SLA Commander to assist tracing Jaffna disappeared

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 January 2004, 13:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army's Jaffna area commander Major General Susil Chandrapala Friday at a discussion assured a delegation of the Jaffna District Missing Person Guardians' Association (MPGA) and the Jaffna District Women's Front (JDWF) that he would provide the necessary support and assistance in tracing the more than persons disappeared in Jaffna district following military operations between1995 and 1997, sources said.

The discussion between the delegation of the MPGA/ JDWF and Major General Susil Chandrapala took place Friday afternoon at the SLA civil administration office in Jaffna town, sources said.

JDMGA Secretary Mr.S.Satkunam revealed the contents of the discussion which lasted for more than hour from about 2.15 p.m.

According to Mr.Satkunam, Major General Susil Chandrapala had told the members of the delegation that he understood the feelings of the parents who have lost their loved ones.

The delegation informed the Major General that several Habeas Corpus cases had been filed in Jaffna High Court demanding the production in court of the disappeared persons.

Major General Chandrapala is reported to have told the delegation that he would also attend the discussion with Sri Lanka's President when the delegation of JDMGA and JDWF meet her in the near future in Colombo.

Hundreds of Tamil persons, majority of them youth disappeared without trace after the arrest by the government troops following the capture of Jaffna. The JDMGA and JDWF have held several demonstrations in Jaffna and Colombo demanding the government to produce the disappeared youths after the arrest by the government troops, sources said.