Public complaints against SLA harassment

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A complaint has been lodged by members of the public at the office of the Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP) against constant harassment from the Sri Lanka Army's Special Forces (SF) commando unit operating in Waligamam (West) division of the Jaffna peninsula, said sources in Jaffna.

The EPDP's organiser for Jaffna, V K Jegan, said that a unit of the SF which operates on motorbikes had been harassing residents in Chulipuram, Moolai and Tholpuram in the Waligamam (West) area between 16 and 26 April.

The harassment has been so intense that the affected families in the area have even considered leaving the village.

Following the complaint, a delegation met Colonel Rajaguru who is on the staff of Brigadier Shantha Kottegoda, Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) 51st Division, on Saturday and expressed their concern, said Mr. Jegan.

One of the victims of the harassment is Maayur Nagrajah (17) of Moolai who had attempted to commit suicide by eating Oleander seeds. He is said to have attempted suicide as he couldn't bear being tortured again by the SLA.

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