ICRC officials meet Boosa detainees

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 December 2007, 14:28 GMT]
The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) said in a press release issued Thursday evening that representatives of the ICRC visited the Boosa detention centre and inspected the condition of 469 detainees who were arrested by the government security forces following two bomb blasts that took place in Colombo on November 28. Nearly 2000 civilians were arrested and most of them were released later, the press release said.

The ICRC delegation obtained details of 372 detainees and provided them with clothes and other materials. The delegation further conducted an assessment about civilians who have been detained in several police stations by the Terrorist Intelligence Division (TID) and Criminal Investigation Department of the police, the release added.

The ICRC has been monitoring and meeting with with the affected parties under the International Humanitarian Law. ICRC delegates have also been meeting relatives of victims who have been affected by human rights violations and disappeared persons.

ICRC provided financial assistance to family members of 214 detainees kept in detention centres run by the government to visit them, the press release stated.