Forced disappearances, a contentious issue warranting NPP's attention - FSP

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesperson Pubudu Jayagoda said that in spite of repeated assurances given to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and some members of the international community regarding disappearances during the conflict and after successive governments hadn't been genuine in their efforts to address the issue.

- BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

Pubudu

The JVP-led National People's Power (NPP) seemed to be no exception, Jayagoda alleged, urging the incumbent government to pay special attention to what he called disappearance issue. Jayagoda said that different governments caused thousands of disappearances during the southern insurgency and northeast conflict.

Although the issue had been taken up specially during national elections and promises made to the electorate, families of the victims as well as other concerned parties were disappointed with the way the issue was addressed.

Jayagoda said that the FSP wouldn't under any circumstances give up its fight for Lalith Kumar Weeraraju and Kugan Muruganandan whose disappearance on Human Rights Day Dec 10, 14 years ago received public attention both here and abroad.

Pointing out that those disappearances took place two years after the end of war during Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term, Jayagoda said that those responsible were yet to be brought to justice.