President told of 'mysterious killings'

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 August 1998, 11:17 GMT]
Joseph Parajasingham MP (Tamil United Liberation Front - Batticaloa District) has brought to the notice of Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the increase in the number of mysterious killings in Batticaloa District which he says "points the finger at one of the armed groups working along with the security forces in Batticaloa."

Referring to the murder of a couple in Satturukondan and a fisherman in Karuveppankerni last week, he said that no motive could be attributed these mysterious killings which were a cause of alarm among the constituents in his electorate.

He said such acts "brought the Government into disrepute" and was done in flagrant disregard of the President's stated intention to eradicate the violation of human rights in the country - especially the northeast.

In his letter Mr. Parajasingham said to the President that only by prosecuting the perpetrators of these crimes could the mysterious killings be prevented in the future.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), along with the police and a Tamil group operating with the SLA are reported to have cordoned off and searched the Iruthayapuram, Mamangam, and Tissaveerasingham Square areas in the north Batticaloa town between 5:00 - 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, said sources in Batticaloa.

Two young boys were assaulted by the troops said sources. Unconfirmed reports said that the boys, whose names are not known, were assaulted because they had tried to run away.

The residents in the area where the round up occurred were ordered to gather at the Narasimman Kovil (temple) about one km away.

School children sitting their General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level examination were given special permission to leave soon after their identities were established, said sources.