The Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna says the deteriorating security situation in the peninsula is preventing it from investigating complaints of killings and other rights abuses.
The 600,000 Tamils who live in region controlled by 40,000 Sri Lankan troops are being terrorised by the gruesome killings, abductions and death threats that have been daily occurrences.
According to the Jaffna HRC, more than 60 persons had been abducted or arrested in the peninsula during this year alone.
Many more have been murdered, their bodies dumped by roadsides, in wells or in shallow graves.
Army-backed paramilitaries and military death squads are suspected.
Death threats are being levelled at media workers, human rights and civil society activists and student activists – virtually anyone who has expressed Tamil nationalist sentiments.
Regional HRC Coordinator in Jaffna, T. Suvendrarajah told The Morning Leader that the environment in the peninsula had become too dangerous for the HRC to look into the complaints on abductions and disappearances.
“The security situation is very bad in the peninsula these days. We have received many complaints on abductions during recent times. People do not leave their homes at night, as they are not sure of getting back home safe,” he said.
He added the present situation had affected many of the HRC’s inquiries into the abductions and disappearances of several civilians in the peninsula.
They were getting nowhere with the investigations, he told The Morning Leader.
“All the workers in the HRC, including myself are under threat,” Suvendrarajah said.
“These threats have resulted in many of our workers leaving the organisation. It is the same case with other humanitarian organisations in the peninsula.”
He added that the HRC head office in Colombo was notified of the situation and that he was expecting a response from the head office within the next few days.
“I came to Colombo to update the HRC head office on the present security situation in the peninsula as well as the problems faced by the humanitarian workers. They have not responded yet. I am expecting a response within the next few days,” he said.
The Jaffna HRC said that it had recorded over 60 complaints regarding persons who had been abducted or arrested in the peninsula during this year alone.
“These are the statistics based on the complaints we have received. There are many instances where disappearances are not reported to the HRC. They fear that something might happen to them or to their loved ones if they complain,” he said.
According to the HRC, the number of abductions has been on the increase, especially after the Sri Lankan government closed of the A9 highway last August.
The government’s action has trapped residents many of whom are desperate to leave the peninsula. Even those able to afford tickets for the limited flights or sailings to the south are unable to find seats.
“Many people have reported that their lives are in danger. They have been continuously receiving threats. We have handed them over to the police for more protection. But now, even we are under severe threat,” he added.
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Jaffna, SRI LANKA: Sri Lankan Army soldiers keep watch 20 September 2006 in the town of Jaffna, which has been cut off by road following heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels. Security forces beat back a rebel offensive at the Muhamalai defences in Jaffna last month, but sporadic mortar bomb and artillery attacks continued in the area. The fighting is part of a surge in attacks since December 2005, that have claimed more than 1,500 lives despite a 2002 ceasefire in the decades-old ethnic conflict. Photo: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images).
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According to the Jaffna HRC, more than 60 persons had been abducted or arrested in the peninsula during this year alone.
Many more have been murdered, their bodies dumped by roadsides, in wells or in shallow graves.
Army-backed paramilitaries and military death squads are suspected.
Death threats are being levelled at media workers, human rights and civil society activists and student activists – virtually anyone who has expressed Tamil nationalist sentiments.
Regional HRC Coordinator in Jaffna, T. Suvendrarajah told The Morning Leader that the environment in the peninsula had become too dangerous for the HRC to look into the complaints on abductions and disappearances.
“The security situation is very bad in the peninsula these days. We have received many complaints on abductions during recent times. People do not leave their homes at night, as they are not sure of getting back home safe,” he said.
He added the present situation had affected many of the HRC’s inquiries into the abductions and disappearances of several civilians in the peninsula.
They were getting nowhere with the investigations, he told The Morning Leader.
“All the workers in the HRC, including myself are under threat,” Suvendrarajah said.
“These threats have resulted in many of our workers leaving the organisation. It is the same case with other humanitarian organisations in the peninsula.”
He added that the HRC head office in Colombo was notified of the situation and that he was expecting a response from the head office within the next few days.
“I came to Colombo to update the HRC head office on the present security situation in the peninsula as well as the problems faced by the humanitarian workers. They have not responded yet. I am expecting a response within the next few days,” he said.
The Jaffna HRC said that it had recorded over 60 complaints regarding persons who had been abducted or arrested in the peninsula during this year alone.
“These are the statistics based on the complaints we have received. There are many instances where disappearances are not reported to the HRC. They fear that something might happen to them or to their loved ones if they complain,” he said.
According to the HRC, the number of abductions has been on the increase, especially after the Sri Lankan government closed of the A9 highway last August.
The government’s action has trapped residents many of whom are desperate to leave the peninsula. Even those able to afford tickets for the limited flights or sailings to the south are unable to find seats.
“Many people have reported that their lives are in danger. They have been continuously receiving threats. We have handed them over to the police for more protection. But now, even we are under severe threat,” he added.
