Civilians turn to SLHRC for protection amid death threats

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 October 2006, 00:06 GMT]
More than 15 internally displaced families from Maduvil north in Thenmaradchchy complained that they have been receiving death threats from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), and sought protection from the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) Jaffna office, civil society sources in Jaffna said Tuesday. IDPs say they fear for their lives if they return to their homes in Thenmaradchy without security guarantees, the IDPs said.

A couple who had gone into hiding due to SLA threats from Maduvil north recently were also in the group of the IDPs who sought protection. The couple said that situation in their village has not changed from when they initially fled their village.

A family of 10 members from Kaithady who went into hiding owing to death threats by the SLA because their son had been in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has also pleaded with the SLHRC Jaffna to guarantee the safety for their lives.

Meanwhile, the Gram Sevaka of Kottady region in Jaffna, has complained to the Jaffna police that he and his son had been warned by 'White Van squad' and that unidentified armed men riding motor cycles are threatening him and his family members with death, the police said.

More than six youths who received similar death threats have been placed in the Jaffna prison as a safety measure with the Jaffna Magistrate Court's permission, said legal sources.