Fate of half Jaffna's missing unknown: NHRC

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 December 1999, 12:54 GMT]
The fate of about 50 percent of the 147 persons, who were reported missing to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the Jaffna Dsitrict, in 1999,are not known, according to human rights sources in the northern town.

The bodies of only seven missing persons were recovered, the sources added. According to the preliminary investigations conducted in this regard, the Sri Lanka Army's involvement was ruled out.

There was no information about other missing persons, said the resident representative of the NHRC.

During the year 1999, the Jaffna branch of the NHRC received complaints of 526 arrests in the district, said the official.

The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrested a majority of them, according to the complaints received, the official said.

Several arrested persons were brought before the Court of Law. Several are under detention as preliminary investigations have not been completed. Most of the detainees have filed human rights cases in higher courts, the official added.

Meanwhile police sources said investigations have begun in to the 193 political prisons held at the Kalutara prison, and 25 of them were released last week.

About 750 Tamil political prisoners are held at the Kalutara prison, south of Colombo, the sources added.