According to the Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC), the listed number of missing persons is 132, before two of them were recently released after collecting the ransom demanded by extortion gangs. Out of 130 cases, 125 have been reported between January 2006 to June 2007 while the highest number of cases had been reported between the months of August 2006 and January 2007.CMC Convener MP Mano Ganesan claimed that political abductions were chiefly carried out by groups operating close to the military by targeting those who act or bear different opinions or persons suspected to be involved in terrorist activists. Others were merely abducted by certain groups for ransom or extortion.
“Ninety percent of the abductions have been identified as politically motivated and the most serious. Relatives of victims in these cases claim of unidentified persons in plain clothes posing as secret police units coming in white vans to them away, saying they were doing so on suspicion and for questioning. But where are these people being taken to, where are they being held or whether they are still alive is a grave question faced by the helpless innocent family members of these missing individuals”.The Government and responsible authorities try to wash their hands of the problem by saying the abductions and disappearances have ceased after the capture of certain groups allegedly involved in the extortion business. “But who will look into the issues of the already missing persons?” MP Ganesan questioned.
According to him, the entire abduction drama had started after the failure of the Ceasefire Agreement signed between the LTTE and the then UNP government in 2002. With the signing of the MoU cessation of hostilities was evident as well as the LTTE setting up political offices in all chief positions in the East and the North. Educated youth from those surrounding areas were recruited as clerical staff for these offices.
The system was functioning smoothly for sometime till it turned volatile with the violations of the CFA and the country going back to a full scale war.
The LTTE political offices in government controlled areas were removed and most of its staff having no option, either fled to uncleared areas or came into government controlled areas, especially to Colombo.
Intelligence units in search of information related to the LTTE started hunting these characters who had settled in Colombo and its suburbs, saying it was for questioning. But many never returned, MP Ganesan categorically stated.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/08/04/feat/2.asp)
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