Sri Lanka President denies allegations of human rights violations, pact with Tigers

go to LankaPage.com

Sri Lanka::
* Sri Lanka President denies allegations of human rights violations, pact with Tigers
Sunday, March 11, 2007, 13:08 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Mar 11, Colombo: While denying allegations of human rights violations by his administration against the Tamil minority, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the government cannot act according to "jungle law" as the country has its own legitimate law.

Defending the military against accusations of abductions and disappearances, the President asked, “Do you think the forces who liberated areas without even causing a scratch to people would abduct people and make people disappear?”

Addressing intellectuals at Temple Trees yesterday, the President said this type of fabrication is spread only by defeated and retired politicians who act on behalf of the Tiger organization and those who try to come to power through shortcuts. He rejected the allegations that there was an agreement between the Sri Lankan government and the Tiger organization and said such allegations are spread to bring down the morale of the Security Forces.

Addressing the gathering, Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said there were no reports of abduction of UNP or JVP or other democratic party members.

“Has any member from the UNP or JVP disappeared or anyone from plantations or any other democratic political party disappeared? No one has been taken into custody on political reasons. Not a single journalist has been harassed, though they have spread false rumours about Security Forces,” he said.