HC lawyers condemn violence in Sri Lanka

Chennai, Nov 16 (UNI) A large number of advocates practising in Madras High Court formed a 'human chain' in front of the High Court premises, condemning the Sri Lankan Army's alleged killing of innocent Tamil civilians in the island nation.

About 200 advocates led by All India Bar Association Vice-Chairman S Prabhakaran staged the protest yesterday on the busy NSC Bose Road, shouting slogans and carrying placards against the Sri Lankan government and the Army.

According to the advocates, the Sri Lankan government, by resorting to largescale killing, had been repeatedly violating international norms and guidelines of the United Nations.

After the talks. mediated by the Norwegian delegation, between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE did not make any headway, the former had been embarking on large scale violence with the aim of annihilating the Tamil tigers, the lawyers said.

The advocates called upon the international community to voice their protest and ensure that the ethnic conflict comes to an end.

They said it was the responsibility of the Indian government to make efforts to stop killing of innocents people. They requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to persuade the Sri Lankan government to stop killing in the name of targeting the LTTE.

They also requested him to consult other political parties and send a parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka to hold talks with the administration there to find ways and means to save innocent Tamils.

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