Courts activities in Jaffna stall

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 February 2008, 17:48 GMT]
Cases in Jaffna peninsula courts are stalling due to the insecure situation as plaintiffs and witnesses fail to show up for inquires in fear of reprisals from members of the armed forces of Sri Lanka government and the paramilitaries who operate with them, legal society sources in Jaffna said.

Many cases taken up for inquiries are being continuously postponed due to the absence of the plaintiffs and witnesses, and lack of police reports which are crucial in many homicide and abduction cases, according to legal sources in Jaffna.

After being dormant for several years courts in Jaffna peninsula began functioning quite orderly when conditions returned to normal with the signing of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka.

The police, who are mainly responsible to conduct cases of homicide and other crimes, do not submit their reports in time, claiming that the insecure situation restricts their movement.

In this climate criminal elements can continue to operate unchecked, civil society sources complained.