Tamil Families of the Disappeared outraged by Tamil politicians

by Shabeeha
Dec 12, 2022

 

Following 2,120 days of protest, Tamil Families of the Disappeared staged a protest a vigil outside government offices in Vavuniya, decrying the action of Tamil politicians who met with government officials.

During the protest, demonstrators pelted photos of Tamil politicians with tomatoes in an expression of outrage. Protesters maintained that Tamil MPs should not speak with the Sri Lankan government alone.

Explaining their protest, one of the organisers told reporters that she could not see the benefit in discussions with the Sri Lankan government as they have already foreclosed on any possible solution. Instead, she urged MPs to speak with the US and European Union and engage with the international community as opposed to the Sri Lankan government.

The protest follows TNA politician MA Sumanthiran's meeting with Sri Lanka's president and prime minister, as well as a similar meeting between the TNA, the Colombo Young Men's Buddhist Association and Switzerland's embassy officials.

Tamil Families of the Disappeared continue to demand an international investigation into the disappearance of their loved ones and have slammed the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) as a sham.

Read more here: ‘The OMP is an inactive mechanism’ - Tamil families of the disappeared speak to Tamil Guardian at the UNHRC

The latest report by the UN High Commissioner highlights that the OMP "has not been able to trace a single disappeared person or clarify the fate of the disappeared in meaningful ways".

An estimated 138 protesters have died without knowing the fate of their loved ones.


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