further held that the directives of UN Human Rights Committee were not binding on Sri Lanka according to the Sri Lankan constitution.

At a crucial hour, when there are accusations by the international community of state terrorism against the Sri Lankan government, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court comprising 5 judges including the Chief Justice has ruled that the international law relating to human rights is not binding on Sri Lanka.

As a result there is a legal endorsement that the Sri Lankan government is not accountable to the international community for state terrorism. What next! State terrorism can intensify its merciless onslaught without any hurdles, what so ever.

An English translation of the Editorial in Uthayan, a Tamil daily, based in Jaffna.

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