UTHR (J) says LTTE staged TRO abduction drama

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

DRAMA: The University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) has alleged that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organisation has faked the alleged abduction of seven Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) personnel at Welikande on the Batticaloa - Polonnaruwa border in two separate incidents on January 29 and 30 of this year.

The UTHR (J) in the special report No 20 released on April 2nd titled "Terrorism, Counterterrorism and Challenges to Human Rights Advocacy" has cited sources close to family members of one abducted person saying that the LTTE has told them not to worry as the missing persons were safe with the LTTE.

The UTHR report refers to the TRO abduction incident in the following manner - " An example of the resulting anarchy is the alleged abduction of 10 TRO workers in the Batticaloa District about the end of January (first two and then reportedly another released). The facts around these abductions remained murky and appeared on the surface a complex plot involving several actors, with the connivance of the state security apparatus at local level."

"But now UTHR(J) can confirm that the TRO abduction drama was staged by the LTTE immediately before the Geneva meeting to force the paramilitary issue to the forefront of the talks. According to a reliable source close to a family member of an abducted TRO employee, the family was assured that he is safe and not to worry, as all the abductees are safe with the LTTE. But the family was warned not to leak this information. "

"Further, we understand that the release of three abductees along with rumours that some of the abductors spoke Hindi was also calculated to point the finger of blame at the Karuna faction (which is aligned to the ENDLF).

This was meant to detract from the Government's insistence that the abductions were the work of the LTTE. The released abductees were forced to relate a story implicating the security forces and the Karuna group."

"This also explains LTTE fronts quickly becoming silent in demanding the release of the TRO abductees. We withhold further information on the ordeal of family members and other information which led us to our finding for the sake of the safety of the families. But in the interests of peace and accountably, this information needs to be brought into the open."

While the UTHR charges that the TRO abduction was a LTTE drama the TRO and various other pro - tiger organisations have continued to agitate for the release of the abducted persons. Instead of being silent on the issue a series of staggered protest demonstrations urging the release are currently underway in many areas of the North - East.

The State, security apparatus and sections of the media have been sceptical of the abduction from the time it was announced by the TRO. There have been overt and covert allegations that it was a "stagemanaged operation" by the LTTE to draw place the Government in an embarrassing position during the Geneva talks.

The LTTE and pro - LTTE elements have refuted this accusation and continued to insist that the Karuna faction in association with the Security Forces were responsible for the abduction. They have campaigned continuously for the release of the abducted people.

The UTHR (J) assertion that the TRO personnel were not really abducted and that the LTTE staged the drama for propaganda mileage is very likely to strengthen the stance adopted by those doubting the bona fides of the entire incident.

Likewise LTTE and pro - LTTE circles are likely to criticise the UTHR (J) report severely and accuse the organisation as done earlier of working against "Tamil Nationalism".

It is against this backdrop of accusation and counter accusation that the highly respected UTHR (J) has made its own revelation about the LTTE staging this TRO abduction drama.

While this claim would be seized on by Anti - Tiger sections on the one hand in support of their stance and would be disputed vehemently by pro - tiger elements this writer is only concerned about the safe return of the "missing" persons.

Let us fervently hope and pray that they return home safely as soon as possible and that the controversy surrounding their "disappearance" should not affect their well - being.

[TamilWeek]