Trinco UC, NE Provincial Council employees boycott work

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 01:37 GMT]
Employees of the Trincomalee Urban Council (UC) and Provincial Department of Health Services and Public Administration Monday struck work in protest to the indiscriminate arrest and harassment by soldiers of the State armed forces.

Employees of the UC walked out of their offices stating they would continue their boycott until their security is ensured in their areas they reside.

UC workers' quarters are located in Gandhi Nagar, a suburb in the east port town. They in a memorandum to the council administration said SLA soldiers have been harassing them by conducting frequent search operations. UC authorities made a complaint to the Police, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the Chief Secretary of the NEPC, sources said.

Meanwhile, provincial council employees also walked out from their offices Monday demanding the release of two fellow workers arrested by the security forces. Later in the day the arrested employees were released on police bail, sources said.