Innocent students charged in Uthayan killings

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 May 2006, 12:04 GMT]
Amid propaganda by Sri Lanka Defense Ministry and the Sri Lanka Security forces that they have arrested four suspects in the killings at the Uthayan offices Tuesday, civil society members registered complaints with the the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (JHRC) offices that the four arrested are innocent students from the east, who were temporarily living in Jaffna to complete their Advanced Level education and examinations, sources in Jaffna said.

Students arrested are:

1. Kanapathipillai Vaheesan, 20, from Trincomalee, Velanai West, student at Trincomalee St Joseph's College,
2. Arul Krishanth, 20, from Trincomalee Ehamparam Road, student at St Joseph's College
3. Yoganathan Thusan Thajith, 20, from Vetharanyam Road, Batticaloa, student at St Michaels College
4. Mohanathas Anushakaran, 20, from Nadesapathi Road, Kottaikallar, Batticaloa, student at St Michaels College

The four students were living in a privately rented apartment in Kannathiddy junction in Jaffna and were preparing for their GCE(A/L) examinations attending tuition classes at the popular New Science School, a privately run educational institution in Jaffna, sources said.

Administrators and teachers at the New Science School and principals at theSt Joseph's College and St Michaels College have made representations to the JHRC and have attested to the innocence of the students.

The complainants have said that the students are bright students who relocated to Jaffna solely to further their prospects in performing in the examinations, confirmed P Surendran, an official at the JHRC. Mr Surendran added that theJHRC is taking all steps to provide legal representation to students.