Mannar NGO workers campaign for TRO staffers' release

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 April 2006, 11:58 GMT]
Activists of non-governmental organizations in Mannar district held a protest march in Mannar town Monday morning demanding the release of the seven abducted workers of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) at Welikanda on 30th January 2006. The Consortium of Non-Governmental Organizations in Mannar District organized the event, sources said.

The protest march, which commenced around 10 a.m. Monday from the Mannar TRO office reached Mannar District Secretariat around 11.15 morning via Talaimannar-Mannar main road and Sebastian Road.

Mr.Mariyanagam Croos, Chairman of the Consortium handed over a memorandum to Mr.V.Visuvalingam, Mannar Government Agent. The memorandum was addressed to Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse with copies to the UN Secretary General, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Mannar, Regional Co-ordinator of Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in Mannar, Head of the UNHCR in Colombo, Bishop of Mannar, Mannar delegate of the International Committee of Red Cross and Mannar Government Agent, sources said.

"We earmestly request you to take immediate action to release these seven TRO workers safely to be back with their loved ones by your urgent advocacy to the parties concerned. These seven abducted persons are from ordinary and poor families," the Consortium appealed to the SL President.