Sri Lanka Minister seeks probe into 1983 riots

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, MAY 29. Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Ethnic Affairs has asked for the establishment of a South Africa-style truth and reconciliation commission into the 1983 riots which, according to him, would put to rest the acrimony between the country's majority Sinhala and minority Tamil communities.

In a letter to the Speaker asking him to appoint a parliamentary committee to probe the riots in which hundreds of Tamils were killed, Mr. K.S. Ganeshamoorthy, who represents the Batticaloa district in Parliament and is a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, said the aim was not to seek revenge but establish the truth.

The riots are held to be a watershed in the history of Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict and one of the main factors that contributed to the growth of Tamil militancy in the mid-80s.

The United National Party (UNP), which was then in power, is alleged to have played an active role in fanning the flames of the riots.

After the riots, there was no organised attempt by the State to bring the guilty to book except for isolated instances where individuals were charged for minor offences.

A Government website said Mr. Ganeshamoorthy had also written to the President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga, with his request.

He has addressed another letter to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, asking him to support the establishment of such a commission.

The TULF parliamentarian, Mr. V. Anandasangaree, told The Hindu that though it might be ``too late'' for such a commission, it was still a ``fair and reasonable'' proposal.

``The entire history, demography and geography of the country was changed because of the riots. There are still people who can give evidence about what happened,'' he said.

However, he wondered if this was purely a political tactic by the Government to ward off accusations against one of its Ministers who was the alleged agent provocateur in the recent Sinhala- Muslim communal clashes in central Sri Lanka.

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Section  : International
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