Relatives of missing persons yesterday (1) said that only the international community could ensure accountability to their long-standing grievances, and pointed out that they do not want to accept the compensation and certificate of absence provided by the relevant local authorities.
Association for the Relatives of Enforced Disappearances Jaffna District Leader Sivapatham Ilankothai told The Morning yesterday that only the international community could ensure accountability in the issue of missing persons.
“We held a protest at the Jaffna District Secretariat on Monday (31 October) to show that we are not happy with the recent comments made by the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) Chairman that there is no evidence that our relatives were handed over to the Security Forces during the end of war. At the same time, we want to convey the message to the Minister of Justice President’s Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe that we do not want any compensation or a certificate of absence. We want to know the whereabouts of our loved ones. It is quite disheartening when such moves are being taken by the Government to just end this issue,” she added.
She further noted that for many years, the relatives of missing persons were waiting patiently, hoping that the OMP would resolve the issues.
“We went before many commissions appointed by the Government for many years. There was no solution. We waited for many years; now, we feel that there is no justice to our long-standing issue, and therefore, we have decided to appeal to the international community,” she added.
Ilankothai also said: “Initially, the Government proposed to give Rs. 100,000 as compensation, and then raised the amount to Rs. 200,000. Do not cheat us. We want justice. Find the whereabouts of our loved ones. That is why we protested on Monday.”
On Monday, the relatives of missing persons staged a protest and forcibly entered the Jaffna District Secretariat premises, showing their displeasure against the Government and the OMP during the visit of Dr. Rajapakshe. The protestors shouted slogans such as “We don’t want the OMP and we don’t want Rs. 200,000 compensation, we need an international mechanism”.
Protestors also claimed that the OMP is cheating and disappointing the relatives of missing persons. They also raised slogans against Dr. Rajapakshe who participated in the mobile service launched by the Ministry of Justice to issue birth and other certificates to returnees from India, at the Jaffna District Secretariat on Monday.