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Government must respond to the Trincomalee Buddha statue

“Trincomalee district came to a standstill following protests by Tamils demanding the removal of the Buddha statue that was erected illegally overnight on May 15th. Following this the President sent a delegation of ministers three times to Trincomalee to conduct discussions. Assuarences were given that the statue will be removed lawfully.

Government Agent of Trincomalee as the representative of the President told us that the President is firm on removing the statue. However, no action has yet been taken. Instead, the Attorney General has withdrawn the case he filed about it. In the meantime government is permitting the excessive military personnel heaped in Trincomalee on the pretext of security after the Buddha statue matter to carry out serious violations of the rights of Tamils.

This excessive military presence has destroyed any semblance of normalcy in the life of Trincomalee Tamils. The activities of the military are causing physical and psychological harm to the Tamil people. Military is carrying out checking in homes after 10.00 pm at night. Security posts are being erected near schools and temples. The bombs that go off in the middle of town is deliberately planted to justify the military presence and their checking. When there are so many security posts and so much military personnel it is not possible to plant bombs without their knowledge.

In Srimavopuram the thugs from the majority community with the help of police and the military are conducting attacks on the Tamil and Muslim people. The military is carrying out the same attacks today as they did in 1977. A Hindu priest has been injured in their gun fire. More than 10 Tamil civilians have been injured in their attacks. Bodies of two youths from Trincomalee cruelly murdered were foundin Ragama.”

13 September 2005

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