3 civilians arrested in Maathakal, fishing ban re-imposed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 June 2007, 03:59 GMT]
Three civilians collecting firewood in the shrub land in Maathakal, one of the coastal villages in the Palaali High Security Zone (HSZ) were arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers Saturday morning for trespassing into prohibited areas. The civilians from Pa'ndaththarippu Chanthai area were handed over to I'lavaalai police on Monday and then produced at Mallaakam District Courts before the Magistrate, Mrs.Sarojni Ilangovan, sources in Jaffna said. The Magistrate directed the police to detain the arrested civilians at Jaffna prison till July 02.

The arrested have complained to the magistrate of severe torture by SLA and one of them has received serious injuries. Consequently the magistrate ordered the police to have the civilian examined by a medico-legal officer and produce a report.

Meanwhile, from Sunday Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has re-imposed fishing ban in the adjoining areas of Punnaalai, Moo'laay, Chuzhipuram and Thiruvadinilai.

The fishing ban imposed in these areas for the past several weeks had only recently been eased with the fishermen being permitted to go for fishing in catamarans under certain restrictions.

SLN has again introduced a total ban on fishing depriving hundreds of families their livelihood, civil sources said.

The officials of the fishermen consortium in the peninsula have brought this to the attention of Jaffna Government Agent (GA), pointing out that the fishing families in the area are facing economic ruin unable to afford even basic meals.

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