SLN harasses civilians travelling to Jaffna islets

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 April 2004, 16:36 GMT]
Residents of islets in the Jaffna district Sunday made complaints to the authorities concerned that Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel manning entry check points at Allaipitty and Kayts Kannagai Amman jetty have started harassing civilians following the general election held last week, sources said.

The SLN stopped body check and other examination on civilians who pass through checkpoints at Allaipitty and Kayts Karampon Kannagai Amman jetty since the signing of the ceasefire agreement by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the year 2002.

The SLN has now renewed their checking of civilians who pass through these two entry checkpoints, after April 2nd general election, residents alleged.

Navy personnel now ask all civilians to get down from their vehicles and subject them to body check, national identity cards and examine their bags and baggages, activists said.

Residents complain that action by the navy personnel has caused immense difficulties in travelling to islets from Jaffna through Allaipitty and Kayts Karampon jetty.