Arrested men disappear

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2000, 16:14 GMT]
Two men arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in Vavuniya last week have been reported 'missing', and their family members have sought help from the Human Rights Commission in the northern town to trace their whereabouts.

According to a complaint made by, Yarlini Tharmalinkam, her husband, Velupillai Tharmalinkam, 36, of 4th lane in Kovilkulam was arrested by soldiers at Aaladai Junction on 10 August.

Witnesses have said that Veluppillai who was riding a motorcycle (registration number:159-5140) was stopped by the soldiers at the check-post and arrested. However, SLA soldiers and the police have told Yarlini that they had not arrested her husband.

In the other complaint, Ponnusamy Sivakumar,22, alias Rajah, has been reported 'missing' after being arrested by the soldiers on 10 August at Saasthirikoolankulam Welfare Centre. His mother Pushpamalar Ponnusamy has complained to the HRC that soldiers in military fatigues came and asked for 'Rajah' and arrested her son, and that she had not received any information about him since.

Meanwhile, Mr.S.Sreetharan, Chairman of the Vavuniya HRC said that the Kathiresu Jegatheeswaran,20, and Mylvaganam Vijeyakumar,21, who were arrested by Sri Lanka Army soldiers at Sunthirapuram at Saasthirikoolankulam on 14 August are being detained at 21-1 Brigade Head Quarters.

He said Ganesan Nakuleswaran,22, of 6th Unit in Ramanathapuram in Kilinochchi, who was arrested by government soldiers at Good-shed transit camp on 11 August has been released after interrogation.