HRC special committee visits Jaffna HSZ

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 16:55 GMT]
The special committee of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka, which is inquiring into the complaints in regard to the disappearance of more than six hundred Tamil civilians between 1996 and 1997 in the Jaffna district arrived Saturday, to conduct further investigation, sources said.

The special committee of the HRC headed by a former government agent Mr.Devanesan Nesiah Saturday morning visited high security zones Palaly, Keerimalai, Tellipallai, Kankesanthurai, Punnalaikadduvan in the north of the district, sources said.

Later in the after the HRC special committee visited high security zones in the Thenmaradchchi areas such as Kovilakandy, Thanankilappu and Maravanpolo villages, sources added.

The HRC special committee as a part of its investigation into the disappearance of several Tamil youths Saturday met the Jaffna Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Harold Anthony and the resident representative of the International Committee of Red Cross in Jaffna, sources said.

The HRC special committee of HRC has postponed its meeting with Jaffna army commander Major general Sarath Fonseka for Sunday or Monday, sources said.

The HRC special committee is to record further evidence from parents and close relatives of missing persons from Sunday, civil sources said.

A spokesman of the HRC special committee told press persons that committee members had visited high security zones as a part of their official visit. He did not want to elaborate further on the subject, sources said.