Relatives of missing suspend hunger strike with presidential meeting scheduled

by Abi
Jan 26, 2017

Relatives off the disappeared have suspended their hunger strike after a date was set for a high-level meeting by the Sri Lankan defence minister.

A meeting at Temple Trees with the President, Defence Minister and Attorney General along with a team of ten representatives from the hunger strike campaign was promised by Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene, visiting the fasters.

The meeting has been scheduled for February 9th.

Prior to the minister’s visit, doctors at the scene urged political action as many of the hunger strikers, who were refusing water and medical treatment as well as food, were rapidly deteriorating in health.

Students joined the hunger strikers on Thursday morning, while a symbolic solidarity fast was also held in Jaffna.

Tamil youths in Vavuniya also stormed the regional Human Rights Commission office to demand answers on what was being done about disappearance complaints.

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