List compiled to initiate criminal proceedings:

LTTE responsible for 80 percent of alleged abductions

by Manjula Fernando

The LTTE was responsible for nearly 80 percent of the alleged abductions, of the cases already heard in four districts except Jaffna, the Presidential Commission investigating cases of missing persons in the North and East was told.

The Commission has held public sittings in Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Mullaitivu from January to June this year and heard 831 cases of missing persons, Chairman of the Presidential Commission Justice Maxwell Paranagama said.

According to the relatives of missing persons 90 percent of the abductions had been committed by the LTTE in Mullaitivu while in the Jaffna district the LTTE was responsible for only 10 percent of cases and 36 percent abductions by unknown persons.

The LTTE was blamed for 80 percent and 70 percent of missing persons in the Kilinochchi and Batticaloa districts by the relatives of the deceased.

A total of 19,284 written complaints had been received by the Commission so far and President Mahinda Rajapaksa had advised the Commission to hear each and every complaint. The Commission of Inquiry set up in August 2013 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is investigating cases of missing persons from 1983 to 2009.

The Commission’s original scope of investigation from 1990 - 2009 was advanced to 1983 - 2009 when people showed up with cases relating to the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) era and earlier.

The Commission’s mandate was also recently expanded by the President following requests by the Commission’s members. “The submissions by the complainants highlighted areas which we thought to be instances of violating international law.

The Commission could not have looked into such cases unless the warrant was expanded,” retired Judge Paranagama said

He said the three-member international expert panel, comprising world-renowned legal experts, was appointed to seek clarifications in dealing with areas of International law that are new to the Presidential Commission members.

The chairman said they were currently compiling a list of cases where they found enough evidence to initiate criminal proceedings. The Commission is also contemplating to draw up a scheme to shortlist the complaints received in a bid to expedite the process. The other members of the Commission, mandated under the LLRC recommendations are Suranjana Vidyaratne and Mano Ramanathan.