45 disappear in Jaffna in 8 months

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 August 2008, 16:26 GMT]
Statistics gathered by Government and Non-government humanitarian organizations in Jaffna revealed that more than 45 persons, most of them less than 30-years old, had gone missing in the first eight months of 2008, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, during a meeting held Sunday with SLA Jaffna Commander in Kaangkeasanththu’rai, representatives of civil society organizations accused Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for the worsening human rights situation, for imposing undue restrictions on travel, interference in civil administration, and for placing harsh restrictions on fishing affecting livelihoods of many fishermen, attendees to the meeting said.

Heads of families were the second highest number among those disappeared during last eight months, the reports said.

The number of persons from Jaffna who had disappeared in Colombo and other districts has escalated, and the humanitarian organizations are compiling registered complaints and associated details of the disappearances, the sources added.

More than 135 persons from Jaffna had disappeared in the last two years in Colombo and other districts, according to the humanitarian organizations.

The civil society leaders proposed an arrangement to ease the burden on fisher familes where fishermen in groups, are allowed to fish in the islet seas of Pungkudutheevu, Veala’nai, the jetty area near Oorkaavattu’rai Ka’n’nakai Amman Koayialadi.

The SLA commander agreed to consider the proposal after consulting Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) authorities in the peninsula, attendees said.