Mannar marks human rights day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 December 1998, 22:23 GMT]
The Committee for Justice, Peace and Human Rights of the Mannar diocese organised a procession on December 10, to mark International Human Rights Day. The procession headed by Rev. Emilianuspillai began at St. Sebastian church in Mannar.

Participants carried placards, saying "Resume negotiations", "Stop the war", and "Respect Human Rights". The Mannar Citizen's Committee also participated in the procession.

Meanwhile a music concert was held in Jaffna today to raise funds for the displaced people in the Vanni.

Rev. Selvarasa, speaking at the concert, held at the Jaffna Diocese Education Centre, asked the audience to save money from their Christmas expenses to help the displaced people in the Vanni.

NGO sources in the Vanni said that a further 14437 people have been displaced through the SLA's recent operation, 'Rivi Bala, during which troops moved into Oddusuddan.

They said that 11,401 people belonging to 2816 families from the ten DS divisions in Oddusuddan and 3,036 people from 759 families in Puthukkudiyiruppu have been displaced.