Abducted TRO Aid Workers Believed Dead - Memorial service held by TRO, 15 March 2007

Tamil Rehabilitation Organization Headquarters in Kilinochchi held a memorial ceremony on Wednesday March 14 2007 to honour the seven (7) TRO humanitarian aid workers who were abducted on 29 & 30 January 2006 from the Welikanda area in Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) controlled Polonaruwa District by the “Karuna Group”, a paramilitary organization that is functioning with the protection of and in collaboration with the armed forces of the Sri Lankan government.

The 7 aid workers remain “disappeared” over a year after their abduction and, as a result of news reports and information conveyed to our organization, it is with great sorrow and condolences to the families that TRO now believes that our co-workers were executed soon after being abducted by the GoSL-affiliated “Karuna Group” paramilitaries. Recent news reports state that they were tortured before being murdered and their bodies disposed of. TRO requests that the Police follow up on news reports and investigate the locations where the bodies may be buried.

TRO President Mr. Sivanadiyar, speaking at the ceremony stated,

“With respect to information on our abducted staff, though we received much information on their status from the beginning, we took much effort and time to ensure and confirm the truth of all the information. In the year since the abductions we have observed a day of fasting and conducted media events in Colombo to publicize and appeal to the Sri Lankan and international community for the release of the abductees. Based on the news that has been published in the Sri Lankan newspapers and based on the research we have performed, we now strongly believe that our staff have lost their lives.”

The 7 who are missing and believed dead are:

Batticaloa

1. Mr. THAMIRAJA VASANTHARAJAN.

2. Mr. SHANMUGANATHAN SUJENDRAN

3. Mr. KAILASAPILLAI RAVINTHIRAN

4. Mr. ARULTHAVARASA SATHEESKARAN

Kilinochchi

1. Ms THANUSHKODI PREMINI

2. Mr. THANGARASA KATHIRKAMAR

Jaffna

1. Mr. KASINATHAR GANESHALINGAM (Member of the TRO Board of Directors)

To date the Sri Lanka Police and security forces have yet to conduct any meaningful investigation or inquiry into these disappearances. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka investigated the case and made a report to its head that has never been released. In addition to not thoroughly investigating the abduction of the TRO aid workers the GoSL has also not listed their case among the 15 cases that the President’s “Commission of Inquiry” will investigate. The atmosphere of impunity that exists in Sri Lanka has lead to a steady decline in the status of human rights and the safety of humanitarian workers on the island.

Neither TRO nor any of the families have to date received any reports or response from any investigating authorities despite several persistent inquiries. There have also not been any arrests or convictions in this case. The abduction of the TRO aid workers was the first in a series of attacks on local and international NGOs and their staff. The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has, by design, made it very difficult for international NGOs, the UN and ICRC to work in the NorthEast with the tsunami and war affected populations. The GoSL has sought to isolate the NorthEast from any humanitarian assistance by:

• Denying international NGOs access to the LTTE controlled areas of the NorthEast

• Limiting access for the UN and ICRC to these same areas

• Instituting a controversial “permit” process for international staff wishing to work in the NorthEast

• Executing 17 ACF aid workers in Muttur, allegedly by SL Army troops according to the independent Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)

• Fostering and encouraging a general negative attitude towards and treatment of NGO staff and organizations

• Freezing US$ 800,000 of TRO Tsunami Project Funds in Sri Lankan banks

First Anniversary: The tragic fate of TRO employees abducted by Karuna cadres, D.B.S. Jeyaraj, 3 February 2007

One year has passed since the abductions and resultant disappearances of seven Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) employees took place in Welikande . Five TRO persons travelling from Batticaloa to Kilinochchi were abducted on January 29th Three were released subsequently. On the following day (30th) another TRO vehicle going from B’caloa to Kilinochchi was hi-jacked at Welikande. Five full time TRO employees and ten trainee recruits were on board. The ten rookies were released later but the other five were not. The TRO has been often accused of being a front organization of the tigers.

The incident did not pass unnoticed. Apart from the TRO protests several INGO’s raised the issue. Worldwide appeals for their return were issued.Christina Rocca then US asst secretary of state made an appeal for their release. The reputed human rights organization Amnesty International issued a special statement in March and requested letters of appeal be sent to President Mahinda Rajapakse.

The AI statement provided a terse synopsis of what happened in the two abduction incidents.

“Kasinathar Ganeshalingam, Kathirkamar Thangarasa, Thanuskody Premini, Shanmuganathan Sujendram, Thambiraja Vasantharajan, Kailayapillai Ravindran and Arunesarasa Satheesharan, all employees of the Tamil relief and development charity, Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), were abducted in two separate incidents in late January 2006. It is feared that they may have “disappeared” and there are grave concerns for their safety.” said Amnesty.

Amnesty also issued some Background information about the incident.” The government and the LTTE met to discuss the implementation of the cease-fire in Geneva on 22 and 23 February. The abductions of the TRO workers, which took place shortly afterwards were interpreted by some as an attempt to derail this renewed effort to put the peace process back on track. However, the talks in Geneva went ahead as planned and both parties reiterated their commitment to respect the cease-fire agreement. They agreed to meet again in Geneva from 19 to 21 April”.

“The TRO is seen as being closely affiliated with the LTTE. However, it is a legally registered Sri Lankan charity and its mission is to provide much needed relief, rehabilitation and development for the people of the northeast of Sri Lanka”.

Amnesty International in an Urgent Action release issued on March 10th expressed “grave concern” for the safety of the seven Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) staffers who were abducted on 29-30 January and are still missing. Amnesty urged all concerned to write to the Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence, Inspector General of Police and Sri Lanka’s President Mr Mahinda Rajapakse to “undertake and complete as a matter of urgency thorough investigations into the fate and whereabouts of the seven,” and to ensure safety of all TRO workers and the families of the missing.

Nothing much has happened in the case despite appeals made by the USA, Amnesty International and several reputed INGO’s. The Commission of Inquiry set up by President Rajapakse to delve into fifteen major incidents of human rights violations excluded the TRO abductions. Appeals made by TRO that these be included have fallen on deaf ears.

The breakaway Karuna faction of the LTTE known as Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) was the prime suspect. Testimonies made by two of the released employees to the Human Rights Commission also indicated that they had seen the name Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal ( TMVP) written in chalk at the camp they were held and interrogated.

But the accusations were denied. A counter - charge was made that the LTTE was responsible. A “story” was floated that a senior LTTE member had advised families of those abducted to keep quiet because it was all a “drama”. It was a LTTE stage - managed act and those “abducted” would return it was said. Nothing has happened. Meanwhile the incidents are passing into the realm of the forgotten.

But the loved ones of the “missing” have not and will not forget. A ceremony was held last week in Kilinochchi to remember the missing seven. The mother of one woman and the wife of one man addressed the gathering. They expressed the belief that the persons were still living and appealed to the world to ensure that they return.Hope springs eternal!

