Jaffna resident seeks protection with HRC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 March 2007, 00:45 GMT]
A fifty-seven year old resident of Sirupitty, Valligamam, sought protection from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and their collaborating paramilitary members at the Jaffna police station Tuesday through the Jaffna office of the Human Rights Commission, according to HRC. The man said that two youths had been killed at Nilavarai in his area and that he too feared being abducted SLA troopers.

Meanwhile, the private house functioning as an extension of Jaffna prison and where persons under protective custody are lodged has become overcrowded unhygienic condition prevails for want of adequate space and basic facilities, according to prison officials.

More than 200 inmates including nearly 60 placed under protective custody and the remand prisoners live in this house capable of accommodating only less than a hundred persons.

Chickenpox has spread nearly to all, as those infected cannot be segregated from the rest for lack of space.

The remand prisoners cannot be produced at the courts because of their health conditions, the authorities said.

Civil society sources in Jaffna expressed concern about dangers to the health of the inmates due to the poor conditions in the building, and negligence of authorities to take actions to remedy the situation.