The US Embassy in Colombo has expressed concern after an angry mob, which included some monks, disrupted a meeting in which families of disappeared Tamils were briefing Colombo-based diplomats and civil society activists on Monday.

The meeting that included U.S. Embassy officials was interrupted by angry protesters forcing their way into the meeting on the grounds of a Colombo Catholic church, where families of disappeared persons from the civil conflict were sharing their stories with civil society groups and members of the diplomatic community.

“The U.S. Embassy is concerned that the initial reaction of the local police to this disruption appeared to be in support of the mob’s efforts to shut down the meeting, though after discussions with diplomatic officials the police did effectively calm the situation.”

“The mob shouted hateful slogans, made unfounded accusations, and behaved threateningly towards the families of the disappeared,” the embassy said in a release.

It said that the protesters were not exercising their right to peaceful protest, but rather were disrupting a peaceful gathering of conflict survivors, including children. The strong impression was that the protesters were seeking to “intimidate and silence” those in attendance, it said.

The United States strongly urged the Government of Sri Lanka to enforce the rule of law and permit all citizens to exercise their most basic human rights, including freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

“We also call on the Government of Sri Lanka take all possible steps to ensure the safety of families who had traveled from the North to attend this meeting, both in Colombo and upon their return home,” the release said.