However much one would wish that these abducted human beings whose “humanity” is being obscured by the TRO label be returned or return , recent information gathered by this writer point otherwise. The facts that I am privy to indicate that all seven abducted have been killed. The solitary woman among them was painfully gang raped before being killed. Cadres of the Karuna faction (TMVP) are allegedly responsible.

This writer has been communicating with some sources, well - informed about some of the goings on, within the Karuna faction. These include disgruntled ex - members who quit the TMVP in disgust over its conduct and the fact that Karuna cadres were functioning as the “running dogs of (Sinhala) Imperialism”. While some of the details divulged by these circles should be taken with a healthy dose of scepticism the information provided about the abductions was deeply disturbing. It is after many weeks of probing that I venture to re- construct in print the tragic fate that befell the abducted seven.

The Karuna faction has a man called “Pillaiyan” who is described as the supreme military commander of the TMVP military wing. Pillaiyan was responsible among many things for the assassination of G. Nadesan the “Virakesari” Batticaloa correspondent. He is said to be the main “link” between the TMVP and its military intelligence handlers. Pillaiyan is also the alleged mastermind behind the on going “abduction of Tamil businesmen for ransom” racket in Colombo.

Theevuchenai is a village in the Polonnaruwa district on the borders of Batticaloa. The TMVP had a string of camps in the adjoining jungle areas. An order was given to TMVP cadres at Theevuchenai on Jan 29th evening by Pillaiyan over the telephone. He told them that a van with TRO employees was coming from B’caloa . Pillaiyan commanded his cadres to lie in wait at Welikande and then pick the TRO people up.

A TMVP team led by a man called Sinthujan alias Pratheepan was given the task. Armed Karuna cadres went from Theevuchenai in a white vehicle and waited at Welikande. The Karuna faction cadres in the abduction team were Jeyanthan, Kumar, Pulenthiran, Siranjeevi and Yogan. All of them are in their early twenties.The TRO vehicle proceeded after checking in at the army post at Welikande. The TMVP van followed and at about 8. 30 pm seized the van at gun point in a convenient location. They took the TRO van to Theevuchenai.

The five people in the van were Kasinathar Ganeshalingam, North East Province Secretary of Pre-School Education Development Centre (PSEDC), Ms S.Doshini, PSEDC Coordinator for Manmunai North, Ms Punniyamoorthy Nadeswary, Pre-School teacher at the Vavunatheevi pre-school, Ms Chitravel Sivamathi, Pre-School teacher at the Vavunatheeevu pre-school and vehicle driver Kathirgamar Thangarasa.

The females were separated from the males. Sinthujan himself interrogated the two males while Sitha alias Pradeep the head of TMVP intelligence along with two others questioned the females. Sitha’s claim to notoriety was after the murder of former Tamil National Alliance National list MP Joseph Pararajasingham on Christmas day in 2005.

He was shot dead near the altar at the St. Mary’s cathedral in Batticaloa after partaking of holy communion at the hands of Bishop Kingsley Swampillai. Sitha was identified as one of the two killers and full details were given by the TNA to President Rajapakse. No arrests have been made so far but the “witnesses” who identified Sitha are now abroad in fear of their lives.

The three females were initially questioned by Sitha and Shashi alias Shanthan and Jeeva alias Thilakan. At one stage Sitha separated Doshini from the other two and proceeded to interrogate her alone.Shashi and Jeeva continued questioning Sivamathy and Nadeswari.

Sinthujan himself interogated the two males. Ganeshalingam was from Thellipalai in Jaffna while Thangarasa was from Kilinochchi. Both were from the north while the females were from the East. Both males were assaulted and accused of being Pottu Amman’s intelligence wing operatives. Their Jaffna origins were also ridiculed by Sinthujan. Later both were taken out and personally executed by Sinthujan.

Nadeswari and Sivamathy were cleared by intelligence and handed over to Sinthujan as “clean”. They were released by Sinthujan the following day and put on a bus near the Vavunatheevu army camp.. Both were not physically assaulted and treated quite decently by Shashi and Jeeva. The TMVP were under the impression that some of Pottu Amman’s tiger intelligence operatives were functioning as TRO employees. Once they were convinced that Nadeswari and Sivamathy were not tigers the TMVP intelligence operatives relaxed.

In the case of Doshini it was discovered that she was a close relative of a senior Karuna faction member. This was of some help initially. Thereafter it appears that Sitha took a fancy to Doshini. He “interrogated” her alone and at one point threatened her with death on the charge of being a tiger accomplice. She broke down and sobbed. Sitha comforted her gently. Later Sitha himself drove her back home in his vehicle.

Apparently a Theevuchenai version of the Stockholm syndrome occurred. The captive began “loving” the captor. According to unconfirmed reports Doshini is now living with Sitha as his “common law” spouse. She has not been questioned by the authorities so far and is protected by powerful people.

But Nadeswari and Sivamathy were required to give statements to the Police. They were harassed by Police officials who kept them at the station overnight. The victims were treated as suspects. Both of them also went to Colombo and voluntarily tendered statements to the Human Rights Commission. Ms. Doshini has not made a statement to the HRC.

On the following day (Jan 30th) the TMVP cadres at Theevuchenai received another phone call around noon from Pillaiyaan. Sinthujan was told of a second TRO vehicle proceeding from Batticaloa.The same team led by Sinthujan went to Welikande and followed the same modus operandi. The white van waited at the checkpoint and followed the TRO vehicle. It overtook the TRO van after 100 metres and stopped it around 4.15 pm.

While Sinthujan remained in the white van the other five (Jeyanthan, Kumar, Pulenthiran, Siranjeevi and Yogan) seized the TRO vehicle. The driver was pulled out and pushed to the road after a few blows.

Yogan got in and drove the hi- jacked vehicle while the TMVP white van followed suit.

The vehicles stopped after getting off the main road. Pulenthiran and Siranjeevi got in and blindfolded all fifteen abductees. The vehicles then proceeded along circuitous routes and reached Theevuchenai. The fifteen were taken in and questioned by Sinthujan, Shashi and Jeeva.

It was found within a short time that eleven of the fifteen were newly recruited trainees on their way to Vavuniya for a training workshop.The others were on their way to TRO headquarters at Kilinochchi. The TMVP was not satisfied about one of the trainee recruits whom they accused of being the henchman of Keerthi the B’caloa area intelligence chief.

The other ten trainees were blindfolded again and taken by van to the A - 11 highway. Kumar, Yogan and Jeyanthan were in the vehicle. At one point one Jeyanthan saw a Police jeep and shouted “munnale Police jeep”. Yogan replied casually “Athu Pirachinai illai” (No problem). When releasing the ten trainees the abductors told them that the last rites could be performed by family members for the other five.

The five persons kept at Theevuchenai were Aruneswararajah Satheeswaran an accounts trainee from Vellaveli; Kailayapillai Ravindran the accountant at Vipulananda Childrens home, Palugamam, Shanmuganathan Sujendiran the accountant of Manikkavasagar Children’s home, Santhively; Thambyrajah Vasantharajan acct at B’ caloa TRO office and Ms.Premini Thanuskody the chief TRO accountant for the Eastern Province. Premini was also an undergraduate at the Eastern university at Vantharumoolai.

