Missing remain "unaccounted for" - Amnesty

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 January 1999, 15:19 GMT]
Amnesty International has issued an update to its earlier urgent action appeal over the disappearances of eight people in Vavuniya allegedly after being taken into custody by the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and the Sri Lankan Army (SLA). Amnesty says the missing are still unaccounted for and has added another name to the list.

In a press release issued today, Amnesty International, the London based human rights watchdog said Ponnuthurai Ravindran (alias Ravi), a displaced person from Killinochchi, a current resident of Veppankulam, Vavuniya is reported to be missing.

"He was last seen at the office of PLOTE in Station Road, Kurumankadu, Vavuniya on 26 November 1998" said Amnesty.

"Ponnuthurai Ravindran apparently visited the PLOTE office on a regular basis and is reported to have had an identity card provided by PLOTE. However, when relatives made inquiries at the PLOTE office, they were told he was not there" said Amnesty.

"His relatives fear he may be held in PLOTE custody against his will" added Amnesty.

Amnesty said that members of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Colombo police have reportedly been to Vavuniya to investigate the ‘disappearances’ of the eight people listed as missing its the earlier appeal.

While welcoming the CID investigations, Amnesty noted that the results have not been made public and said that to its knowledge, "all eight remain unaccounted for".

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