Tamil terror ‘suspects’ out for election

• FAMILIES HAPPY
• LAWYERS SAY WHY WERE THEY TAKEN IN?

By Thava Sajitharan

Thanks to the Presidential election, over 700 Tamil suspects who were arrested under the Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act will heave a sigh of relief as the government is expecting to release them soon. Some of the suspects are in remand prisons for more than ten years without facing any charges.
Deputy Minister of Justice V. Puthirasigamani says the government will soon release over 700 Tamil detainees who are held under Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Minister Puthirasigamani, when contacted, said “except for those against whom indictments have been filed, we are planning to release all others detained under Emergency Regulations and the PTA” .
The matter is handled by the Committee on Prevention of Crime of which Puthirasigamani is a member. The committee is headed by Minister of Justice Milinda Moragoda. According to Minister Puthirasigamani, of all the detainees to be released, 631 persons are in remand while others are in the custody of the CID, TID or the police.
Asked to comment on the government’s decision concerning Tamil detainees, Human Rights lawyer M. A Sumanthiran said “if they didn’t have evidence, these people should not have been taken into custody in the first place. It is a welcome move nevertheless”.
Minister P. Radhakrishnan of the Upcountry People’s Front who took up this matter with the president recently, said families of the detainees many of whom are from the upcountry would be extremely happy to hear this news.
Suresh from Thalawakellle (the source’s actual name has been withheld to protect his identity) whose brother was arrested on suspicion in 2008 and remains detained under emergency regulations said he was pleased to hear the news and was awaiting his sibling’s release.
“My brother was arrested when he returned to the country after working abroad for a few years” he said.