All five persons were “interrogated” intensively by TMVP intelligence led by Sitha. Sinthujan was also involved. The men were assaulted and even tortured. Sitha and the other intelligence personnel then left the camp telling Sinthujan “Ini ungadai poruppu” (Now your responsibility).

The four males were then given rice to eat and tea to drink. Afterwards they were blindfolded and put in a pick - up. It was driven into the interior. The men were then forced to walk into the jungle blind- folded.. The blindfolds were removed and they were asked to dig a huge pit. When it was over the weeping men were lined up and shot. TMVP cadres quickly covered up the grave.

The fate of Premini was terrible. The dusky woman with attractive features and a slight squint was taken to another camp and raped first by Sinthujan himself. Threafter it was a horrible gang rape with TMVP cadres taking turns to sexually assault her. Fourteen cadres raped the poor girl. Some troubled TMVP cadres did not participate in the rape but were powerless to stop it.

Premini was heard to shout and cry at the start. Later she merely sobbed and whimpered. Premini was taken out before dawn by TMVP cadres to the jungles. She walked like a “nadaipinam” (walking corpse) without crying or showing signs of emotion said one ex - TMVP cadre. She was apparently hacked to death and thrown into the bushes.

This account of what allegedly happened to the abducted TRO personnel has troubled me greatly. The tragic fate of Premini is deeply distressing. I have re - constructed the tragedy from accounts related by ex - TMVP cadres. It may be possible to persuade them to testify to these incidents at a genuine inquiry if their safety is guaranteed and identity protected.

Meanwhile the onus is on our former human rights champion and current executive president Mahendra Percy Rajapakse to take action in this matter. Looking back one sees the Govt and law - enforcement authorities acting as “obstructors” of justice in this matter. Cabinet ministers accused the TRO of not co-operating thereby implying that the victim organization was at fault. When TRO employees went to lodge complaints they were treated shabbily as if they were the offenders and not the victims. TRO officials made repeated attempts to contact authorities but were simply ignored. All this points to a massive cover up exercise.

I have also heard of one decent Sinhala military intelligence official who tried to probe this incident and the massacre of 12 Sinhala workers at Omadhiyamadhu being killed by Karuna cadrs themselves. It may be recalled that the Omadhiyamadhu killings were blamed on the LTTE. According to this yet to be confirmed version, the TMVP was responsible for that incident too. The MI official was lured into a trap by Pillaiyan and killed by TMVP cadres. The blame as usual was put on the LTTE.

The case of Welikande abductions did not receive the attention it should have received because TRO personnel were involved. It has been easy to downplay the incidents because the TRO is perceived as a tiger front organization. Even civilian employees of the TRO are treated as terrorist because of suspected LTTE affiliations. The well - designed campaign to cripple the TRO also has not been objected to stronly due to alleged tiger links.

Against this backdrop it was easily possible to float conspiracy theories against the LTTE over the TRO abductions and disbelieve that a massive human rights violation had occurred. I am ashamed to say that I too initially felt that the abductions were choreographed dances of deception. The information that is available now makes me realise the full impact of the incidents. There is a crying need for justice here.

The fact that the LTTE is no saint and that it has perpetrated innumerable human rights violations is widely accepted. Yet in a society that is under the rule of law and has a democratically elected government of gigantic proportions the individual is entitled to fundamental rights. Even those working for the TRO or even LTTE members have those rights however unpalatable it may be to some people. This is a crucial truth that cannot be denied in the tragic episode of the abducted TRO personnel.

TRO Urgent Action Press Releases, 30 January 2006

Five (5) staff members travelling from the Batticaloa office to Vavuniya for an accounting workshop have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen after passing through the Welikanda, (Polonnaruwa District) Sri Lankan Army Checkpoint at approximately 16:00 hours 30 January, 2006.

Fourteen (14) TRO Batticaloa staff members (10 women, 4 men) and a hired driver departed Batticaloa at approximately 14:00 hours in a hired van (vehicle number: 250-8993). The TRO staff vehicle had registered at the Welikanda army checkpoint and was continuing its journey when a “white van” that had been parked a “few meters” (as stated by one of the women who was released) away from the checkpoint. The “white van” forced the vehicle carrying the TRO personnel to stop approximately 100 meters past the GoSL Security Forces checkpoint on the A11 road.

Five (5) men, aged between 20 and 25 dressed in casual attire and carrying small arms, got out of the white van and entered the TRO vehicle. One of them dragged the driver out of the driver’s seat, dumped him into the back seat and started driving into the nearby surrounding jungle.

All the TRO personnel and the driver were blindfolded with the women’s shawls and had their hands tied by the men while inside the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped inside the jungle and all the TRO personnel were taken out of the van. The men were forced to sit under a tamarind tree and the women were given back their shawls.

The TRO personnel were interviewed for approximately 2 hours during which time they were abused physically and mentally. Eventually all the girls (9), except TRO Batticaloa Chief Accountant Thanuskody Premini (also currently a university student at Eastern University), were put back into the vehicle with the driver and started to take them back to the main road.

The following is taken from a statement made by one of the women that were released by the abductors. For fears for her safety, she does not wish to be identified. This is a translation from the Tamil telephone interview.

“A TRO vehicle was carrying fourteen (14) TRO accounts staff plus the driver from Batticaloa to Vavuniya. After making entries at Welikanda military check point, they proceeded another 100m further. A white van that was parked a few meters away from the check point started to follow and waylaid the TRO vehicle. 5 men (aged between 20 and 25) got from the white van and entered into the vehicle. One of them dragged the driver out and dumped him into the back seat, and started driving into the nearby surrounding jungle area.

All the captives were blindfolded and had their hands tied by the men inside the vehicle. They stopped the vehicle inside the jungle area and made all the men sit under a tamarind tree. They gave back the salwar scarfs which were used to blindfold to the girls. All the girls, except Miss Premini, were put back into the vehicle with the driver, and brought back to the main road. Miss Premini and the 4 male staff were kept behind. When they came to the main road one of the abductors shouted that there was a police jeep on ahead, to which another replied that it was not a problem for them. The abductors also suggested that the released persons should make arrangements for the last rites for the 5 people in their possession. They were armed with pistols. While there were 5 men directly involved in the abduction and the interrogation of these TRO staff, there were an unknown number in the white van.”

When they came to the main road one of the abductors shouted that there was a police jeep up ahead on the road. Another of the armed men replied that it was not a problem for them.

Ms. Premini and the 4 male staff members listed below were detained:

Shanmuganathan Sujendram (TRO Accountant, Manikkavasahar Children’s Home, Santhivelli) Thambiraja Vasantharajan (Accountant, TRO Batticaloa) Kailayapillai Ravindran (Accountant, Vipulananda Children’s Home, Palugamam) Arunesarasa Satheesharan (Accounts Trainee, Vellavali).

