A second bomb in Colombo: people are frustrated, they want the truth and peace
by Melani Manel Perera
Yesterdays attacks on the outskirts of the capital killed at least 8 people mainly civilians. The government accuses the Tamil Tiger rebels, who deny all involvement. The nation’s people are tired of both sides propaganda and demand to know “who is responsible for the continuous death of the innocent”. An appeal to the authorities: “Return to peace negotiations”.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Anxiety and frustration are on the increase in Sri Lankan society in the aftermath of the second attack in less than a week on the capital Colombo, which killed at least 8 people. The population tired of contradictory statements from the government and rebels is demanding greater protection and state and rebel clarification regarding the civil war which has been re-ignited across the country.
Yesterday a bomb, placed on the roof of a video shop exploded while a Special Task Force (Stf) police bus was passing by in Ratmalana, 10 km south of the capital. The victims, among them two women, were civilians on their way home. Last May 24th in the capital one person died following the explosion of a bomb planted on a motorbike and detonated as an army bus was passing. These new attacks come at a time when the country’s military has intensified its campaign against the Ltte rebels in the North of the country.
The military has accused separatists of the of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Ltte), for the Ratmalana attack, but they have denied all involvement. It is the usual propaganda of tit for tat accusations carried out by both sides of the conflict, hiding the truth. . Father Reid Shelton Fernando – the National Chaplain of the Young Workers Movement says “They deny all responsibility until they arrest someone”. “The fact that the bomb was positioned on the roof of a shop – he underlines – means a lack of local security , we feel abandoned by the civil authorities”. The priest goes on to list his doubts surrounding the nature of the attack : “the target was Police Commandos, that means that some groups had been vigilant about their movements, but who? for what reason? The reason for this is to disrupt the civil life and to create further fear among the citizens. It will have adverse impact on the economy, social mobility? The only solution is to return to the negotiating table”.
An appeal for peace was also launched by a local Buddhist teacher, who teaches in a nearby school. Premaseeli Gunasekara warns: “The government aim the finger to the LTTE over this incident but the LTTE deny this incident as we know? We citizens want to know, we want to know why innocent civilians continue to die and So we urge our government to start the peace talks in a fruitful manner”.
.png)
See also
Army issues ultimatum to Tamil Tigers
21/04/2009
21/04/2009
