More than 100 Tamils arrested in Colombo during SLA cordon and search
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) conducted sudden cordon and search operations in Colombo that resulted in the arrest of more than 100 Tamils. The search operations were conducted in the evening of 17 December after many returned from work. Among those arrested were a lawyer, a journalist and a computer specialist of a media centre. More than 500 SLA and police conducted the searches, which included homes, offices, hotels, shops and vehicles. New security checkpoints and road barricades were also created by the SLA.
The search operations were conducted in the areas of Wellawatte, Kirulappanai, Narehenpitiya, Bampalapitiya and Havelock Town. Arrests were carried out crudely and those arrested were not given reasons for their arrests. Ninety-five percent of those arrested had national identity cards and employment identity cards. One police inspector who wished to remain anonymous is reported to have said that the arrested people were not in possession of illegal items. Residents expressed anger that they were being treated like cattle. Those arrested were initially taken to the local police stations of their district. At about 10:00 pm they were taken to the police headquarters in Bampalapitiya, where they were videotaped, had photographed and thoroughly questioned. The inquiries at the police headquarters continued until the following morning at 6:00 am. Those arrested were then taken back to local police stations and held in custody there until 10:30 am. The employer of the journalist and computer specialist of the media centre requested that they both be released, but police officials refused to release them. The search operations were reported to Tamil politicians, who went to police stations demanding the release of those arrested and some people were released. There is heightened tension among the Tamil people in these areas.
19 December 2005
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Europe which has a total population of 800 million is made up of 45 language based nation states. South Asia which has a total population of one billion, (1000 million) is comprised of four states. Who is preventing and therefore benefiting by limiting new nation-states in South Asia?
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