14 surrender to Jaffna HRC seeking protection

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 September 2007, 20:49 GMT]
Amidst continuing killings, abductions and disappearances in Jaffna peninsula, 14 more civilians have sought protection with Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) Monday due to death threats issued allegedly by paramilitary armed men operating with Sri Lanka Army (SLA).

It was earlier reported that a family of five including three children from Madduvil in Thenmaraadchi had sought protection Saturday but was officially accepted by HRC officials only Monday.

Another family of five also including three children aged 8, 5 and 1 from Madduvil North also requested protection with HRC Monday.

In addition to the two families, four other civilians including the brother of the youth abducted from Ariyaalai in Jaffna Sunday night later and found dead Monday morning also have sought protection. Another three civilians from Varanivattalai, Thavaravattalai, and Chaavakachcheri Sivan Koayil also surrendered at the HRC Monday seeking protection from SLA and SLA-backed paramilitaries, HRC officials said.

Due to lack of accommodation Jaffna police have provided accommodation in Jaffna prison for only ten civilians. The plight of the others, especially the children, has become a serious issue as the prison regulations do not permit for children under 15 years to be kept in the prison.

Madduvil area in Thenmaraadchi where many civilians have been killed in the recent past, where these two families live, has become a place where many civilians have been killed in the recent past.

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