Chulipuram student missing, familes continue to flee Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 01:39 GMT]
Ramanathan Ratheeskumar, 20, from Chulipuram east and a student at the Vaddukoddai Technical College has disappeared after leaving home Thursday to attend school, said his parents in a complaint registered with the Human Rights Commision in Jaffna Monday, civil society sources said.

Ratheeskumar's parents also said that they have made inquiries and have received confirmation from the Political section of the Liberation Tigers in Kilinochchi that Ratheeskumar did not cross the Muhamalai checkpoint into the Liberation Tigers controlled areas.

Civil society sources expressed concern that harassment of civilians by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has continued unabated, and disappearances in Jaffna district and complaints with the Human Rights Commission have continued to increase, even after the announcement by Resurgent People Force in Jaffna that it will stop attacks on the SLA soliders.

Meanwhile, SLA soldiers across Jaffna district continued to strengthen camp perimeters and sentry points creating a sense of fear among the public in Jaffna, forcing a number of families to flee seeking safety in Liberation Tigers controlled areas, civil society sources said.

140 families out of the total of 150 families living in Nadu-Kudathanai village in Vadamaradchy east have completely relocated to LTTE areas, sources in Vadamaradchy said.

All families in Thoppukkadu village in the Jaffna Islet of Kayts also have relocated to Liberation Tigers controlled area, civil society sources said.