HRC committee concludes probe into Jaffna disappearances

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 July 2003, 16:58 GMT]
One man committee headed by a former civil servant Mr.Devanesan Nesiah that was appointed by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka to probe into complaints of disappearance of persons after the arrest by security forces in Jaffna district Sunday said that it would submit its final report to the HRC next month, sources in Jaffna Sunday said.

The HRC committee Sunday concluded its sixth and final round of inquiry into about 330 complaints it received from relatives of disappeared persons during the period between 1996 and 1997 under the occupation of Sri Lanka security forces. HRC one-man committee held its final round sittings at Chunnakam, Chavakachcheri, Kodikamam, Chankanai and Jaffna for two days Saturday and Sunday.

About ninety percent of complainants appeared before the one-man committee and gave evidence. Others failed to appear before the committee, sources said.

The HRC of Sri Lanka appointed this committee headed by Mr.Nesiah to probe complaints of forceful disappearances after arrest in the Jaffna district following representations made by relatives of missing persons and other related humanitarian agencies, source said.