- Once bodies are buried underground you do not know what happens to them
- There was partial justice, but not full justice. There was only reparation, but no punishments
- We are more tribal than feudal as a society. We keep re-electing family members
- We are lacking the rule-of-law because the law is not equally applied to every citizen of this country
- Vengeance may also be drawn simply because individuals are members of a particular community
Human rights issues related to enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka still continue. The grievances and the anxieties of those loved ones of the disappeared due to the ‘88-89 insurgency and the three-decade-long separatist war exist to this day. In this context Daily Mirror spoke to human rights activist and award-winning filmmaker Dr Visakesa Chandrasekaram to discuss his latest film ‘Paangshu’ and the wider issue of disappearances and the justice system in Sri Lanka.
Excerpts:
Q What inspired you to make this movie?