BY Kavindya Chris Thomas
Center for Human Rights and Research (CHR) stated that the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) has no proper evidence against Balendran Jeyakumari who has been detained for almost one year. Speaking to Ceylon Today Executive Director of CHR Rajithe Keerthi Tennakoon stated that during the court hearing last Friday (6) the TID had reported that the Attorney General’s Department had not informed them on how to proceed with the case.
An appeal for the release of Jeyakumari and her 13-year-old daughter was made by her family members, relatives, lawyers, civil and human rights activists during the court proceedings.
She was arrested last year alleging that she harbored LTTE activists. However, according to Tennakoon, for almost 355 days the TID has not charged her and have continuously stated that their investigations have not concluded. Jeyakumari was arrested on 13 March 2014 in Kilinochchi. She was sent to the Boossa detention camp and her 13-year-old daughter was sent to Maha Devan Children’s Home, Kilinochchi. CHR and the other human rights activists state that her husband and two sons were killed during the war and another son had disappeared after surrendering to the army. However, after seeing a photograph of her son in military custody Jeyakumari and her daughter had been attempting to find him and also became a vocal activist seeking justice for the disappeared.
Meanwhile, the police claimed that Jeyakumari was arrested after an LTTE suspect was found in her house. The LTTE suspect had fled after attacking the police during which one policeman was shot and injured.
Tennakoon further added that the current government should take proper measures for her release if no evidence can be presented against her. “She is the most well known political prisoner of our times. Since she was mentioned in the current government’s presidential campaign continuously, it is high time the government does something about it. We will continue to pressurize the necessary authorities until we get a proper solution to this matter,” Tennakoon said.