The armed gunmen told the driver and the 9 TRO women that they should return to Batticaloa and tell the families of the 5 people in their possession to make arrangements for their last rites.

TRO Kilinochchi and TRO Colombo were notified of these events late in the evening on 30 January 2006 and immediately contacted the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), ICRC, various human rights groups, international NGOs, Members of Parliament and other significant actors in the Sri Lankan peace process in Batticaloa, Colombo and worldwide.

TRO was informed that due to the fact that night had fallen none of the above mentioned agencies could journey to the area in question due to the prevailing security situation and concerns for their safety. On the morning of 31 January 2006 TRO personnel in Batticaloa and Colombo filed statements and requests with the SLMM, ICRC, the Batticaloa Police, the office of the President of Sri Lanka and the media.

TRO would like to appeal to the Government of Sri Lanka, the international community and the Sri Lankan Civil Society to make every effort to assure the safe return of these persons to their families. These TRO staff members have been involved in post-tsunami/post-war humanitarian relief and development work with orphaned children and are staff of a registered Sri Lankan National Non Government Organisation(Charity).

Another five TRO staff reported missing, 31 January 2006

Full text of the press release issued by TRO's Headquarters in Kilinochchi:

31 January 2006
23:00 Sri Lanka Time

The following Pre School Education Development Center (PSEDC) personnel and their driver have been reported missing to Colombo:

Mr. Kasinathar Ganeshalingam: PSEDC North-East Province Secretary
Ms. S. Dosini: PSEDC Divisional Coordinator Mamunai North Division
Ms. Nadeswari: Pre-School Teacher, Vavunatheevu Pre School
Ms. Chithravel Sivamathi: Pre School Teacher Vavunatheevu Pre School
Driver: Thangarasa
Vehicle Number: WP PA 3074, PSEDC vehicle donated by TRO USA

These TRO and PSEDC personnel had traveled from Kilinochchi to the Batticaloa District to carry out the final assessment of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) funded Temporary Pre School Construction Project for Tsunami Welfare Centers (15 pre schools throughout the East) and to evaluate the progress of the construction of Permanent Tsunami Pre Schools funded by Save the Children in Sri Lanka (36 pre schools throughout the NorthEast).

The appraisal team was to have returned to Kilinochchi in time for a meeting at the Kilinochchi FORUT office on the morning of Tuesday 31 January 2006. TRO Kilinochchi informed TRO Colombo of the team’s failure to attend the meeting late in the afternoon of 31 January 2006 at which point TRO Batticaloa was contacted and inquiries were made as to the team’s where location.

TRO Colombo was informed that the team had left Valaichchenai, Batticaloa District at approximately 7 pm (19:00 hours Sri Lanka Time) on Sunday 29 January 2006. That was the last that anyone has heard of the team.

TRO requests that the Police, Government of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), the ICRC, Embassies and Civil Society urgently investigate these missing humanitarian workers.

In light of the disappearance of these five (5) persons and the internationally highlighted abduction of five (5) other TRO personnel who were traveling from Batticaloa on Monday 30 January 2006 it appears that a campaign of Terror has been unleashed on TRO personnel in the NorthEast.

Background:

The Pre School Education Development Center (PSEDC) is an organization that is funded by TRO and implements projects in partnership with Save the Children in Sri Lanka, FORUT and UNICEF. PSEDC supervises the operation and coordinates the activities of Pre Schools in the NorthEast. The organization assures that pre schools in the NorthEast meet the minimum standards as set forth by the government of Sri Lanka. PSEDC also trains teachers and serves as a coordinating agency that ensures that there is a bottom up design and management of the pre school education of the children of all communities in the NorthEast. The PSEDC works closely with the Provincial Education Ministry and the Social Welfare Ministry.

The PSEDC coordinates the activities of 2,990, 5.318 pre school teachers, and 87,045 children in the NorthEast and provides a valuable education for the children of all communities and works with all communities without regard to race, ethnicity, language group, religion, caste or any other basis.
 

International Federation of Tamils Appeal

31 January 2006

Urgent Press statement
Ref.Pr/S/310106

Save Tamil Captives

International Federation of Tamils, IFT, wishes to draw the attention of the International Community, IC, to the alarming rate of involuntary disappearances, capable of dragging the country to unredeemable doom. Ten Tamil civilians, all TRO staff-members, have been reported lost, in two separate incidents, while travelling from the eastern region of Batticaloa. Their names are now to be committed to the dreadful list of ''Involuntary Disappearance'', unless the International Community puts its foot down firmly and prevail on the President of Sri Lanka to produce them.

The first party left Valaichenai, in a vehicle around 7.00pm., on Sunday, 29 January for Kilinochchi, with five passengers including the driver. These TRO officers are experts in pre-school education. Their journey was through the government-controlled area, lined with a number of army checkpoints at which, purpose of travel and destination are declared. It was only when they did not attend a scheduled meeting at Kilinochchi in the morning on 31 January, their absence was noticed and by evening it was established beyond doubt that the team of three women and two men had disappeared.

However, it was the second incident that was brought to the attention of the world first. Twenty TRO officers, while passing through the army checkpoint at Welikande in Polonnoruwa district, had declared their destination as Vavuniya in the North and the purpose of travel as, a pre-advertised training course. Within one hundred metres after leaving the checkpoint, they were waylaid by a paramilitary group and severely assaulted. While five from them, were abducted by the assailants, the rest were allowed home to tell the tale. This happened around 2 pm., Monday, 30 January, in broad daylight and was quick to catch the eyes of the international media.

News about this second incident in which five Tamils, belonging to the TRO were abducted, has already created shock and fear among Tamils in the North-East. And now, with the news of another five Tamils, also belonging to the TRO, missing while travelling, while some have panicked, most are outraged.

IFT appeals to the International Community to act quickly and save the lives of the captives and the missing. If pressure is exerted on the President to force his armed forces and the paramilitary groups attached to them to produce the missing TRO officers, the lives of the ten may be saved. It looks like that by commission of censoring the LTTE and omission of ignoring army excesses in all recent communique, the International Community has been vicariously responsible for encouraging the armed forces to act uncensored.

While on one hand, attempt by the Norwegian facilitator is succeeding in bringing the parties to the conflict to the negotiating table, the national extremist forces and the Buddhist chauvinistic forces, on the other, appear to be edging towards thwarting it. During the election campaign and even after the victory of Mahinda Rajapakse as President, his extremist colleagues have been clamouring for banning the TRO. Now with ten TRO hands vanishing within 24 hours, the extremist JVP and the JHU may have an explanation to give.

On behalf of the Tamils all over the world, IFT appeals to the International Community for appropriate action.
 

