Anuradhapura (AsiaNews) - "The authorities are responsible for enforced disappearances taking place in Sri Lanka. We want answers about Madushka and for those who were seized like him". This was the demand made by hundreds of people - lay people, priests, nuns and social activists - to the police and the Commission for Human Rights in Anuradhapura. On July 2, the Collective of the Families of the Disappeared (FOD) and the Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM) organized a peaceful demonstration in the city in honor of Madushka Haris da Silva, who disappeared over 10 months ago.
In early June AsiaNews told the story of this man, through the testimony of his wife Mauri Inoka. Her husband was seized on September 2, 2013, dragged by force to a white van by men who identified themselves as policemen. Since then, there has been no news of him.
Luxman and Gayan, two friends of Madushka present at the event, told AsiaNews: "We oppose this abduction and silence of the police and all authorities because the people responsible still live freely in Anuradhapura town. There has been no any action or punishment but our friend who was done nothing was abducted and disappeared".
"Torture, kidnapping, corruption and all kinds of impunity have become a natural behavior in our land" - Sister Deepa Fernando, secretary of the Christian Solidarity Movement tells AsiaNews. "We have participated in this protest over the disappearance of Madushka to say that we are opposed to every form of injustice. The life of Jesus is our inner strength, it helps us work for the good of our oppressed brothers and sisters".
