Army should respect Human Rights

File Photo

by V. Anandasangaree

(June 17, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Tamil United Liberation Front very strongly condemns the interference of the Army with the fundamental rights of the Civilians. Freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and movement are inherent rights of the people. The conduct of the army personnel, in entering the hall in which a meeting, to introduce the candidates of the Tamil National Alliance at the local elections, was held, is highly deplorable. They had assaulted the people who had assembled there and chased them away and also caused damage to the bicycles and motor bicycles etc. Attempt was made by the soldiers to assault the Members of Parliament of the TNA. Even their security personnel were injured.

This high-handed act of the army should stop. In any case this is not a matter for the Army to interfere with, when there are police stations all over the place, including the place where this unwanted incident took place. This act of the Army reminds me of the incident that took place in the early eighties at the famous Naachimar Kovil in Jaffna, that ultimately ended up with the burning of the Jaffna Public Library, TULF office, ex-Member of Parliament the late Mr. Yogeswaran’s house and several other buildings. Is this incident a prelude for things to come in the future? Coming events cast their shadows.

This is why I am insisting on the withdrawal of the army from the North and the East and to switch over to the administration by civil officers. If incidents of this nature are not nipped in the bud, the country’s future will be bleak.