Jaffna prisoners call off fast on assurance by Magistrate

[TamilNet, Thursday, 01 October 2009, 02:36 GMT]
Fifteen Tamil political prisoners in Jaffna prison Wednesday evening called off their fast-to-death campaign on the assurance given by the Jaffna Magistrate Mr.S. Anandarajah that he would take appropriate steps to settle the dispute with the prison authorities within three weeks. The detainees began their fast Tuesday evening demanding their release or to produce them in court after filing charges.

All detainees are held in the Jaffna prison from two years to five years under the Emergency Regulations (ER) and Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without any charges or being produced in court.

The detainees told the Magistrate when he visited the prison Wednesday evening that as a last resort they had begun the fast unto death, sources said.