TRO staffers disappearance reaches one-year anniversary

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 January 2007, 01:07 GMT]
Seven staffers of Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), an NGO registered with the Government of Sri Lanka, were abducted on 29th and 30th January 2006, by armed paramilitiaries inside Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled area in Polannaruwa. In a press release issued from Colombo offices, the TRO said: "To date the Sri Lanka Police have yet to conduct any meaningful investigation or inquiry into these disappearances. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka investigated this case and made a report to its head that has never been released."

"Neither TRO nor any of the families have to date received any reports or response from any investigating authorities despite several persistent inquiries. There have not been any arrests or convictions in this case," the statement added.

Five TRO staffers travelling from the Batticaloa office to Vanvuniya for training were abducted by unidentified paramilitary personnel immediately after the Welikanda, (Polunnaruwa District) Sri Lankan Army Checkpoint at approximately 2:00 pm 30 January, 200.

Another five persons, four TRO Pre School Education Development Center (PSEDC) personnel, and their driver, were reported missing in the East on 31 January.

Three were later released leaving the following 7 reported as missing since January.

29 January 2006 abductions:
Mr. Kasinathar Ganeshalingam (N.I.C. not available)
Mr. Thangarasa Kathirkamar (N.I.C. not available)

30 January 2006 abductions:
Mr. Sujendran Shanmuganathan (N.I.C. 850032130V)
Mr. Satheeskaran Arulnesarasa (N.I.C. 842883806V)
Mr. Ravindran Kailayapillai (N.I.C. 821361800V)
Ms. Premini Thanushkodi (N.I.C. 815840950V)
Mr. Vasantharajan Thambirajah (N.I.C. 831611260V)

The TRO in the press release urged the Government of Sri Lanka to:

• Fully investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of this atrocious crime
• Ensure the safety of local and international humanitarian workers
• Allow unimpeded access to the war and tsunami affected persons in need of assistance
• Ensure that all attacks on civilians, abductions, and other human rights abuses stop immediately
• Ensure that the NorthEast receives it’s “just due” of tsunami and development funds.