Bishop condemns Principals' killings

THE recent killings of two principals of two leading schools in Jaffna has shocked and saddened all peace-loving Sri Lankans, Bishop of Colombo Rt Rev Duleep de Chickera said.

In a release yesterday, he said: " These are the latest in a series of senseless and seemingly tit-for-tat political killings of civilians and are undoubtedly a clear violation of Article 2.1 of the Ceasefire Agreement.

However, the international monitoring mission does not seem to consider it part of their mandate to probe such incidents.

The Government simply cannot continue to avoid responsibility to prevent these killings, since these are Sri Lankans being destroyed by Sri Lankans. In the prevailing circumstances an independent Commission of Inquiry comprising competent and reputed persons.

Sri Lankan, Asian and even other international persons - should be appointed to probe and identify groups behind the killings and to make proposals to end this senseless cycle of violence. It is only such a broad-based panel that can withstand local pressures and intimidations.

These killings are humiliating and destroying the Tamil community and it is imperative for Tamil political and civil society leaders and indeed all Sri Lankan civil society leaders, particularly the religious, to condemn and ensure that this self-destruction of the community is halted.

It is also most timely and appropriate for the two main Presidential candidates to publicly denounce these killings and to declare their stance. We cannot wait till the election is over. This stance will no doubt indicate the leadership they will offer after the election.