9 Jaffna youths, feared disappeared, found held in Southern Jails

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 July 2006, 01:04 GMT]
Nine of the several young men and women from Jaffna, feared disappeared within the last six months, have been located in jails in the South of Sri Lanka, civil society sources in Colombo said. The youths have been held in detention without being produced in court after being arrested by Sri Lanka security forces, according to sources. The information came to light after officials of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission directly conducted investigations into the disappearances of Jaffna youth, rights officials said.

Two of the nine held under detention are women. Three were arrested in Jaffna district and then taken to jails in the South by the Sri Lanka Security forces without adhering to proper legal procedures.

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission officials have appealed to the relatives of the identified detainees to immediately contact the SLHRC offices, HRC officials said. Details of the youths

1. Rasiah Anandarajah from Kodikamam, arrested in Kodikamam on 27 June,
2. Sellathurai Jananthan from Mattuvil North, Chavakachcheri, arrested in Kuruthuwatte, Colombo on 6 May,
3. Ms Vadivel Thayani, from Navatkuli Chavakachcheri, arrested in Dematagoda, Colombo on 27 April,
4. Kanthasamy Jeyasekar, from Kankesanthurai (KKS) arrested in Grandpass, Colombo on 25 April,
5. Navaratnam Sathiyaseelan from Pandatharippu Jaffna, arrested in Kesaravatte, Colombo on 25 April,
6. Ms Ariyarajah Sivajini from Urumpirai East, Jaffna arrested in Kotahena Colombo on 27 April,
7. Thirunavukkarasunayanar Asokan from Sankanai, Jaffna arrested Ehiriyagoda Colombo on 27 May,
8. Ratnam Anantharajah, from Kovil Road Mallakam Jaffna arrested in Tellipalai Jaffna on 12 January and
9. Kathiravelu Ragulan arrested on 20 April by Crime Division Police.

Meanwhile, several relatives of the disappeared youths allege that they have received intimations of ransom from Sri Lanka military officials and armed paramilitaries operating with them through third-party mediators, for the release of detainees. Sums close to Rs100,000 is alleged to have been demanded for one detainee's release, sources in Jaffna said.