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Ten under-18 years old sought protection from military –

According to the Jaffna branch of the human rights commission ten children (under-18) are among the 40 civilians who have sought protection with the human rights commission. These civilians have been produced before the courts and have been placed in prison for their own safety says the Jaffna branch of the human rights commission.

Citizens seeking safety in prison from death squads operating freely in society is a unique phenomenon that indicates the current context in Jaffna. Although the human rights commission will not state it, because it is part of the GoSL, it is crystal clear to the people of Jaffna that the perpetrators are the Sri Lankan military. Further elucidating this phenomenon are some recent events in Jaffna.

Final year Jaffna university student Arunakirinathan Niruparaj was abducted on 3 January 2007 and he was later released on 9 January 2006 after severe torture that required hospitalization.

A senior student of Velayutham Boys’ School, Paranjothy Thananjeyan aged 19, has gone missing since Friday, 11 January 2007, while he was on his way to attend tuition classes on a bicycle.

A senior student at Hartley College in Jaffna, Murugananthan Paramananthan aged 19, has been missing since Monday 14 January 2007.

On Tuesday, 16 January 2007, the parents and their 15 years old daughter sought protection at the Jaffna branch of the human rights commission.

38 years old Nallathamby Gnanaseelan, a pastor from the Tamil Mission Church in Jaffna, was shot and killed on 13 January 2007 by the Sri Lankan military in Chapel Street in Jaffna. His body was left alone on the road after his possessions were removed.

Given the increasing number of disappearances, death squad style killing and civilians seeking protection, the Jaffna branch of the human rights commission has requested its head office in Colombo to arrange for the establishment a special detention camp for the surrendered civilians since they said it was not advisable to keep them together with convicted prisoners.

18 January 2007

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