Trader complains of SLA intimidation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 July 2004, 17:20 GMT]
Mr.S. Sasikumar, a trader residing in the Liberation Tigers controlled village Thalaiyadi located in Vaththirayan north of Vadamarachchi east in Jaffna district Thursday complained to the Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) that he is intimidated and threatened by Sri Lanka Army soldiers manning Muhamalai checkpoint whenever enters the Sri Lanka government controlled Jaffna to buy provisions for his shop, civil sources said.

He said in his complaint that he used to visit very often Jaffna to buy provisions to his shop in Thalaiyadi. Whenever he passes through Muhamalai checkpoint he is subjected to intimidation and threat by soldiers body checks.

During his last visit to Jaffna town his National Identity card (NIC) was forcibly removed by soldiers. The soldiers tore his dress and humiliated him, civil rights sources said.

He appealed to the HRCSL to intervene and to ensure his safety and security from the SLA soldiers manning the Muhamalai checkpoint, sources said.