In brief
Proscription
Following a demand by the Sihala Urumaya, the Sri Lankan Elections Commissioner announced that LTTE’s political wing, the People’s Front of the Liberation Tigers (PFLT) cannot be banned under current law. PFLT was registered as a political party in 1987. The ban on the LTTE in Britain came into force on 29 March.
Dismissed
The Dutch State Prosecutor’s office denied an application by lawyer Corjan Schoorl for the arrest of Chandrika Kumaratunge during her visit to Holland in March alleging that as commander of the armed forces she is responsible for torture in Sri Lanka. The Prosecutor said that her command responsibilities were unclear.
Torture
The Asian Human Rights Commission says that Thussara Kumaea, 33, a father of two children, was tortured to death on 24 March in Ja-Ela police station, north of Colombo. Ten days earlier, the Supreme Court ordered Rs 25,000 compensation to Batticaloa resident K Kubendran who had suffered torture in police custody.
Protest
Over 5,000 people led by Chennai Mayor MK Stalin demonstrated before the Sri Lankan High Commission on 20 March against Navy attacks on Indian fishermen. Reports say some 300 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been killed and 1,500 wounded since 1984.
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