- The Sri Lankan Presidential Commission which was set up to look into complaints of disappearances has received over 20,000 complaints from the families of missing persons, of which about 5000 belong to the Sri Lankan army.
- Many Sri Lankans believe this to be enforced disappearances. Recently, the commission also took over the mantle of investigating into allegations of war crimes and violation of international humanitarian law, perpetuated by the military and LTTE.
- The absence of victim and witness protection mechanisms has however led to many questioning the authenticity of the Commission.
- While many have allegedly seen their missing relatives for the last time when under Sri Lankan army, the govt alleges many to have fled, Tamils to India and Muslims to Puttalam (along the Lankan border).
- The govt is trying to source information regarding refugees in many countires but has faced a major hurdle as many countries are unwilling to share the information due to security concerns.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/complaints-on-20000-missing-persons/article6319943.ece