Fasting political prisoner in Jaffna Teaching Hospital ends protest

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 2010, 17:03 GMT]
A Tamil political prisoner arrested by Sri Lanka Amy (SLA) in 2006 in Chaavakachcheari and detained in Jaffna prison had been continually fasting for the last 21 days requesting not to be transferred to Anuradapura or Vavuniyaa prison and to conduct his case in Jaffna courts in protest against the instruction issued by Attorney General (AG). When his condition grew critical he was transferred to Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) where he continued to fast in protest against AG’s order to transfer him to Anuradapura or Vavuniyaa. The fasting political prisoner ended his fast Sunday following the cancellation of the AG’s order, sources in Jaffna said.

The political prisoner is Rasiah Ananatharasa, 27, a resident of Ezhuthumadduvaa’l in Pazhai.

Out of the 19 political prisoners ordered by AG to be transferred to the prisons in Anuradapura and Vavuniyaa 9 had been moved from Jaffna prison.

Anantharasa began his fast when the remaining ten political prisoners were about to be transferred to the prisons in Anuradapura and Vavuniyaa.

He did not heed the requests of many who wanted him to give up fasting when he was admitted to JTH due to his critical health condition.

Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Appapillai Vinayagamoorthy, who appeared on behalf of Anantharasa in Jaffna court, gave him a cool drink Sunday at the hospital bringing the fast to an end.