Batticaloa detainees fast in protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 10:44 GMT]
Five Tamil youths detained in Batticaloa prison for more than 6 months, Thursday, began protest fast on the roof of the prison demanding that the Sri Lankan government should either expedite legal action against them or release them on bail. The youths were arrested by police in the eastern Sri Lanka on 4 different incidents, legal sources said.

The fasting detainees also demand that the three Batticaloa parliamentarians should visit them and take up their issues with the legal authorities.

They were arrested for allegedly possessing fire-arms. Since their arrest the Sri Lankan police have been producing them in the court every 14 days to extend their detention.

According to sources in Batticaloa prison, the fasting detainees have been identified as:

• Krishnapillai Rameshkumar, 20, arrested by Valaichenai police on 09.06.2004.
• Ganeshan Sutharshan, 20, arrested by Valaichenai police on 09.06.2004.
• Krishnasamy Haran,24, arrested on 08.11.2004
• Muththulingam Uthayakumar, 26, arrested by Batticaloa police on 28.10.2004
• Saraskanthan Jeniter,23, arrested by Kalkudha police on 31.12.2004.