Tamil political prisoners’ fast continues for the 4th day

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 July 2009, 17:12 GMT]
The fast unto death by Tamil political prisoners in Welikada prison that began Tuesday continues for the fourth day. About two hundred Tamil political prisoners arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and being held under detention on Defence Ministry orders without being produced in court or without any indictment against them are participating the fast, prison sources said.

Initially they had placed two demands - to discharge them from the prison immediately or to frame charges against them and produce in court.

Now they have added another demand that if they are indicted the case against them should be heard in their respective district magistrate’s court and not in Colombo or elsewhere.

Relatives of the prisoners told media that they have informed about the fast to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and other human rights organizations and activists in the country.

Meanwhile the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. V. Puthirasigamany, told media that he will meet the fasting prisoners in Welikada on Monday or Tuesday and take up the matter with the Defence Secretary 10 August.

However he said he has not received any written communication from the Tamil political prisoners so far in this regard.