HRC officials meet detainees at Jaffna prison

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 August 2007, 02:23 GMT]
A four-member team of high level officials from Jaffna office of Human Rights Commission (HRC) visited Jaffna prison Saturday to look into the general welfare of the 42 civilians placed under protective custody in the prison after surrendering to HRC seeking protection from the armed forces.

The team including Liason officer at the HRC, S.Sivarajasingham, and Legal advisor, N.Remedius, were on a fact finding mission to obtain first hand information of prison conditions and to learn first hand the grievances of those in protective custody.

The team found out that for the past six months the detainees are being provided with cooked vegetarian food only and not even the basic facilities were lacking in the prison.

The civilians comprising a woman, male students and familied men of various ages fearing for their lives surrendered at HRC office.

Meanwhile, sources from HRC office in Jaffna said a comprehensive report will soon be forwarded to the head office in Colombo, regarding the short comings prevailing in Jaffna prison