"Whom do we create democracy if people are getting killed?"

Batticaloa Mayor, Sivageetha Prabhakaran, provincial councillors and other members of the local bodies took part in the protest calling for democracy to be established in the province.

A hunger strike was organised as part of the protest to condemn what they call "killings with impunity".

"We can build roads, bridges but people cant benefit from development alone. Whom do we create democracy if people are getting killed? Is democracy for the dead bodies?," Batticaloa Mayor Ms. Prabhakaran questioned.

Government 'responsible'

Eastern province Chief Minister, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) who also attended the protest said himself and the government should take the responsibility.

We can build roads, bridges but people cant benefit from development alone. Whom do we create the democracy if people are getting killed? Is democracy for the dead bodies   Batticaloa Mayor, Sivageetha Prabhakaran

Two soldiers and a Hindu priest were killed and two civilians sustained injuries on Thursday in Batticaloa district.

At least 19 people, including four soldiers, were killed in the district within the last week.

Doctors suspended working in the north and the east after Dr. Palitha Padmakumara who worked in Batticaloa was shot dead on 17 November.

The protest was organised by the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), headed by Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan (Karuna), MP, and chief minister Pillayan.

The TMVP itself is accused by the UN and International human rights groups of killings, abductions and other rights violations.

The Human Rights Watch last week accused the TMVP of involved in about thirty murders and thirty abductions during September and October.