The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) today called on President Rajapaksa to appoint a commission of inquiry to look into alleged assaults on inmates of Mahara Prison by prison officers.
Two prisoners out of 30 Tamil prisoners transferred from Vavuniya to Mahara following a hostage situation had succumbed to injuries.
Ganesan Nimalaruban, a resident of Vavuniya, succumbed to his injuries on July 04 after being admitted to the Ragama Hospital while Mariyadas Nevil Dilrukshan, who was in a coma for over a month, died on August 07.
In an open letter to President Rajapaksa, TULF General Secretary, V .Anandasangaree, claimed that Dilrukshan and several other Tamil prisoners were “brutally attacked” by the Mahara Prison officials and earlier on the same day by Anuradhapura Prison officials.
“I strongly urge that you should appoint a commission of inquiry to find out the mystery that surrounds this unfortunate tragic incident, to find out whether the victims of this brutal assault are taking proper treatment and to recommend sufficient compensation to all victims including the families of these two unfortunate youths who are dead,” the former MP stated.
He added that many secrets would come to light and that the real culprit would be exposed to the world if an impartial inquiry is conducted into the incident.
“The country’s name must be cleared since representatives from 42 countries were participating in a conference organized by the army, during which period this tragic incident had taken place,” Anandasangaree said.
The letter :
His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse,
President of Sri Lanka,
Temple Trees,
Colombo-3
Your Excellency,
Appointment of a Commission of Inquiry to inquire into thebrutal attack on the Prisoners at Mahara Jail
The purpose of writing this letter is to remind you once again as to how the Chinthanaya of others is passed on as that of Mahinda Chinthanaya. All facts relating to even serious matters are often swept under the carpet of Mahinda Chinthanaya and such incidents are conveniently forgotten. People are confused over various things happening in this country and the tendency is to blame you for every thing.I refer to the death of Mariadas Dilrukshan who was in Coma for more than a month, following a brutal attack on him and many others by the Mahara Prison officials and earlier on the same day by the Anuradhapura Prison officials.
The Tamil Political Prisoners most of whom used to go on Hunger-strike demanding their release if there were no evidence against them for prosecution in a Court of Law. Deviating from the usual practice on a suggestion by one of them, all took part in a Hunger-strike and also detained three Prison officials to join them in the Hunger-strike. I find fault with them for compelling the Prison official to take part in the Sathyagraha. It being done in Mahathma Gandhi style it could have been overlooked and this tragedy could have been avoided.
On this occasion the hunger strike was to demand the transfer of a prisoner back to Vavuniya from Anuradhapura where he had been very badly ill treated, according to some information they had. This matter could have been settled by the SPof the Vavuniya Prisons, if he was given a free hand. The trouble always starts only whenthe armed persons show their might on the unarmed. My efforts to contact the Hon. Minister concerned that day also failed. By the time I reached Vavuniya everything wasover.
The detained three officers had been released by the riot squad. I felt happy that every thing was over peacefully. Later I learnt that all prisoners had been transferred from Vavuniya to Anuradhapuraand again from there to Mahara. What happened at Mahara was far more brutal thanwhat happened at Anuradhapura very shocking and far beyond justification. It is obvious that someone had done this with a vengeance. When it could have been settled with very little or no causalities it had ended up in a great tragedy.
The first causality in this brutal attack was the only son of a poor couple, for whom there is nothing left in this world. The second causality was this youth who was in coma for more than a month and passed away on the 7th
chained to the bed.
This is the most disgraceful act of all. If proper treatment was given he would have survived. No one knows as to what is in store for the remaining thirty-seven who faced the same type of brutal assault. One will have to explain as to why this youth was not transferred to another hospital for special treatment. Every one will be keen to know how such a patient was chained to the bedwhile being in an unconscious state for more than a month.
I strongly urge that you should appoint a commission of inquiry to find out the mystery that surrounds this unfortunate tragic incident, to find out whether the victim of this brutal assault are taking proper treatment and to recommend sufficient compensation to all victims including the families of these two unfortunate youths who are dead. A lot of things will come to light and expose the real culprit to the world. The country’s name must be cleared since representatives from 42 countries were participating in a conference organized by the army during which period this tragic incident also had taken place.
V.AnandasangareeSecretary General – TULF
AD