Insta
Lanka’s Tamils Demand Release Of Political Prisoners Held Since The End Of Armed Conflict With LTTE
March in Jaffna for release of Tamil political prisoners
Tamils in Sri Lanka's northern city of Jaffna held demonstrations demanding the release of political prisoners held under the prevention of terrorism law since the end to the armed conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009.
The protesters gathered opposite to the Governor's Secretariat holding placards which read, 'Remove the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act', 'Release all political prisoners without any condition'.
A strike was observed in several parts in the North to back the demand for the release of political prisoners.
R Sampanthan, who is the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), in a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena also demanded the release of Tamil political prisoners.
Sri Lanka has come under increasing international pressure to repeal the PTA enacted in 1979 after Tamils started a bloody campaign for a separate homeland. The three- decades-old campaign ended with the military victory over the LTTE in 2009.
The PTA has been criticised by Tamil and rights activists as it allows indefinite detention of people without charges.
During the armed campaign by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), many activists of the rebel outfit were held under the PTA. (PTI)
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
