Sangaree condemns Paanama massacre

COLOMBO: TULF leader V. Anandasangaree yesterday strongly condemning the massacre of 10 Muslims at Paanama noted that all victims were innocent workers who were not at all involved in politics.

Issuing a statement Sangaree said:

"The fact that most of them are teenagers who should be in school, without going for work as labourers, clearly shows that they are from poor families and breadwinners of their respective families, went to work to earn a living. It is a pity that the assailants take great pleasure in killing people without any consideration for the plight of families of the victims.

"The statement notes that, these killings cannot be less brutal than the Welikanda massacre of 12 similar workers or of the five students killed in Trincomalee or of the six workers engaged in sand mining massacred at Maruthankadawalla or some other such killings that had taken place in recent time.

Disgracefully most of the victims had been hacked to death after being tortured, a new culture introduced by some unscrupulous elements recently. We Sri Lankans which ever community we may belong to should feel ashamed, of the manner in which the victims are killed.

"It is easy for one group to put the blame on the other. I do not believe that the Forces could have had a hand in this incident. It is the duty of the Forces to give protection to the people, representing the Government. In fact, they are meant for it and if there are any black sheep among them they should point out the black sheep that brings discredit to the entire forces.