Mother's Front Appeal to President

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 November 1998, 23:01 GMT]
In a message to the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge, the Mothers' Front in Jaffna said they were still waiting for an official statement from her regarding what had happened to their children who have been reported missing after they were arrested by the Sri Lankan Army in 1996. The message, that was written in Sinhalese, was faxed to the President today.

The message further said that the president assured them during a meeting with her and the EPDP leader Douglas Devananda, that an answer would be given within 6 months. However, the president has not responded as she promised during the meeting.

The Mothers' Front also asked the president whether she, as a mother, would be able to wait calmly, if she had experienced the same thing.

They also said that several parents have died after their children have been reported missing.

Meanwhile the Deputy Mayor of the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC), Mr. Raviraj said today that the council will have its next meeting in the first week of December.

The JMC had not met since September when the Mayor, Mr. Sivapalan and senior Army officials were killed in a bomb explosion.

Mr. Raviraj said he would travel to Jaffna as soon as the transport to Jaffna is restored. However, the JMC has been functioning as most of the councillors live in Jaffna he added.