Anti harassment group 'seeks advice'

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 10:05 GMT]
A representative of the anti-harassment group, Mr. M. Suhair, MP, told the Thinakaran newspaper that his organisation is "seeking helpful advice and comments" from intellectuals, human rights groups and NGOs.

He said that the group, created on the orders of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, was functioning effectively, and had so far received 90 complaints, of which 40 had been settled.

He said that most of the complaints come from Colombo neighbourhoods, and are comprised of persons arrested without charge or arrested and not produced in court.

He said that his organisation was able to settle 75 of the 200 or so cases related to identity cards, and that it is continuously taking in complaints from various sources like Minster Mr. Thondaman and human rights lawyer, Mr. Chandrasekaram.

He stressed that they are not merely solving existing problems, but are very much committed to prevent them from happening. He said the computerised register of people could be used effectively to address this.

Sri Lankan and international human rights groups say that Tamils are arrested in large numbers in Colombo and other parts of the island, with most being detained without charge.

Despite the Sri Lankan government's pledges to halt the practice, the arrests continue say human rights activists.