"I love my father so much. He used to tell me stories and give me a kiss every night before I go to sleep. Please release my father" an emotional request made by 7 year-old Angel Yogarajan. Her father and two brothers were abducted on March 2nd 2007 in NegomboThe first ever public meeting for "Expression of grief of the families and friends of the disappeared" was held on April 9 th 2007 at Veera Mylan Hall in Colombo 13. It was organized by the Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC). A large number of people gathered to give voice to those who are affected.
Men ,women and children were holding portraits of their missing loved ones-fathers, brothers, husband, fiancés and friends who have disappeared, grieved and requested for the safe return of their loved ones, and halt abductions. Women wailed, children cried, men mourned. The event became very emotional and heart breaking. Some women whose husbands have disappeared for months beaten on their chests and lamented. Almost everybody was in tears, when women started to wail while speaking out their hardships. Some journalists noted the event as funeral, because it was such an emotional moment for each and everybody who attended. Human rights activists, peace activists and politicians participated.
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Convener of the Civil Monitoring Commission Mano Ganesan , Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran, Chairman of the Civil Monitoring Commission Sirithunga Jayasooriya United National Party's Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake , and United National Party's Parliamentarian John Amarathunga participated in the public meeting.
