Lawyers protest over SLA harassment of Jaffna Judge

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 July 2006, 11:05 GMT]
Members of Jaffna districts Lawyers Union staged a one-hour protest Thursday in front of the Jaffna District Court Thursday morning over the death threats and attempted attack on Additional Jaffna District Judge, Ms Srinithi Nanthisekaran, by the soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), legal sources in Jaffna said. The functioning of courts across Jaffna district was curtailed during the protest, sources said.

The Lawyers Union members in a meeting held at the premises of Jaffna District Court presided by Attorney Ms Shantha Abimannasingham Wednesday passed the following resolutions:

• Jaffna Lawyers Union members express shock and dismay over the death threats against Ms Srinithi Nanthisekaran by the soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).
• Judges perform a sacred duty to the society in serving as principal instruments in establishing justice and fairness. They are held in high esteem by the society and must be allowed to function without any threats or pressure by outside elements.
• Justice and judicial administration in a society is endangered when Judges are allowed to be threatened and disrespected.
• Jaffna Lawyers Union strongly condemn the threats and attempted attack against Judge Nanthisekaran and demand that Sri Lanka authorities take appropriate action to prevent such incidents in the future.

A memorandum containing the above resolutions and signed by Lawyers Union Secretary Mr K Kesavan was sent to Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse, Sri Lanka's Chief Justice Sarath N Silva, Jaffan High Court Judge, Mr Thiyagendran and to the Northern Region Commander of Sri Lanka Army, sources said.