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Compensation for PA-UNF political victims
PM discusses issue with President
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed to President Chandrika Kumaratunga that a political victimisation study be launched to ascertain such cases from 1977 onwards.

The move, which will involve countless number of mainly UNP and PA supporters who were politically victimised during the UNP rule from 1977 to 1994 and PA rule from 1994 - 2001 is aimed at defusing tension between the rival parties, sources told The Sunday Times.

The Prime Minister's Secretary Bradman Weerakoon confirmed that the proposal was to study political victimisation on a 'non-partisan basis' covering a variety of issues. The Sunday Times learns that the government proposes to study the issue of political victimisation going back to 1977 and will also include cases of political violence resulting in injury or death to persons.

Presidential spokesman Harim Peiris said he could not comment on the proposal itself, but added that the President was keen that the issue of political victimisation be addressed.

He said the People's Alliance (PA) had documented more than 3,000 cases of political victimisation and had earlier handed it over to the diplomatic community, the media and international organisations.

Mr. Peiris said that President Kumaratunga had also presented a cabinet paper regarding the payment of compensation for those who have been affected by political violence during the last parliamentary election period and despite the cabinet approving the proposal, the government had so far not implemented the decision.

The proposal to study cases of political victimisation comes as Interior Minister John Amaratunga flew to Geneva to defend the government at the Human Rights Commission of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

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