Disappearances recur in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 November 1998, 20:30 GMT]
Human rights sources in Jaffna said today that there has been a recent increase in the incidence of arrest and detention of youths.

The following have been arrested in Jaffna by the security forces:

Selvaraj Lavanaraj, 12, from Oddumadam, 7th year student of Jaffna Central College

Rasiah Thavarasa, 32, from Kopai, relatives have said that he went for shopping on November 5 and had not returned since.

Poopalasingham Uthayakumar, 23, Kalikovilady, Kokuvil. He owns a butchers shop and is the father of a 5 year old child. His house was searched by the Sri Lankan security forces and his photo and identity card were taken away by the troops as he was not at home. He has been reported missing since.

Manickam Nageswaran, 26, Supermadam, Pt. Pedro. His house was searched by the troops on November 3. He went to the SLA camp in Pt. Pedro next day and nothing has been heard of him since.

Arumukam Chanthiramohan, 25, Karanavai, arrested on November 5.

Iyaththurai Baskaran, 20, Kudaththanai, Vadamaradchi. Arrested on November 5.

Meanwhile Sivanathan alias Pathmanathan who was arrested and detained at the Paananthurai prison, has been transferred to the Welikade prison, said human rights sources in Colombo.

He was arrested for not giving information to the police about an alleged member of the Liberation Tigers known as Kanthan; a suspect in the Galadari blast.