UN delegation discusses Rights violation with Jaffna magistrate

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 February 2007, 00:36 GMT]
Legal Advisor to UN Geneva office, Cordula Droege, and Mariko Kushima, the newly appointed ICRC Jaffna Delegate, met Jaffna District Magistrate Mr. R. T. Vignarajah Friday at the Jaffna Courts office to find out in detail the situation in Jaffna peninsula concerning continuing arrests, abductions, killings, harrassment and other human rights violation, sources close to Jaffna courts said.

The two ICRC dignitaries, in their one hour meeting with the Judge paid particular attention in learning about the progress of legal actions against cases where persons were missing after being arrested by Government armed forces in Jaffna peninsula.

The pros and cons of reopening the Tellipalai Rehabilitation Centre to accommodate the 40 youths kept under protective custody of Jaffna prison were also discussed.

The delegates were informed of the parents' strong objection against the youths being sent to detention camps in the South which they said will again be a threat to youths' lives. Alternative arrangements to keep the youths safe in the peninsula were also considered in this meeting, the sources added.

ICRC gathering information about persons missing after arrest by government forces and passing it to the parents or relatives was discussed extensively in the meeting.

The situation after Sri Lanka Army took the civil administration of Jaffna peninsula, and its current efforts to restore normalcy in the face of deteriorating security were the other subjects of importance explored.