Stop arrests under the guise of commemorations!
Journalist Deva Adiran has requested the Human Rights Commission to allow the commemoration of the day of death.
He has lodged the complaint on behalf of his fellow journalist Wimalasena Lovekumar against the Ministry of Defense and the Kalkudah Police Station.
Mr. Deva Adiran has stated that the human rights of his fellow journalist have been violated due to the celebrations held on May 18, 2021 and that it has taken place due to race, language and political policies. He has also stated that it has taken place in Valachchenai Nagawatta area.
He further stated in the complaint,
‘Citi’s fellow journalists have been arrested and detained on charges of holding a celebration in Mullivaikkal on May 18, 2021 and have been released on conditional bail. They go to the interest on the last Sunday of each month and sign.
A case has also been filed in the Valachchenai court regarding this incident.
He called on the Human Rights Commission to take steps to ensure justice for these human rights abuses, to ensure that such incidents do not happen again, to hold celebrations and commemorate the dead.
The arrest of many people in connection with the commemoration of those who died in the war is a fundamental human rights violation. In particular, the security forces are committing human rights abuses in the North, using the Mullivaikkal celebrations as a pretext. The Human Rights Commission should pay attention to such repressive practices that prevent the honoring of the dead and the remembrance of their loved ones.
The demand of all is to change the perception that all those who died in the war were terrorists. Clearly this is a repression based on race and language. It is unfortunate that the government refuses to commemorate war veterans as they are Tamils while holding state ceremonies to commemorate war veterans.
– A request from journalist Deva Adiran
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