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Three-member committee appointed to look into Tamil Diaspora’s concerns
View(s):By Chris Kamalendran
Justice and Prison Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has appointed a three-member committee headed by former Chief Justice Asoka de Silva to look into issues raised by the Tamil Diaspora representatives.
This is after he initiated a first meeting with Tamil Diaspora members through a teleconference.
The minister held a lengthy teleconference last Sunday with Canadians for Justice and Equality–a Canada based Diaspora organisation–and Diaspora representatives in four other countries including Australia and France. The Canadian organisation was led by Roy Samathanam who was also detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for a lengthy period before being acquitted and released.
The Tamil Diaspora community had laid down two main conditions to continue discussions; the early release of political prisoners and putting a stop to the harassment of civilians in the North and East. They also told the minister they want the state to strengthen reconciliation among the communities.
Minister Rajapakshe confirmed to the Sunday Times that he had initiated the meeting with the Diaspora community and had “listened carefully” to their concerns. A three-member committee was appointed thereafter, and he met with the committee members on Friday.
“We should not leave this issue for the next generation to resolve. We must strive to ease these grievances as early as possible and build up the country,” he said.
Diaspora representatives had also raised the matter of forcible land acquisition in the North and East by security forces.
“We are in the process of releasing lands to their rightful owners. This is an ongoing exercise,” the minister said.
At the moment, 20 Tamil prisoners are convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and 22 prisoners have cases pending against them, the minister said. He said the Government was preparing to amend the Criminal Procedure Code to ease overcrowding in prisons.
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