Tamil Consortium complains to SLMM

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 October 2005, 08:37 GMT]
Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples' Consortium (TDTPC) made a complaint to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Commission against "high-handed action" of the Sri Lanka armed forces in down-town, Trincomalee on 24 October around 3.00 p.m. TDTPC has stated that a group of unidentified persons had assaulted and humiliated two foreigners in the presence of Sri Lankan armed forces for taking photographs of the controversial Buddha-Statue in Trincomalee. The provocative action took place in the vicinity of the Trincomalee bus stand, where the controversial statue, much to the protest of the local people, was erected a few months earlier.

"Members of Sri Lankan Armed Forces who were on duty had intimidated the visitors and forcd them to leave the sight immediately," TDPC complained to SLMM.

TDTPC has argued in its complaint that this should be treated as a human rights violation and violation of the Cease-Fire Agreement.

"We expect this act to expose the high-handed actions of the chauvinists and the complicity of the Sri Lankan armed forces, to the international community. We strongly condemn this act of violence,” said Mr.V.Vigneswaran, President of the Consortium,in his complaint to the SLMM with copies to Deputy Inspector General of Police (Eastern Region), Senior Superintendent of Police and General Officer Commanding in Trincomalee district.