US urges Sri Lanka to investigate kidnapping of TRO staff, [TamilNet, January 31, 2006]

The US Embassy in Sri Lanka, on Tuesday, expressed concern about the reported January 30 kidnapping of five members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) at Welikanda in Polonnaruwa District. Urging the relevant authorities to rapidly investigate the allegations of the kidnapping, the US embassy called on all parties to exercise restraint and calm, especially in the run-up to the cease-fire talks in Geneva.
Full text of the press release follows:

UNITED STATES CONCERNED ABOUT REPORT OF TRO KIDNAPPING

Colombo, January 31, 2006: The U.S. Embassy is concerned about the reported January 30 kidnapping of five members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) at Welikanda in Polonnaruwa District. The Embassy urges the relevant authorities to rapidly investigate these allegations. The Embassy again calls on all parties to exercise restraint and calm, especially in the run-up to the cease-fire talks in Geneva.
 

Australasian Federation of Tamils Media Release, 1 February 2006

AUSTRALASIAN FEDERATION OF TAMIL ASSOCIATIONS INC.
P.O.Box 215 Enfield NSW 2136
Abduction of TRO humanitarian workers by Paramilitary Forces in Sri Lanka

Five staff members of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), a Tamil NGOregistered in Sri Lanka and helping the war and tsunami affected people in the NorthEast of the country, have been abducted on the 30th of January, allegedly byparamilitary personnel working in collaboration with the Sri Lankan security forces.Another 5 officers working for the Pre School Educational Development Centre(PSEDC) who have gone missing from 29th of January now presumed to have beenabducted by the same paramilitary group.

The TRO members have been abducted while travelling in a convoy of vehicles with10 other staff members from the town of Batticaloa in the east to the Northern townof Vavuniya to attend a training program. Soon after their convoy passed a SriLankan military checkpoint, within 100 meters from the military checkpoint a whitevan had pulled up in front of the convoy and had blocked the road. Paramilitarypersonnel who were travelling in that white van has then dragged out the 5 seniorstaff members, forced them into the white van and driven them away. The otherswere assaulted and forced to return to Baticaloa. There were no eyewitnesses forthe PSEDC personnel’s abduction.

AFTA condemns this cowardice action by the paramilitary personnel and fear for thesafety of these innocent humanitarian workers. Paramilitary groups abductinginnocent Tamil people and executing them extra judicially is a common phenomenonin the North East of Sri Lanka after the cease-fire agreement came into effect.AFTA feels that, these abductions have been masterminded by those paramilitarypersonnel who are keen on scuttling the peace negotiations scheduled to be held inGeneva soon.

AFTA calls on the Australian government, NGOs and other human rightsorganizations to condemn these abductions and the Australian Governmentto exert its influence on the Sri Lankan government to secure the release ofthese 10 innocent Tamil humanitarian workers whose whereabouts are stillunknown.

Media Contact: Sydney : Dr Victor Rajakulendran 0402 484 209
Melbourne : Soma Somasundaram 0411 827 891

NGO Consortium urges immediate action to release kidnapped TRO staff

[TamilNet, February 01, 2006 08:08 GMT]

The Consortium of Non Governmental Organisation in Vavuniya, representing 43 NGOs in Vavuniya District, on Tuesday, appealed to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, the representative of the International Committee for Red Cross in Colombo (ICRC), the Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the chairperson of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies in Colombo, to take immediate action to safeguard the lives and to ensure the safe return of NGO workers who have been kidnapped. Full text of the press release issued by the NGO Consortium in Vavuniya, follows:

LETTER OF MEMORANDUM
31st January 2006

The NGO Consortium of Vavuniya District would like to request that immediate action is taken regarding the kidnapping on 30th January 2006 of the five staff of a non-governmental organization, the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization. We wish to make an urgent appeal to the people listed below:


The Honourable President and Defence Minister Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse
The Residential Representative of the International Committee for Red Cross in Colombo
The Director of the Sri Lankan Monitoring Commission in Colombo
The Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka
The Chairperson of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies in Colombo
Dear Honourable Sirs and Madam,

On 30th January 2006 five members of a registered non-governmental organization, the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization, were travelling in a vehicle from Batticaloa to Vavuniya on work-related duties regarding office training. Just after they had registered and left the Welikanda army checkpoint, their vehicle was ordered to pull over by an unidentified white van that had been following them. The five NGO members were forcibly pulled out of their vehicle and abducted. This incident deeply concerns us and we feel the need to bring this to your attention.

Most of the needs of people affected by poverty, war, the Tsunami and other such suffering over the last number of years have been met by the NGO community in Sri Lanka. At this point more than ever in Sri Lankan history we believe NGOs play a very important and necessary role. It therefore becomes a critical situation when an NGO like the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization, which is registered under the Sri Lankan government law and has been accepted and been working with the government and with international agencies for the benefit of the needy people, is threatened. It is alarming that the lives and work of any NGO staff are endangered and we are concerned, especially as we have not been able to obtain any information about the whereabouts of these five staff and we are extremely worried about their security and their lives.

Here at the NGO Consortium of Vavuniya District we work hard to coordinate activities and ensure that services to the needy people in the Vavuniya area are of good quality and are delivered in the proper manner and with sensitivity. It is therefore important to us that we bring this grave matter to your kind attention.

We therefore appeal to you as the most powerful and influential people in Sri Lanka, and to those of you who are working here to ensure human rights and the rights of the Sri Lankan people. As the NGO Consortium of the Vavuniya District we seriously and urgently appeal to you to intervene in this matter as quickly as possible in order that these five NGO workers are released so that they can return safely to their homes.

With deep respect and with thanks

J.A.A. MANAF
V.C. MAHENDRAN
T. KIRUBAHARAN
P. NARASINGHAM
M. NIKHSALA
Y. PRINTHA
V. SUBRAMANIYAM
K. RASARATNAM
A.R.A KHAN

 

UN agencies call for immediate release of kidnapped TRO staff

[TamilNet, February 01, 2006 12:48 GMT]

UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator’s Office in Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, has called for the immediate release of the abducted humanitarian aid workers employed by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO). Deploring the reported abuduction, the UN office in Colombo said that the humanitarian aid workers who devote their professional lives to serving those in need, have the right to respect and protection from harm. Full text of the statement from the UN Resident/Humanitarian Co-ordinator’s Office in Sri Lanka:

"The UN agencies in Sri Lanka deplore the reported abduction of 10 humanitarian aid workers employed by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), an aid organisation registered with the Government of Sri Lanka, and call for their immediate release.

These are humanitarian aid workers who devote their professional lives to serving those in need. Therefore, they have the right to respect and protection from harm. "

Paramilitaries release two TRO workers but threaten them not to divulge any information

[TamilNet, February 01, 2006 11:54 GMT]

Two of the five pre-school teachers who were abducted by paramilitaries working with the assistance of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Sunday 8.00 p.m. were released unharmed and returned to their families in Batticaloa on Wednesday, TRO representatives in Batticaloa said. The fate of the remaining 8 persons abducted by the paramilitaries is not yet known.

TRO press release on abductions
Statement from released TRO staff members

"Ms Punniyamoorthy Nadeswary and Ms Chitravel Sivamathy, both pre-school teachers, said that at 8 p.m. Sunday a white van stopped their vehicle 500 meters from the SLA checkpoint.

