[Women’s groups protest against the gang rape in Jaffna, 25 July 2014; photo – Tamil Net]
Journalists covering the rape case, of two pre-teenage school girls, allegedly by Navy personnel, were thrown out of the Jaffna Courthouse by a group of persons in civilian clothing. The journalists’ cameras and mobile phones were seized and all media persons were warned not to publish any news on the ongoing proceedings. The two schoolgirl victims aged 11 and nine are from Karainagar, Jaffna.
Meanwhile, large-scale demonstrations, prevailed, outside the Courthouse demanding justice.
A large number of civil society activists were present. With the case raised in Parliament last week it received extensive newspaper coverage. The demonstrators accused the authorities of trying to soft-pedal the case.
Ceylon Today