Nearly eight prominent politicos of both the People's Alliance and the UNP have been implicated in connection with the extra-judicial killings alleged to have been carried out by the People's Revolutionary Red Army (PRRA) during the 1987-89 JVP uprising.
'PRRA' is allegedly responsible for the abduction and killing of many JVP activists during the country's second insurgency. The suspected military leader of the PRRA, Sarath Silva alias Podi Silva is reported to have admitted that his para-military group killed about 1,200 JVPers and he would disclose all details if a commission is appointed to inquire into the killings carried out not only by the PRRA but by all other armed groups including the JVP.
The names of certain politicians and high-ranking police officers who directly or indirectly supported the activities of the PRRA would be revealed in the proceedings of such a commission of inquiry, it is expected. However, 'Podi' Silva is still at large challenging the police to nab him if they could.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the JVP, Tilvin Silva told 'The Sunday Times' that they were highly suspicious of the government's handing over of investigations into the 'PRRA revelations' to the now infamous Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
He added that his party had already written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), W.B. Rajaguru with copies to President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence requesting that the culprits be brought to book without attempting to sweep the matter under the carpet.
"We are closely observing the developments", Tilvin Silva said.
There is no conscription of Muslim youth to the EPDP as alleged by Minister M.H.M. Ashraf or anyone else but instead they are joining voluntarily, said EPDP leader Douglas Devananda said.
Addressing a news conference yesterday at the party headquarters, Mr. Devananda told the journalists to see for themselves, showing about 25 to 30 youth from the Ampara district, whether they have been brought here by force. "Talk to them and find out for yourselves the truth," he urged the media.
"These boys are from Oluvil and other areas of the Ampara district. They are new recruits to the EPDP and they have volunteered to join us," he said.
Asked why the EPDP, he said, probably the youth in the Ampara district and the East must be disillusioned with their leaders and the parties that they had supported.
"The EPDP is a party which welcomes members from all communities. If there is an election in Jaffna tomorrow and if the Muslims, even though they are not there now, want a nominee of theirs we would certainly oblige.
Similarly in the Ampara district too we will not hesitate to nominate Muslims from the EPDP if there is an election there as well.
The Sunday Times spoke to some of the boys who had joined the EPDP a few weeks ago.
"We are from poor families. My friends and I are from the same school, Al Hamra Maha Vidyalaya and all are from the same class (Grade XIII)," said Afar Khan.
"There is a lot of discrimination between the rich and poor students in the schools in Oluvil," said M. Laheer.
"Our parents are poor and they know that we have joined the EPDP to serve the people in whatever way we can," said T. Rizwan.
Diverting from this topic Mr. Devananda touched on the topic of the EPDP and PRAA.
"At the time the PRAA was formed during the time of its alleged killing I was in India (1986 May to 1990 May).
"I had nothing to do with the PRAA," he asserted.
The city was lurched and spruced up yesterday by hundreds of men, women and school children, answering Mayor Karu Jayasuriya's call to clean up Colombo.
Members of the diplomatic corps and V.I.Ps. chipped in planting saplings in Viharamaha-Devi Park to mark the event. Women from several volunteer associations, scouts, girl guides and film stars took part in the clean-up campaign. CMC deployed all it trucks and hired 30 more lorries to carry away garbage. 'The regular labour force was on duty to clear the litter. The work spots were manning market, Wanathamulla, Narahenpita, market complexes in Dematagoda areas, said a CMC source.
The two EPDP parliamentarians, R. Ramamoorthy and R. Rameswaran were expelled from the party on Friday by the party leadership on the findings of the Party's Committee of Inquiry.
The two brother parliamentarians told 'The Sunday Times' that EPDP General Secretary Douglas Deva-nanda had sent them the letters of expulsion.
They said that separate letters had been sent to them saying they had been found guilty by the committee of inquiry on complaints made by the Jaffna public.
A copy of the letter has been sent to the Secretary of Parliament too by the EPDP leader Douglas Devananda.
The committee has found R. Rama-moorthy guilty on three charges out of four and R. Rames-waran on eight charges out of eleven, according to the letter of expulsion, the two parliamentarians said.
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