"Armed men from the van blind-folded five of us and took us to an unknown location. We told the abductors, who spoke Tamil, that we live close to the Vavunathivu SLA camp. After more questioning the gunmen brought us to the Vavunathivu area and released us. "We were threatened not to divulge any information on what happened to us. We don't know the whereabouts of the other three teachers and of the vehicle we were travelling," said the released teachers.

Members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and Director of the Batticaloa Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), Mr Ceaser, Wednesday visited the area in Welikande where the alleged abduction occured, according to sources.

 

TRO Update on Kidnapped Persons, 1 February 2006

Two of the women who were traveling in the PSEDC vehicle on 29 January 2006 that failed to arrive in Kilinochchi for a meeting/training with FORUT at TRO Headquarters scheduled for Tuesday 31 January 2006 returned to their families on Monday 30 January and contacted TRO Batticaloa on Wednesday February 1 2006.

Ms. Punniyamoorththy Nadeswari and Ms. Siththiravel Sivamathi PSEDC Pre School Teachers at Vavunatheevu Pre School were traveling with Mr. Kasinathar Ganeshalingam (PSEDC North-East Province Secretary), Ms. S. Dosini (PSEDC Divisional Coordinator Mamunai North Division) and driver Thangarasa. They had departed Valaichenai on Sunday January 29 2006 for Kilinochchi. They were not heard from again by TRO until representatives of Ms. Nadeswari and Ms. Sivamathi contacted TRO Batticaloa personnel Wednesday.

The details are still emerging but it appears that the PSEDC vehicle driven by Thangarasa (vehicle Number: WP PA 3074) was stopped and hijacked on Sunday January 29 2006 at the same checkpoint as the vehicle (vehicle number: 250-8993) carrying the TRO accountants was hijacked and the 5 persons kidnapped on Monday evening.

Currently the following are still missing:

Sunday Abduction from “near” Welikanda Checkpoint –
STILL in custody of kidnappers:

Mr. Kasinathar Ganeshalingam PSEDC North-East Province Secretary
Ms. S. Dosini PSEDC Divisional Coordinator Mamunai North Division
Mr. Thangarasa Driver (Vehicle Number: WP PA 3074)

Monday Abduction from “near” Welikanda Checkpoint –
STILL in custody of kidnappers:

Ms. Thanuskody Premini TRO Batticaloa Chief Accountant
Mr. Shanmuganathan Sujendram TRO Accountant, Manikkavasahar Children’s Home, Santhivelli
Mr. Thambiraja Vasantharajan Accountant, TRO Batticaloa
Mr. Kailayapillai Ravindran Accountant, Vipulananda Children’s Home, Palugamam
Mr. Arunesarasa Satheesharan Accounts Trainee, Vellavali

These two (2) women from the Sunday 29 January kidnapping and the nine (9) who were hijacked and kidnapped and released on Monday 30 January were told not to make a report to the police or anyone else and thus fear for their lives and the lives of their family. TRO requests that the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and Civil Society exert pressure to ensure the safety of these women.

TRO wishes to facilitate any and all police enquiries into these incidents and requests that the GoSL guarantee the safety of those being interviewed. TRO also wishes to request that the SLMM and/or ICRC to accompany these women in order to facilitate and ensure the safe travel of the women to the interviews with the Police.

In response to allegations from various sources TRO would like to state that:

1) TRO Administrative Officer Mr. S. Mahalingam in Batticaloa filed a Police Report at 11:00 am on Tuesday 31 January 2006 (Sri Lanka Time) at the Batticaloa Police Station concerning the group of TRO Staff that was abducted on Monday 30 January night.

2) Arjunan Ethirveerasingam, TRO Colombo, notified the IGP Chandra Fernando and the Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe at the Foundation for Co- Existence meeting on the Ceasefire Agreement on January 31 2006 publicly and privately of the events of Monday 30 January. He was assured by both that the matter would be investigated.

3) The families of the persons abducted Monday travelled to the Welikanda Police Station on Tuesday 31 January and attempted to file a Police Report. They were refused the opportunity to submit a Report.

4) The family of Ms. Premini, who live in Vavuniya, filed a “missing persons” report on Wednesday 1 February 2006 at the Vavuniya Police Station. The report was recorded by PC Wijesinghe (#31736)

Statement  by Released Teachers  Punniyamoorththy Nadeswari &  Siththiravel Sivamathi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1 February 2006
23:00 hours Sri Lanka Time

The follow statement was made to TRO Batticaloa Staff by Ms. Punniyamoorththy Nadeswari and Ms. Siththiravel Sivamathi the PSEDC Pre School Teachers who were kidnapped on Sunday 29 January 2006 at approximately 20:00 hours. They were released 25 hours later at 21:00 hours on Monday 30 January 2006. The statement was translated from the Tamil original into English by TRO Colombo staff. All times are Sri Lankan Time.

"At about 5:30 PM (17:30 hrs Sunday 29 January 2006) we (the two Pre School Teachers and one coordinator from Mamunai North) joined Mr. K Ganeshalingam at Kallady (Batticaloa District). While we were moving on the Batticaloa road police stopped our vehicle and checked us. They asked us, in a threatening manner, whether we were carrying bombs and then allowed us to proceed.

We met Ms. Kalaivani, PSEDC Zonal Coordinator (Kalkuda) at Valaichenai and after meeting we left her in Valaichenai and proceeded towards Welikanda. We saw a white Hi-Ace vehicle following our vehicle. The front lights of this vehicle shed some light into our vehicle. When I looked at my watch it was 8 o’clock (20:00 hrs).

We were subjected to checks at the Welikanda checkpoint. At the time we saw the white van parked behind our vehicle. When we moved a short distance from the checkpoint the white van came behind us, overtook our vehicle and stopped us.
Some men got down from the white van assaulted Mr. Ganeshalingam and the driver tied them up and dumped them in the back of the vehicle. Then they drove the vehicle into the jungle area. After a long drive the vehicle stopped at 11:30 pm (23:30 hrs Sunday 29 January 2006)

A girl there made a body check on us. We were there the whole night. We were separated and we didn’t see Mr. Ganeshalingam and the driver all night. The next morning the PSEDC Divisional Coordinator Ms. Dosini was separated from us. That day night at 9:00 pm (21:00 hrs Monday 30 January 2006) they brought us to the main road put us in a bus and sent us with a warning not to tell this incident to anyone.”

[Currently 8 of those abducted are still missing] .... TRO would once again like to appeal to the international community and the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate and make every effort to ensure the safe release of our colleagues.

February 02, 2006

Toronto Press Release

Abduction Of Ten (10) TRO (Sri Lanka) Staff Members by Para-Militaries

TCWA is appalled at the abduction of ten (10) staff members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) by para-militaries working with the Sri Lankan Armed forces in two separate but related incidents. The first one took place on January 23, 2006 just 100 metres from an army check point at Welikanda, Polonnaruwa district which is under the control of the SLAF. A total of fifteen (15) staff members were travelling from Batticaloa when paramilitaries obstructed their path, dragged five out of the TRO van and forced them into a “white van.” The rest were assaulted and forced to go back to Batticaloa.

