Nine killings in north and east post war; Government

The government admitted yesterday for the first time that there had been abductions and killings in the North and the East during the post war period.

Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardene gave some details, in parliament, of the killings and said there had been six killings in the North and three in the East during that time.
 
Mr. Gunawardene said in response to an oral question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera that there had only been one kidnapping for ransom in the Jaffna District. He said the victim had been kidnapped after being summoned to a certain spot by a call on his mobile phone. Mr. Gunawardene said a ransom of Rs. 800,000 had been demanded. But the victim had apparently been killed later as the victim’s family had been unable to raise the money. He said all the killings had been investigated, but that the police had been unable to unmask the killers.  

Mr. Jayasekera `mentioned one incident and said the victim had been employed in a volunteer organisation. He said the victim was reported missing and his body was recovered several days later. He said it was not an ordinary killing and called for a proper investigation. He said there had been several similar killings in the North and the East in the recent past. “Failure to solve these cases will damage the reputation of the government and the country,” he said.

Mr. Gunawardne said it would be possible to solve the cases if some evidence was turned up. (Yohan Perera)