SLA forcibly removes youths from its detention centres in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 2009, 17:24 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers have forcibly taken away young men and women among the Vanni civilians held in the SLA detention centres in Thenmaraadchi and Vadamaraadchi, according to NGO representatives who visited the detention centres. The family members who raised protest against the abduction of their children in Mirusuvil detention centre have been taken away from the centre for ‘interrogation’ by SLA soldiers, the sources added. SLA officials say that the youths taken away are to be placed in the SLA Special Rehabilitation Camp (SRC) located in Thellippazhai High Security Zone (HSZ).

Around 21 youths from Kodikaamam Thirunavaukkarasu Maha Viththiyaalayam detention centre and more than 12 from Mirusuvil Roman Catholic Church centre, in Thenmaraadchi are reported forcibly taken away by SLA during this week.

At least 10 youths may have been abducted similarly from Nelliyadi Maththiya Mahaa Viththiyaalayam in Vadmaraadchi. Government officials refuse to release information on this matter.

Earlier, around 76 inmates held in Nelliyadi Maththiya Mahaa Viththiyaalayam have been forcibly taken away to SLA Thellippazhai SRC.

Jaffna Government Agent (GA) K. Ganesh, however, said that the 76 Vanni civilians had willingly gone with the SLA soldiers.

News about youths being forcibly removed from the SLA detention centres in Jaffna continue to come.

Though officials figures of the youths abducted are not available confirmed reports indicate that they are more than a hundred in number.