4 civilians seek protection with Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 February 2008, 16:02 GMT]
Four civilians, including a young woman, 28, and her six-year-old daughter, sought protection Monday with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and SLA-backed paramilitaries. The young woman's husband is already in protective custody in Jaffna prison, and the SLA has been forcing her to get her husband out of protective custody and to have him surrender at the SLA camp, according to the complaints she lodged with HRC Monday.

The woman and child are residents of Vangka’laavadi, Meesaalai in Thenmaraadchi.

The third civilian seeking protection is a young fisherman, 32, a father of one child and a resident of Allaarai South, Meesaalai in Thenmaraadchi.

The other civilian is a 30-year-old computer mechanic from Nedungku’lam in Ko’lumpuththu’rai, Jaffna.

HRC Jaffna Co-ordinating Officer S. Sivarajasingam said that steps have been taken to place the two men in the protective custody of Jaffna prison, and the mother and daughter to be placed in the protection of the rehabilitation centre, through Jaffna Magistrate Court.

The number of civilians from Thenmaraadchi seeking HRC protection has escalated recently, HRC sources said.