2 civilians seek protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 March 2008, 04:20 GMT]
Two civilians from Puththoor Navakkiri and Chaavakachcheari areas sought protection Monday with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna due to death threats by Sri Lanka Amy (SLA) troops and SLA-backed paramilitaries, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, 44 persons placed in protective custody of Jaffna Prison have been taken to the SLA Special Rehabilitation Centre in the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Thellippa’lai, the sources added.

The two civilians, aged 45 and 32, after preliminary investigation are to be produced in Jaffna Courts and are expected to be placed in the protective custody of Jaffna Prison.

SLA had claimed earlier that 44 persons, placed in protective custody of Jaffna Prison had surrendered to them confessing they were members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Family members of these 44 persons said that they had paid money to persons operating with the SLA on the assurance that these persons will be pardoned and released after a short period of time if the said persons confess and surrender to the SLA.

Some of these persons were permitted by SLA to leave Jaffna peninsula after their family members paid large sums of money, the family members said.

This practice, however, had stopped with media reports exposing the extortion involved.

The others are being detained in the SLA Special Rebailitation Centre in Thellippa’lai. and the family members said that they are anxiously waiting for their release.

Meanwhile, a few among the 44 persons detained in the Rehabilitation Centre have been admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for treatment.

The admitted detainees are guarded by SLA troops in the hospital.

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