6 civilians including woman seek protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 October 2008, 20:14 GMT]
Five civilians from Thenmaraadchi, including a young woman and a family man from Valikaamam sought Monday protection to their lives due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitaries with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna. Four of them were instructed by Chaavakachcheari Magistrate Court to surrender with HRC Jaffna office, HRC sources said.

One of the five from Thenmaraadchi seeking protection is a 22-year-old farmer from Aiyanaar Koyialdi, Kodikaamam who had been in hiding since his mother was shot and killed after being ordered by the SLA in Kodikaamam to appear at the SLA civil administrative office to sign a register.

The SLA soldiers who had come looking for the said youth finding him not in the house had ordered his mother to sign the register maintained in Kodikaamam SLA office.

A 27-year-old woman from Maavadippi'l'laiyaar Koayiladi, Meesaalai, a family man, 28, from Madaththadi, Chaavakachcheari, another family man, 38, from Kachchaay, Chaavakachcheari and a bachelor, 35, are the four others from Themaraadchi who sought protection Monday with HRC Jaffna.

The bachelor who sought protection is originally from Urumpiraay, presently living in Thenmaraadchi.

The sixth civilian seeking protection with HRC Jaffna Monday is a farmer, 38, a father of four children, from Kuddiyappanpilavu, Vasaavi'laan in Valikaamam.

HRC officials are making arrangements to place the six persons who sought protection to be placed in the protective custody of Jaffna Prison through Jaffna Court.

The number of persons seeking protection to their lives due to death threats by SLA soldiers and SLA-backed paramilitaries is escalating at an alarming rate, legal society sources in Jaffna said.

The majority of those who had sought protection with HRC in the past are from Thenmaraadchi.