A further five (5) members who left Valaichenai to Vavuniya to carry out the final assessment of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) funded Temporary Pre School Construction Project for Tsunami Welfare Centers and to evaluate the progress of the construction of Permanent Pre Schools funded by Save the Children in Sri Lanka have also been abducted. Latest reports say two (2) out of the five (5) have been released by para-militaries, but the fate of the remaining eight (five plus three) yet unknown.

The UN Resident/Humanitarian Co-coordinator’s Office in Sri Lanka has condemned the abductions. A statement released by the office said

“the UN agencies in Sri Lanka deplore the reported abduction of 10 humanitarian aid workers ……..and call for their immediate release. These are humanitarian aid workers who devote their professional lives to serving those in need. Therefore, they have the right to respect and protection from harm.”

Likewise the US embassy in Colombo has asked the relevant authorities to investigate the kidnappings.

TRO is a registered NGO in Sri Lanka with 20 years of unblemished humanitarian service. Timely rescue and relief operations rendered by TRO to survivors of Tsunami disaster earned them world's accolade and admiration.

These abductions are a tragic development that is likely to jeopardize the peace talks between the GOSL and the LTTE scheduled to commence in Geneva in two weeks time. Additionally such acts of state supported terrorism will seriously curtail TRO’s ability to deliver much needed humanitarian assistance to the Tsunami and war-ravaged victims.

TCWA calls up on the Canadian government to use all available diplomatic and other means to secure the freedom of the TRO staff members.
 

Canadian Tamil Congress condemns the abduction of humanitarian workers in Sri Lanka; urges their immediate release

CANADIAN TAMIL CONGRESS CONGRÈS TAMOUL CANADIEN
219 Argyle Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K2P-2H4 e-mail:info@ctconline.ca

February 1, 2006

Ten aid workers belonging to Tamil Rehabilitation Organizations (TRO) were reportedly abducted by government sanctioned paramilitaries in the Sri Lankan government controlled area on January 30, 2006. The aid workers were traveling to take part in the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) funded Temporary Pre School Construction Project for Tsunami Welfare Centers. The TRO is involved in the rebuilding activities for the tsunami affected people in the Northeast of Sri Lanka. It is currently the largest NGO that operates in the Northeast of Sri Lanka.

Canadian Tamil Congress reminds that the responsibility for the protection of aid workers solely lies on the Sri Lankan government. However, response from Sri Lankan authorities has been disappointing.

Therefore, we now call upon the Canadian government and all those who have influence in promoting peace in Sri Lanka to condemn this act and to exert maximum pressure on the Sri Lankan government and its paramilitaries to ensure the immediate and safe release of the abducted relief workers.

We urge Sri Lanka to put a stop to the reprehensible practice of hostage taking which is posing a serious threat to aid delivery and to the peace process. As per Canadian government's earlier requests, we urge Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to take concrete steps to disarm the paramilitaries.

Canadian Tamil Congress is very concerned regarding the safety of Canadian aid workers in Sri Lanka.

For further information, please contact;
Toronto (416) 240-0078
Montreal (514) 898-8019
Ottawa (613) 789-9371
Vancouver (778) 231-0074

NESOHR  Case Report on  Abduction of TRO Employees 2nd February 2006

Eight employees of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) were abducted in very similar fashion under very similar circumstances from the same location in two separate incidents on two successive days.

First incident on Sunday 29 January

The first incident occurred on Sunday 29 January. The vehicle carrying five TRO employees including the vehicle driver was traveling north from Batticaloa. Among them were three female employees. The vehicle had cleared the checking at the Welikande Sri Lankan Army checkpoint. As their vehicle proceeded towards north, a white-van interrupted the vehicle and abducted it. Abductors kept all five TRO employees overnight. Late on the following day, on Monday, two of the female employees who were abducted were brought back to the main road by the abductors and released there. The two women scared by the experience just went home and kept quiet. TRO office was alerted about the missing five only when they did not turn up as expected at their destination for the meeting on Tuesday 31 January. The news of the abduction that broke out on Wednesday 1 February reported that five employees were abducted. Those who released the news were not aware that two female employees out of the five in this vehicle were already back in their home and were too scared to report the incident.

Second incident on Monday 30 January

Another TRO vehicle left Batticaloa with several TRO employees on Monday 30 January and traveled towards north. Like the first vehicle this vehicle also cleared the Sri Lankan Army checkpoint at Welikande. Soon after, a white-van interrupted the vehicle and abducted five TRO employees from the vehicle. The remaining employees and their vehicle were turned back to Batticaloa. Those who were turned back alerted TRO of the abduction and this news broke out on Tuesday 31 January before the news of the first abduction broke out. Among the abducted five TRO employees in the second abduction was one female employee.

Who are the abductors?

Those who escaped from the abduction in both of the above incidents have cited some very similar features about the two incidents. These are:

1. All those who were abducted were employees of TRO.
2. They were traveling from Batticaloa towards north.
3. They have just cleared the Sri Lankan military checkpoint in Welikande.
4. They were abducted just after this clearance.
5. Abductors were carrying pistols.
6. Abductors spoke good Tamil.

A NESOHR case

It will be useful to describe a similar abduction case that NESOHR handled four months ago. This will throw further light into the present cases of abductions. In the case that NESOHR handled,

1. Members of one family were abducted
2. They were traveling from Batticaloa towards north.
3. They have just cleared the Sri Lankan military checkpoint in Welikande.
4. They were abducted just after this clearance.
5. Abductors were carrying pistols.
6. Abductors spoke good Tamil.

The similarity with this NESOHR case and the two cases of abduction of the TRO employees are striking. The NESOHR case was resolved with assistance from ICRC who, according to the family, was able to visit the “camp” where the family was being held and obtain the release. According to information provided by this family whose members were tortured by those at this “camp”, the camp belonged to the “Karuna” faction.

Complaints lodged

Complaints of the abductions were made at the Batticaloa Police Station. Complaints were also lodged with SLMM and ICRC.

