Families of arrested Tamils protest outside HRC office and slam inaction

Local Tamils in Vavuniya staged a sit-down protest outside the Human Rights Commission office in the town, condemning the inaction by officers to investigate Sri Lanka’s arrests of the eight Tamils at the Vedukkunaari temple last week after devotees were assaulted and manhandled.

Family members of those detained by Sri Lankan authorities had already complained to the HRC over the arrests, however, they proceeded to try and meet the officials in person after finding out that the health of those engaged in the hunger strike was deteriorating. 

At the HRC office, none of the officers reportedly interacted with family members. Enraged by this, the public staged a sit-down protest in front of the HRC office demanding that their grievances be heard. An hour after the protests, an official met the family members and noted down the complaints again. They reportedly assured the families that they would visit the detained Tamils in prison.

The spontaneous protest comes after Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Member of Parliament Selvarajah Kajendren who visited the detainees in the Vedukkunaari temple arrest inquired why the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) did not launch an investigation, despite a formal complaint being lodged.

“Their health is deteriorating, some of them have ailments like asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure. They were not subjected to a proper medical evaluation,” he said. “The HRC has been notified but they are yet to investigate or even inquire. This questions the role of the HRC and if they are complicit in these illegal arrests and accusations.”