8 white van abductions in Jaffna in 5 days

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 December 2006, 19:43 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and collaborating paramilitaries have abducted eight youths, including two students, in the Jaffna district between 20th and 25th December, according to complaints filed by the relatives with the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC), civil society sources in Jaffna said. SLA troops arrive in Buffel armoured cars with paramilitaries in white vans, and abductions take place either on streets in broad day light or at the victims' houses during night, the relatives of those abducted said.

Brief details of complaints of abductions registered at the HRC Jaffna office against the SLA and the Tamil paramilitary groups follow:

1. On Friday, Sebastiampillai Aneenthiran, a family man aged 31 from Kayts, one of the Jaffna islets, was found missing after he had gone to buy provisions at the local shops around 12:00 noon.
2. Kanthiah Latheesan, a 20 year old student from Moolai, Vaddukodai disappeared after he went to attend classes in private tutory at Kannathidy in Jaffna town on Friday.
3. A student, Vijayathas Aravinthan, 17, from Valvettithurai in Vadamaradchy was forcibly taken away Friday night from his house by armed men arriving in a Buffel armoured car and a white van.
4. On Saturday, Subramaniam Rubanthas, 33, a family man from Kodady in Jaffna was missing after he left to Chavakacheri from his home in the morning.
5. Appathurai Insam, 22, from Udupiddy area disappeared after he went for pray in a temple in Udupiddy Sunday.
6. Rasenthiram Illankeswaran, 29, a trader from Chunnakam was reported missing after he went to Maruthnarmadam bazaar area on Sunday.
7. Two youths from Ariyali area, Sri Ayanthan, 22, and Rasenthiram Thevaseelan, 25 were found missing from Monday from Ariyalai.

Several youths have earlier surrendered to the HRC fearing for their lives, and have been ordered by the Jaffna District Court Judgento be placed in protective custody at the Jaffna prisons.

Chronology: