2nd Lead (Corrections)

Released TRO staffers to register complaint with HRC

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 February 2006, 04:59 GMT]
Head of Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), K.P.Regi, told TamilNet Sunday, that his staff are making arrangements to get the three released TRO workers later Sunday to register complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC). "We feel that it is important that released staffers meet with an impartial group such as the Rights Commision, so that facts about the abduction, obtained without any coersion, can be presented to the public and to the International Community," said Mr Regi.

Ms Punniyamoorthy Nadeswary and Ms Chitravel Sivamathy, who were released by the abductors on Monday, registered with the Batticaloa police on Thursday. Both were released by the Batticaloa police Friday afternoon after being kept at the Police station overnight. Ms Dosini who was released separately has returned to her parents home and is yet to report to Sri Lanka Police.

"Mr Ganesh, TRO Consultant in Colombo, and human rights attorney Ms Gunamathi travelled from Colombo to be with the Ms Nadeswary and Ms Sivamathy during questioning Thursday afternoon. However, the Police refused to allow our counsel to stay with our staffers during the night when further questioning was carried out by the Police. Also, the Police denied our request, citing security reasons, to provide a copy of Ms Nadeswary and Ms Sivamathy's statements made when our counsel was not present," Mr Regi told TamilNet.

Mr Regi further said that Ms Rita, an official at the NGO Nonviolent Peaceforce, also accompanied attorney Ms Gunamathi Thursday to the Batticaloa Police.

"We now know more details on the abductors of the group to which the three released staffers belonged. However, we have no information on Mr Ganesalingam, driver Thangarasa, or any of the five accounting staffers who were abducted on 30 January. We fear the safety of all seven workers still in captivity."

"We urge the Government of Sri Lanka and the International Community to urgently take all steps necessary to secure the release of our seven staffers still being held by the paramilitary abductors," said Regi.