Sri Lanka: Tamil MP killed - Urgent support needed
Yesterday a prominent Tamil MP in Sri Lanka, Nadarajah Raviraj, was killed and one of his four bodyguards was also killed in a shooting. The attack took place in an area very close to the headquarters of our sister party in Sri Lanka, the United Socialist Party (CWI).
The MP was involved in the broad Committee, headed by USP secretary, Siritunga Jayasuriya (Siri), which has been campaigning against the killings and kidnappings of Tamils in the recent period.
As Siri told us “They are trying to destroy the bridges between the North and the Southâ€. The government has condemned the killings but will do nothing to stop these outrages continuing.
One of the Sri Lankan papers carried an article last week which said that Siri himself is a prime target for the killers. He has already had numerous serious death threats.
We are asking all of our supporters to assist us in putting massive international pressure on the Sri Lankan government who are continuing to give cover to the kidnappings and protecting the communal, sectarian death squads.
On the suggestion of the USP, the funeral for the MP next Wednesday will now take the form of a mass protest. A call has gone out for all parties, except the government parties, to attend the ceremony.
An appeal is being made for shops, offices and markets to close at the time of the funeral. Approaches are being made to trade unions to organise walk-outs that day to go to the funeral and to protests that the government must act.
With this high profile killing, the mood is mounting for a united stance against the war as well as against the kidnappings and killings. Our comrades in the USP will be campaigning even more vigorously, and with great courage in these circumstances, for the demands of the ordinary working and poor people – Sinhala as well as Tamil - to be heard.
We are asking our supporters to please take a few minutes to send a protest email or make a phone call to the Sri Lankan consulate or to the Sri Lankan government directly. (See the details below)
Very few of us have to face the assassin’s bullet as we go about our political or trade union work. The least we can do in solidarity is to express our anger at what is taking place in Sri Lanka. We urge supporters to assist us in this campaign against death threats in general but particularly because the life is in danger of a leading and long-standing member of the CWI. Siri in fact visited Australia in 2000 speaking at public meetings and to trade union and community leaders.
We are asking for an avalanche of phone calls, letters and e-mails to the Sri Lankan government. Or if you are able to make a donation to the work of the USP in this stressful time please contact the SP National Office on 03 9639 9111. Further articles will be carried on the Socialist Party website shortly.
Contact Details for the Sri Lankan government – Direct
Email the President Mahinda Rajapakse - ramya@presidentsoffice.lk
Contact details for Sri Lankan Consulates in Australia
New South Wales
Consulate-General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Jurisdiction throughout New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia
Consulate-General:
Level 11 48 Hunter Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9223 8729, 9223 8742
Fax: (02) 9223 8750
Email : slcgsyd@ihug.com.au
Web : www.slcgsyd.com
Hours of Business:
Monday - Friday: 9.00 a.m. - 4.45 p.m.
Mrs Gothami INDIKADAHENA
Acting Consul-General
Mr G.U.P. Hewawasam
Consul
Mrs C.N. PUSHPAKUMARA
Mr N P P D Nalin PRASANNA
Vice-Consul
Mrs H B S W KUMARI
Queensland
Consulate of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Jurisdiction throughout Queensland
Consulate:
19 Boxwood Place
Bald Hills QLD 4036 Tel: (07) 3261 8742, 0438 194 852
Fax: (07) 3261 8742
Email : sl_honconsul@hotmail.com
Hours of Business:
by appointment
Mr Anton SWAN
Honorary Consul (12/04/2005)
Mrs Bronwen Elizabeth SWAN
South Australia
Consulate for the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka
Jurisdiction throughout South Australia
Consulate:
236 Glynburn Road
Tranmere SA 5073 Tel: (08) 8331 2318
Fax: (08) 8331 2318
Email : ananda@chariot.net.au
Hours of Business:
Monday - Friday: 9.00 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.
Mr Ananda K. ERIYAGAMA
Honorary Consul
Mrs Chandra ERIYAGAMA
Victoria
Consulate of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Jurisdiction throughout Victoria
Consulate:
8 Sutton Parade
Mont Albert North Vic 3129 Tel: (03) 9898 6760, 0417 303 360
Fax: (03) 9898 6760
Email : rodney.arambewela@deakin.edu.au
Hours of Business:
By appointment
Postal Address:
Dr Rodney ARAMBEWELA
Honorary Consul (25/03/1987)
Mrs Mala ARAMBEWELA
Western Australia
Consulate of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Jurisdiction throughout Western Australia
Consulate:
c/- DF Crawley and Associates 6th Floor 105 St George’s Terrace
Perth WA 6000 Tel: (08) 9321 4800
Fax: (08) 9321 5900
Hours of Business:
Monday - Friday: 8.30 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.
Postal Address:
Mr Desmond Frank CRAWLEY
Honorary Consul (23/02/1994)
Mrs Suzanne CRAWLEY
