Norman Palihawadane
Human Rights and civil organizations fear for the lives of two missing members of the Movement for People’s Struggle. An organizer of the MPS, formed by JVP dissidents, and another individual are reportedly missing since Friday. Their whereabouts are unknown since leaving to make arrangements for a media conference to be held in Jaffna on Saturday, Convener of the MPS Chameera Koswatte said.
Human Rights and civil organizations fear for the lives of two missing members of the Movement for People’s Struggle. An organizer of the MPS, formed by JVP dissidents, and another individual are reportedly missing since Friday. Their whereabouts are unknown since leaving to make arrangements for a media conference to be held in Jaffna on Saturday, Convener of the MPS Chameera Koswatte said.
The organizer, Lalith Kumara Weeraraju, who had set out from Vavuniya on Saturday to make arrangements for the press conference had arrived at the residence of Kugan Muruganandan in Awarangal, Jaffna. Both Weeraraju and Muruganandan had left the house on a motorbike bearing the number NP GT 7852 at around 5:00pm. That was the last time they were seen, Koswatte said.
A complaint has been lodged regarding their mysterious disappearance on CIB 232/79 register at the Jaffna Police station by DNA MP cum National Organiser Ajith Kumara.
Jaffna police told The Island that the two individuals were not in their custody.
"We do not have information as to who committed this crime. But the father and relatives of Lalith Kumara Weeraraju have received phone calls that he had been killed," Koswatte said adding that they were seriously disturbed by the information. His parents had earlier received calls warning that their son would be killed if he attempted to do politics in Jaffna.
Weeraraju had been attacked and injured during a protest movement in Jaffna town on November 14, 2010 and was arrested and interrogated by the army and released early this year.
Meanwhile, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections and Centre for Human Rights have issued press releases saying that investigations must be held immediately and authorities must answer the question how these two persons had gone missing in a place like Jaffna where security had been so tight.
Keerthi Tennakoon of the CaFFE said that Lalith Kumara had come under attacks several times even during the recent elections in Jaffna. Director of the CHR, Surangi Ariyanwansa said that Lalith Kumara had been warned and threatened by many parties that his political activities must be stopped. Both organizations demand authorities to take action to trace the two missing persons
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