Lynn Pascoe visits IDP detention camps in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 September 2009, 16:47 GMT]
Mr. Lynn Pascoe, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, who was in Jaffna Thursday, visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) detention camps in Koapaay and Kaithadi, accompanied by Jaffna Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander, Major Gen. Mark and Jaffna Government Agent, K. Ganesh under heavy escort. Non-government organizations in Jaffna expressed concern that independent civil society representatives in the peninsula were not given an opportunity to meet the visiting UN envoy and inform him of the true situation in the peninsula.

Mr. Lynn Pascoe was also taken to Maravnpulavu and Thangki’lappu in Thenmaraadchi South where paddy lands occupied by the SLA for the past nine years had been allowed to be cultivated again.

The NGO organizations blamed the government for exploiting the UN envoy’s visit to show that all was well in Jaffna peninsula.

Mr. Lynn Pascoe who arrived in Sri Lanka Wednesday night proceeded to Vavuniyaa after his brief visit to Jaffna.