Judge condemns illegal detentions

Colombo=92s invisible casualties

SUPREME COURT judge ARB Amarasinghe says in a judgment that Sri Lankan= authorities often breach laws and regulations relating to arrest and= detention. The detention of Jaffna Tamil youth Vijayam Vimalendran for over= three years was illegal the Court declared on 20 December and ordered Rs= 25,000 compensation.

Although Emergency regulations give wide= powers to the security forces there must be adequate grounds for arrest.= The Court says the Defence Secretary should have sufficient evidence before= signing detention orders. Even those detained under Regulation 17 (i) as= posing a threat to national security, should be informed of the reasons for= arrest. According to the Human Rights Task Force (HRTF) over 900 people are= held on detention orders in prisons and police stations.

Human= rights agencies say safeguards in the law are being circumscribed by= authorities. In the north-east arrested persons are held for 60 days under= Emergency regulations and then under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)= which provides for 18 months detention without being produced before a= court.

In southern areas, including Colombo, suspects are generally= detained for seven days under Emergency regulations and then under the PTA= on the orders of a magistrate. Agencies say such prolonged detentions are= illegal. Twenty three prisoners in Kalutara prison for over two years= allege that their detention is illegal and say they will fast unto death if= they are not released before 19 January.ented Tiger attacks in the last two= months. In early December the police issued a public notice for information= on LTTE suspect Thambipillai Gnanasekaram who is alleged to be involved in= smuggling explosives into the city.

There is a fear in Colombo that= military death squads have returned. Retired Tamil engineer Mahadeva was= abducted in the dreaded "white van" on 25 December from his residence in= Bambalapitiya. Relatives have complained to the HRTF.
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