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The Association of the Families of the Disappeared staged a protest in Vavuniya criticized Tamil political leaders for prioritizing individual seats over justice for the disappeared, stating that this fragmented approach risks weakening Tamil representation. The group held a demonstration at Vavuniya Old Bus Station today, where members voiced their concerns about the divisive state of Tamil politics in the homeland.
Speaking to the media, the families expressed disappointment in the lack of cohesion among Tamil candidates. “In this election, Tamil politicians have not come together as a negotiating force for the people of the North-Eastern Province,” one member stated. “They are focused solely on securing seats instead of uniting as a front. Who benefits from this?”
The families highlighted that, instead of rallying as a unified community to advocate for the Tamil cause, the candidates are divided across multiple parties and symbols—with many also running independently. This they warned, is leading to confusion and potential dilution of the Tamil vote.
“More than 800 candidates are vying for 12 seats in the Northern Province alone. How are people supposed to make sense of so many options?” they questioned. “The sheer number of candidates and symbols could result in votes being divided, diminishing the chances of electing strong Tamil representatives and possibly allowing Sinhala parties to capture seats.”
Expressing frustration with the financial resources spent on individual campaigns, the association suggested that this money could be better invested in supporting the Tamil community. “Why waste money on political campaigns? This money could go directly to the people who need it most,” one family member said.
The families of the disappeared have been protesting for years demanding the Sri Lankan government investigate allegations of war crimes where tens of thousands of Tamils were massacred while hundreds were enforced disappears.
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