The burning of the printing press of the Uthayan newspaper in Jaffna comes
shortly after an attack on its distribution point in Kilinochchi.
These targeted acts of violence perpetrated on the largest circulation
newspaper in the Northern Province have taken place despite the very large
presence of security forces. They also follow another violent
attack on a meeting of the largest opposition Tamil party, the Tamil National
Alliance, in Kilinochchi where the security forces present on the scene remained
inactive.
The TNA, as well as the Leader of the Opposition, have alleged that
these attacks are carried out by soldiers in civil but the government denies
them. A government spokesperson has said the latest attack is an
inside job to discredit the government. The National Peace Council
condemns these attacks regardless of who is behind them.
The NPC notes that these attacks are occurring in the context of anticipated
provincial council elections for the Northern Province. The government has
promised to hold these elections in September and the international community is
monitoring this promise. The issue of the Northern Provincial
election was referred to in the resolution on reconciliation in Sri Lanka of the
UN Human Rights Council last month. We believe that the
democratically elected government has the responsibility to stop these types of
attacks, find the culprits and bring them to justice. If not, the
credibility of the government as one that follows democratic norms will
collapse. It is therefore important that these elections be held
according to internationally acceptable standards.
The government should show to the International community that the elections
are being held to give the Tamil minority an opportunity to enjoy the devolution
of power already provided for in the Constitution. In the past all
governments used to co-opt individual Tamil politicians to show the world that
the Tamil minority accepts the Sri Lankan State except for the LTTE.
The government now has an opportunity to show the world that the Tamil
people have accepted allegiance to the Sri Lankan State by ensuring their
participation in free and fair provincial elections. But
preventing a free and fair election will only nullify this option and strengthen
the demands emanating from extremist groups in Tamil Nadu and other places in
the world.
There is a growing danger that the international community will begin to see
that the government’s conduct of the Northern Provincial Council elections as
being a deceptive exercise in which the worst unfair and
undemocratic tactics are used for the purpose of winning or undermining the
Tamil National Alliance’s vote base. The government needs to
ensure the rule of law and provide security to all its citizens in the
North. The failure of the government to protect its citizens will
give rise to heightened international scrutiny and to strengthened demands for
international intervention to determine the future of the Tamils within Sri
Lanka.
National view of conflicting versions regarding the
responsibility for the violence that is occurring , the National Peace Council
calls for an independent investigation be carried out with the participation of
representatives of political parties and experienced and retired police officers
known for their independence and investigative capacity.
