International community 'silent' over LTTE's killings

Why double standards, asks PLOTE leader

by Shanika Sriyananda

The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) has blamed the international community for indirectly encouraging the LTTE to create a culture of human violations in the country by maintaining a 'silence' over the killings and abductions by terrorists.

The Leader of the PLOTE Dharmalingam Sithadthan told the 'Sunday Observer' that today the whole world is talking about human rights violations in Sri Lanka and at the beginning of the ceasefire agreement (CFA) and after the LTTE killed hundreds of people but not a single voice was raised by the international community or INGOs against them.

"A large number of people, including the cadres belonging to other groups who did not support the LTTE were killed and kidnapped but not a single voice was raised by them. Now they have made a big issue out of it", he said.

Sithadthan also said that 'white van' kidnappings had still not been proved and lots of underworld elements were in operation in the country.

Meanwhile, the government has taken all steps to ensure that the inquiries into extra judicial killings and abductions are being conducted, said Leader of the House and Minister of Health Nimal Siripala de Silva.

He said that the government had clearly stated that there was no government's involvement in any of the incidents of abductions. He said that the government would not get any advantage by abducting people. "The advantage of abducting innocent people is for the LTTE and the Opposition but not for the government. Do you think that the government is so foolish to abduct people and get international and national blame", he said.

Minister de Silva said that the number of abductions had come down during the past few weeks and not a single case had been reported as the government machinery to curb crimes was very efficient. "The government is always committed to unearth these crimes", he said.

He said that crimes committed by various groups had not been unearthed yet and added that these could have been done by the LTTE and underworld elements to embarrass the government.

"Many lorries with large amounts of explosives have been detected by the armed forces who are doing their best together with the Sri Lanka Army, Police, NIB and the CID. As a government we can ensure that we have made a very genuine attempt", Minister de Silva said.