Protest demonstration against assault of Tamil political prisoners in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 November 2009, 12:47 GMT]
The Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA) staged a protest demonstration outside the main central jail in Colombo Tuesday against the assault of Tamil political prisoners by prison guards and fellow Sinhalese prisoners Friday, sources in Colombo said. The demonstrators demanded the release of Tamil political prisoners or to take legal action against them. Despite the assurance given by Sri Lanka government to United Nations (UN) Commissioner of Human Rights, Ms. Louis Arbour that the Tamil political prisoners would be released after speedy trials, during her visit last year, they are continued to be imprisoned without any legal action against them, the sources added.



Western Province DPA Councillor Praba Ganeshan, Sri Lanka Freedom Party M Wing leader Mangala Samaraweera, United National Party (UNP) MP, Dr. Jayalath Jayewardene and several other regional politicians participated in the protest demonstration.

The protestors continued their demonstrations even amidst pouring rain carrying placards and chanting slogans which demanded the Tamil political prisoners to be released.

The protestors also charged that the prison officials were not humans. There were some children of the inmates held in the prison among the protestors.

The Tamil political prisoners have been detained for several years without trial or proper investigations. They are being held under the country's tough Prevention of Terrorist Act (PTA).



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