Details of the 8 TRO employees abducted

1.Name: Kasinathar Ganeshalingam (Male)
Occupation: PSEDC North-East Province Secretary

2. Name: S. Dosini (Female)
Occupation: PSEDC Divisional Coordinator Mamunai Division

3. Name: Thangarasa (Male)
Occupation: Driver (Missing Vehicle Number: WP PA 3074)

4.Name: Thanuskody Premini (26) (Female)
Occupation: TRO Batticaloa Chief Accountant

5. Name: Shanmuganathan Sujendram (Male)
Occupation: TRO Accountant, Children’s Home, Santhivelli

6. Name: Thambiraja Vasantharajan (Male)
Occupation: Accountant, TRO Batticaloa

7. Name: Kailayapillai Ravindran (Male)
Occupation: Accountant, Vipulananda Children’s Home

8. Name: Arunesarasa Satheesharan (Male) Occupation: Accounts Trainee, Vellavali

Note by NESOHR: NESOHR is with holding the identities of the people who have provided us with information about cases for their own safety. NESOHR is ready to share more detailed information with any reputable international human rights organizations wishing to inquire into this case. Dr N Malathy

(NESOHR Secretary)

Released TRO abductees who went to police station to file complaint, detained by Sri Lanka police

[TamilNet, February 03, 2006 04:55 GMT]

The two female staff of Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), who were released on Monday by the abductors, are being held at Batticaloa Police station from 2.00 p.m. Thursday, TRO officials in Colombo said. When the two women, against threats to their safety, went to file a police report at the insistence of Government authorities, they were detained at the Batticaloa Police Station overnight against their wishes, and they are to be held at the Police station until officials of Sri Lanka Criminal Investigation Division (CID) arrive from Colombo, said TRO in a press release issued Friday.

Ms Punniyamoorthy Nadeswary and Ms Chitravel Sivamathy, two of the five pre-school teachers who were abducted by paramilitaries working with the assistance of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Sunday 8.00 p.m., were released unharmed and returned to their families in Batticaloa on Monday.

"Colombo has placed the lives of the remaining 8 workers in danger by its failure to alert the State structures in a timely manner to secure the release of the workers. Instead of co-operating with TRO officials and to work actively to resolve this urgent matter, Colombo is engaging in politically motivated disinformation campaign to discredit the TRO and the LTTE," said Arjunan Ethirweerasingam, TRO Project Consultant in Colombo, speaking to TamilNet Friday.

"TRO wishes to categorically state that it is, despite statements to the contrary in the media from government sources, cooperating fully with the investigations being mounted by law enforcement agencies. TRO has been utilizing all of its resources to facilitate this investigation," said TRO in the press release.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and the Inspector General Chandra Fernando had said Thursday that the abduction "claim was untrue."

United Nations, and several countries including the US have called for immediate release of the abducted TRO staff, and have urged the "relevant authorities to rapidly investigate these [abduction] allegations."
 

Norwegian NGO, FORUT condemns abduction of aid workers  and urges the "Government of Sri Lanka to give highest priority to the investigation of these abductions."

[TamilNet, February 06, 2006]
FORUT, a Norwegian non-Governmental Organizaton that works in Sri Lanka, said in a press release issued 2 February that it "condemned strongly the abduction of 10 workers from TRO in eastern Sri Lanka," and urged the "Government of Sri Lanka to give highest priority to the investigation of these abductions." Full text of the release follows:

FORUT condemns strongly the abduction of 10 aid workers from Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) in eastern Sri Lanka. Five of them were abducted on their way to a meeting organised by FORUT in Kilinochchi. FORUT demands that all aid workers who are still not released should be released immediately, and that the Srilankan police gives highest priority to the investigation of the abductions.

The five last to be abducted were on a mission to the Batticaloa District on behalf of the Norwegian Refugee Council and Save the Children Sri Lanka when they were abducted on Monday. They were reported missing when the failed to show up at a meeting organised by FORUT in Kilinochchi on Tuesday morning.

FORUT condemns any attack on aid workers, regardless of whether they are local or international. National aid workers must have the same security as internationals, and they are vital in reaching war-, tsunami and flood victims with aid. They work to help people in need, and have a right to respect and safety from harm. – FORUT therefore demands that they eight people who are still kept prisoner should be released immediately, and no harm come to them, says FORUT’s Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, Terje Heggernes, who is currently spending holidays in Norway.

It is particularly important that this kind of criminal activity does not become a cause for revenge and escalation of violence in a situation where the ceasefire agreement is fragile. FORUT therefore asks the Government of Sri Lanka to give highest priority to the investigation of these abductions.

Gjøvik, 2 February 2006

FORUT-Norway
Morten Lønstad
Secretary General

Third TRO staffer, Ms. S. Dosini released, 3 February 2006

[TamilNet, February 03, 2006 13:53 GMT]

Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) Friday said in a press release that one of the abducted TRO officials, Ms. S. Dosini, has returned to her relatives in Chenkalady. "Word has reached TRO through the Non-Violent Peace Force (NVPF) office in Batticaloa that Ms. S. Dosini, PSEDC Divisional Coordinator Mamunai North Division, has returned to the home of her relatives in Chenkalady, a Government of Sri Lanka controlled area of the Batticaloa District," the press release said. The fate of the remaining seven humanitarian workers is not yet known.

Full text of the press release by the TRO follows:

3 February 2006
19:03 Sri Lanka Time

Word has reached TRO through the Non-Violent Peace Force (NVPF) office in Batticaloa that Ms. S. Dosini, PSEDC Divisional Coordinator Mamunai North Division, has returned to the home of her relatives in Chenkalady, a Government of Sri Lanka controlled area of the Batticaloa District.

This leaves 7 persons still in captivity from the two kidnappings earlier this week. Ms.

Dosini was a part of the group of PSEDC staff that was kidnapped on Sunday 29 February 2006.

Others in that group were: ♦


Mr. Kasinathar Ganeshalingam: PSEDC NorthEast Province Secretary
(STILL MISSING)
Thangarasa: Driver
(STILL MISSING)
Ms. S. Dosini: PSEDC Div. Coordinator Mamunai North Division
(RELEASED)
Ms. Nadeswari: Pre-School Teacher Vavunatheevu Pre School
(RELEASED)
Ms. Chithravel Sivamathi: Pre School Teacher Vavunatheevu Pre School
(RELEASED)

The following TRO employees, who were abducted on Monday 30 February 2006, are still missing and their whereabouts are unknown.

Ms. Thanuskody Premini TRO Batticaloa Chief Accountant
(STILL MISSING)
Mr. Shanmuganathan Sujendram TRO Accountant, Manikkavasahar Children’s Home, Santhivelli
(STILL MISSING)
Mr. Thambiraja Vasantharajan Accountant, TRO Batticaloa
(STILL MISSING)
Mr. Kailayapillai Ravindran Accountant, Vipulananda Children’s Home, Palugamam
(STILL MISSING)
Mr. Arunesarasa Satheesharan Accounts Trainee, Vellavali
(STILL MISSING)

Abductions, threat to peace, say US Congressmen, 2 February 2006

[TamilNet, February 04, 2006 12:48 GMT]

United States Congressmen Sherrod Brown and Patrick Tiberi, in a letter to the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Ms Christina Rocca said that the "situation surrounding the remaining abductees [seven TRO staffers] greatly threatens any peace negotiations that are in process unless the matter can be resolved quickly."
Full text of the letter follows:

The Honorable Christina B. Rocca
Assistant Secretary of State
Bureau of South Asian Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington DC 20520

Dear Assistant Secretary of State Rocca:

We are writing today to bring to your attention an issue that we believe is of great importance to prospects for peace in South Asia.

It is our understanding that ten tsunami relief workers were recently abducted in the island nation of Sri Lanka. In the