2ND LEAD (Adds details)

Mirror story on Jaffna youths, false, says Rights Group

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 20:58 GMT]
Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna Officials dismissed as blatant lie, the Colombo based Daily Mirror front page report Wednesday claiming that parents in Jaffna handed over 200 children to them, fearing abduction by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), quoting a former HRC member, Jaffna HRC sources said.

Nothing of this nature has ever happened but more than 72 youths and young family men have sought safety with HRC Jaffna and placed in the protective custody in Jaffna prison in the recent past for fear of their lives in the hands of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and the paramilitary men collaborating with them.

The HRC officials also said that three youths under 18 from Kodikaamam area have been recently placed by them in the protective custody in Jaffna prison for the same reason.

This is a vile attempt to disrepute LTTE, civil society sources in Jaffna said.

The HRC member cited in the Daily Mirror report Wednesday is a Sinahalese, and the news story was written in a language giving an impression that the said official is still attached to the HRC Jaffna office, they added.

Related Articles:
25.04.07   2 students, family man seek protection with Jaffna HRC
21.03.07   Jaffna resident seeks protection with HRC
15.03.07   3 youths seek safety with Jaffna Rights Body
13.02.07   Two civilians seek protection at Jaffna HRC
13.02.07   Two youths seek protection at Jaffna HRC
09.02.07   Three seek protection at Jaffna HRC
29.01.07   Youth seeks safety at Jaffna Police station
24.01.07   Youth surrenders at the Jaffna Rights Group office
17.01.07   Two more youths surrender to Jaffna Human Rights group
17.01.07   Family seeks protection with Rights Group
06.01.07   Youths seek safety through Jaffna SLHRC
06.12.06   More youths surrender to Rights Group in Jaffna


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Jaffna children in HRC custody