Tamil political prisoners cases to be expedited

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 March 2003, 04:01 GMT]
Attorney General (AG) of Sri Lanka, Mr.K.C.Kamalasabeyson, has instructed district court judges to expedite the hearings of cases of Tamil prisoners arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulations (ER), legal sources said. The only evidence against majority of Tamil political prisoners, many languishing in jails for several years, is self-confession obtained under threat of violence or torture, according to legal sources.

Cases of eighty four Tamil detainees are to be heard as part of the first phase of the accelerated schedule, sources close to the AG said.

Government lawyers have already visited the notorious Kalutara jail and have met with some of the detainees there. Arrangements are in progress to obtain legal relief to several of Kalutara detainees.

Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva, is also organizing the special court formed to hear cases of Welikada jail detainees to function till 8 pm, sources in Colombo said.