Increased body checks on women entering Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 2009, 03:57 GMT]
Women’s Welfare Organizations and Non-government organizations in Jaffna peninsula expressed concern on the increasing levels of body checks on women entering via the main roads to Jaffna, and the resulting anxiety and fear caused to women, sources in Jaffna said. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna, being suspicious of infiltration of Liberation Tigers into the peninsula has intensified checking of women, the sources added.

Checking cages are being set up along the main roads in Jaffna town while special mobile cages brought in vehicles are used to check women entering Jaffna town by women personnel of SLA and police.

The women entering Jaffna town in vehicles are directed to alight from the vehicle and sent into the checking cages where they are subjected to rigorous body check. Their identification and other documents too are thoroughly examined.

This practice severely violates the freedom of movement of the women in Jaffna peninsula while it intimidates them, the organizations said.