A former Northern Provincial Council (NPC) member has accused the Sri Lankan government of duplicity over its claims that Tamils are allowed to freely commemorate their dead, after he was questioned by Sri Lankan counter-terrorism police over his involvement in genocide memorial activities.
Former NPC member A Puvaneswaran was summoned to Colombo and questioned for three and half hours on October 24. Before his appointment Puvaneswaran was told nothing about the subject of the inquiry.
He told local media that his questioning was based on the previous interrogation of Mullaitivu journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan who was summoned for his reporting of Mullivaikkal and genocide remembrance week events in May.
As well as the Sri Lankan military putting up physical barriers to prevent memorial events, such as erecting barricades and restricting sites marked for vigils, the government was using the intelligence apparatus to intimidate civil society and politicians out of organising and participating in these events, Puvaneswaran said.
“The government that brags to the international community that they have given freedom to commemorate those who died in the final stages of war is conspiring behind the scenes to crush it,” he said.
