Civil societies call on Louise Arbour

by Ananth Palakidnar

Representatives of the Jaffna Civil Society headed by the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna Dr. P. Balasuntharampillai met the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Louise Arbour at the Jaffna Bishop's House on Friday.

The current situation in the Jaffna Peninsula was discussed at length where several prominent members of the Jaffna civil society including Bishop Thomas Savuntharanayagam and leaders of various religious and non governmental organisations briefed the visiting UN dignitary on the recent abductions and killings in the region. Hundreds of people gathered in the church building adjoining the Bishop's house to meet Louise Arbour. When the UN envoy paid a visit the letters and memoranda were given to her on the recent disappearances and killings in the Peninsula.

The UN envoy gave a patient hearing instead of responding to the comments which surfaced during the discussion, sources said.

Meanwhile, security was tightened in the Peninsula on Friday with a large number of troops placed in various places in the region, the sources said.