Three seek protection at Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 February 2007, 00:30 GMT]
Three civilians, fearing threat to their lives from Sri Lankan armed forces and allied paramilitaries, took refuge with the Jaffna branch of Human Rights Commission (HRC) in the last two days, civil society sources in Jaffna said. HRC officials handed them over to the Jaffna prison officials to be kept under protective custody.

HRC officials on Thursday morning escorted two persons hiding inside Mallakam Courts compound. Another youth was also rescued by the HRC from an undisclosed locations Wednesday.

Jaffna District Court ordered the youths to be placed under the protective custody of Jaffna prison.

Meanwhile, prison sources warn a possible humanitarian crisis in the prison as youths seeking protection, and criminals are kept in the same facility.

Jaffna prison, which is already in a deplorable condition without adequate facilities, will be unable to accommodate any additional youths who are entering the facility seeking safety, prison officials said.

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