In a response issued on Tuesday, the HRW say that they have received reports of abductions implicating the government over the past six weeks.

	Human Rights Watch Director, Brad Adams

In a statement issued from the President's office, the government says the report is inaccurate and biased. "The report of the Human Rights Watch entitled “Return to War – Human Rights under Siege” is largely tendentious, and is replete with generalizations. It refers to issues that have been largely resolved".

In its response to government reaction, the HRW say, “Human Rights Watch has received reports of “disappearances” implicating the government over the past six weeks in the volatile north and east.

Well over 1,000 “disappearance” cases have been reported over the past 18 months in Sri Lanka and, despite assertions, the government has shown itself unable or unwilling to make them stop, or to arrest those responsible HRW

Even in the capital Colombo, after a lull, abductions and “disappearances” have continued. Well over 1,000 “disappearance” cases have been reported over the past 18 months in Sri Lanka and, despite assertions, the government has shown itself unable or unwilling to make them stop, or to arrest those responsible".

Unconfirmed and unsubsantiated allegations

The statement say,"These largely unconfirmed and unsubstantiated allegations and outdated information do not justify the demand for a special UN Observer Mission on Human Rights in Sri Lanka".

	Relatives of the dissapeared protesting

The Pressident's office also say the numbers of the missing and the displaced are not correct. "Among the unsubsantiated information are the numbers of persons who have allegedly disappeared and the number of IDPs. The work of government agencies to establish the whereabouts of these persons has been ignored".

The statement claim the government had managed to reduce the number being abducted in the recent months. "The Report also ignores the fact that the numbers of alleged disappearances and abductions have sharply

	Police Chief Victor Perera said some members of the security forces are involved in abductions

declined in recent months due to the firm action taken by the Government and the arrest of two criminal gangs against whom legal action is being pursued".

HRW spokeswoman Charu Hogg told BBC Sandeshaya that action taken by the government is not sufficient. "In its report, HRW lays down very clearly its reasons why the commission of inquiry is inadequate to deal with the level of current and on-going abuses".

However the statement, the authorities does not deny the unlawful killings and abductions during the present administration. The statement say, "A Special Commission appointed by the President is at present investigating specified instances of unlawful killings and disappearances, and the work of this Commission is being observed by an International Group of Eminent Persons".

campaign against a brutal terrorist group

The statement say that the accused crimes were commited while fighting a 'brutal terrorist' group. "It is regretted that insufficient attention has been paid by Human Rights Watch to the fact that these allegations are

The Report also ignores the fact that the numbers of alleged disappearances and abductions have sharply declined - President's office

made against the background of a campaign against a brutal terrorist group, the LTTE, which has been banned as an international terrorist organization by many countries; and which has for many years been engaged in gross violations of Human Rights, particularly the recruitment and use of children for armed conflict".

In the statement, the government accuses the Tamil Tigers of exploiting the freedom in the West. "The LTTE also exploits the freedoms of democracies, particularly in the West, to obtain funding from abroad to purchase more weapons to use against the democratically elected Government of Sri Lanka, and to oppress the people under its jackboot".

one-sided report

The statement says, while fighting the Tamil Tigers the government is also is committed to peaceful negotiated settlement. "It is also regretted

Thousands displaced in the battle for the domination of the East of Sri Lanka

that Human Rights Watch has thought it fit to issue such a largely one-sided report, weighed so heavily against the legitimate government of Sri Lanka, that is maintaining and protecting democracy, and seeks to take it to sections of the population that have been deprived of democratic rights by the LTTE for nearly two decades; and, remains committed to a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the prevailing crisis in the country, caused essentially by separatist terrorism".

Our report on the LTTE’s fund-raising tactics abroad is used by the government’s Peace Secretariat website - Human Rights Watch

In response to the accusation of being biased, HRW told BBC Sandeshaya: "Human Rights Watch has a long history of documenting abuses by the LTTE and will continue to do so. Its report on the LTTE’s fund-raising tactics abroad is used by the government’s Peace Secretariat website.”