SLA arrests Ampara farmers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 July 2000, 13:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers arrested six farmers who were working in a paddy (rice) field at Sinnavathai, a border village between Batticaloa and Ampara districts, on Friday. They were taken to SLA camp at 23rd colony, villagers said.

Five of the arrested were identified as: S.Paramalingam,34, M.Ambalavanar,45, S.Thevarasa,22, P.Kandeepan,20, and P.Jeyachandran,19.

SLA sources said the farmers were handed over to the Uhuna Police, where they are being interrogated by the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU).

Meanwhile the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Trincomalee said that they have not been able to find the whereabouts of 10 people who were reported arrested by the Sri Lankan security forces in 1999.

According to the HRC in the eastern port town, 41 complaints were made during 1999, and 118 persons are being held at detention centers in Trincomalee.