‘Discriminatory Practices are Detrimental to Reconciliation’ NPC called on Sri Lanka govt to ensure that there is no discriminatory targeting Tamils!!

NPC calls on SL government to ensure no discrimination targeting Tamils
[TamilNet, Monday, 19 July 2010, 08:59 GMT]

National Peace Council (NPC) in its media release 16 July titled ‘Discriminatory Practices are Detrimental to Reconciliation’ called on Sri Lanka government to ensure that there is no discriminatory targeting Tamils. “The re-commencement of the practices of registering Tamils with the police and of conducting search operations that target them have been widely reported in the Tamil media in particular and have created a renewed sense of insecurity and injustice amongst the larger Tamil population that is detrimental to national reconciliation,” NPC said.

Adding that the situation has deteriorated where normal life for Tamil people is concerned, NPC said that Democratic People's Front Leader Mano Ganesan has requested Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene to halt the police registration of Tamils in the Wellawatte Police division in Colombo as discriminatory and against the spirit of reconciliation.

Tamil residents in Wellawatte in Colombo division were instructed 08 July by the police to register with the local police station immediately. The announcement had been made through loudhailers fixed in three wheelers and some vehicles. Police sources said the procedure was intended to account for the large number of Tamils who had returned from abroad and staying in several hotels and lodges.

Meanwhile, NPC in its media release said, “Deputy Inspector General H.N.B. Herath is reported to have said they were instructed by higher authorities to register all people -- including Tamils. All right thinking people will acknowledge that democracy is governance according to law and not according to the wishes of the rulers. The rulers are equally subject to the law and must abide by the Constitution.”

Copyright © 1997-2009 TamilNet URL: http://www.tamilnet.com email: tamilnet@tamilnet.com
.................................................................


Tamil civilians to be registered again

2010-07-19

The police have once again started to register Tamil civilians after summoning them to police stations even after the Prime Minister has informed parliament that emergency regulations have been relaxed and there was no need to register people any more.

DPF Leader Mani Ganesan said that Tamil civilians living in Wellawatte, Kotahena and Pettah areas in the Western Province are being registered and that the police were also engaged in subjecting these civilians into an interrogation in a suspicious manner as well.
Mano Ganesan has already made a written request from the President on the 12th asking him to ensure that Tamil civilians are not inconvenienced and treated like suspects.

When asked about this census of Tamil people from UPFA parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara, he said that it was a grave injustice to the people.

He said that after commenting on this issue with us, he would raise it with the President and the Defence Secretary.

Police Spokesperson SP Preshantha Jayakody when asked for the reason to recommence the registration of Tamil civilians said that while it was previously carried out under emergency regulations, the registration programme was now being conducted on the powers vested with a Police OIC under Clause 79 of the Police Act.

He said that under the new system those who have not been previously registered and who have sought new lodging are being registered.

Acting OIC of the Wellawatte Police, IP Karunadasa said that 491 persons have been registered in the Wellawatte police division and that people are being registered at the police on a daily basis.

© IT Division - Lanka News Web - All rights reserved.