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Jaffna comes to a standstill protesting civilian murders by SLA

Sri Lankan armed forces have been carrying out extrajudicial killings on a daily basis for the past several weeks. These killings have increased both in number and in brutality. To date number of civilians killed by SLA and its paramilitary in the Northeast stands at 166.

The death statistics does not tell the whole story. The brutality of the beating by the SLA that leaves civilians seeking medical treatment runs in the order of 50 a day. Civilians are beaten with iron rods, wires, guns and boots. Many report that their private parts were manhandled during the beating. Many beaten civilians prefer to keep quiet rather than even complain to the SLMM.

Motorbike riders must open the driver seat during checking by the SLA. Some models of motorbikes allow easy opening of the driver seat with a lock. Others need a proper tool to undo the nuts before the driver seat can be opened. In such cases the motorbike owners are beaten by the SLA and the seats are ripped open.

When civilian based organizations call for close down of the shops to protest SLA violence, SLA beats the shop owners for closing the shop.

The types of road blocks placed along main streets of Jaffna are too harrowing for the travelers. Barbed wires are used along the edges and the roads are narrowed near SLA checkpoints. In addition bumps built on roads make it hazardous for cyclist with heavy weight to ride over it.

SLA uses a click of the tongue to stop travelers for checking. If travelers do not notice it because it is quiet they are beaten or shot at.

Daily papers are also becoming too frightened to publish news and strong statements condemning SLA.

07 May 2006

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