Death threats force HRC official to seek transfer

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 July 2007, 20:55 GMT]
Surenthirarajah, Co-ordinating officer at the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) has been transferred to the Colombo Head office after he complained of threats against his life, civil society sources in Jaffna said. Mr. Sivarajasingham, a retired government servant, who has been working as the Investigation Officer, has been appointed as his replacement.

Mr Surenthirarajah has been requesting for a transfer for several months, according to HRC officials.

During his service at HRC Jaffna, Mr. Surenthirarajah had earned the ire of many Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and SLA-backed paramilitaries for identifying personnel involved in several arrests, intimidation and abductions, according to civil society sources.

Despite the threats to his life, Surenthirarajh performed his duties as the co-ordinating officer to the satisfaction of both the public and co-staff, sources added.

Mr. Sivarajasingham is sixty years old and is a resident of Point Pedro in Vadamaraadchi.