Jaffna Grama Sevakas boycott, demand safety

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 October 2006, 09:59 GMT]
Jaffna District Grama Sevakas Union (JDGSU) officially informed Government Agent (GA) Jaffna Monday evening that members will boycott duties from Tuesday, until threats to their lives from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is removed and safety ensured, official spokesperson for the boycotting staff. Mr. Markandu Mahendran, Grama Sevaka (GS) of Ariyalai, was shot to death Monday while on duty at his office allegedly by Intelligent Operatives of the SLA.

In June 2006, Kopay GS Joseph Ratnarajah was shot and seriously wounded for informing the Mallakam magistrate that a Hindu priest's decaying body was located in an area controlled by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).

With the GSs boycott, administrative functions including inquests in to deaths and distribution of relief goods will not be carried out, and this will adversely affect the daily lives of the peninsula residents who are already suffering under increased violence and disappearances, civil society sources said.