Fears mount for safety of doctors arrested by SLA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 May 2009, 02:34 GMT]
Whereabouts of three doctors, Medical Superintendent Dr. Shanmugarajah who was attending the wounded at the makeshift hospital at Mu'l'li-vaaykkaal junior school, Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) doctors, Dr. Varatharajah and Dr Sathiyamoorthy, arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) after fleeing the Safety Zone Saturday, are still unknown, and several Rights groups feared for doctors' lives, sources in Colombo said.

"Amnesty International said it was concerned for the safety of the doctors and that it had received reports that Dr. Sathiyamoorthy and Dr. Shanmugarajah may be detained at the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) in the capital, Colombo," a BBC report said.

A Sri Lanka health ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media told the Associated Press that an inquiry was being conducted into their conduct, including allegations they disseminated false information.

Physicians for Human Rights and Reporters Without Borders also appealed for safe release of the three doctors.

The three doctors were earlier praised by the UN for their heroic services to the wounded during trying conditions of war.

External Links:

AP:		Rights groups demand release of Sri Lankan doctors
BBC:		Appeal to free Sri Lanka doctors
RSF:		Army holding three doctors who gave information to press

Chronology: