LTTE suspects call off hunger strike

By Ranil Wijayapala

Over 200 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suspects detained at the Welikada Magazine Prison ended their five-day-long hunger strike yesterday, following President Maithripala Sirisena's assurance to resolve their issues on a priority basis. Commissioner General of Prisons Rohana Pushpakumara said the detainees called off their hunger strike after Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan personally conveyed a message from President Sirisena around 10.00 a.m. yesterday.

Pushpakumara said the President had assured the Opposition Leader urgent measures would be taken to address pending issues of the detainees by November 7 a process of settling their concerns would commence before October 31.

Upon receiving the assurance from Sampanthan, over 100 detainees quenched their thirst around 11.00 a.m., he said.

Around 222 inmates participated in the death fast in jails located in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Kandy five days ago. However, following the development in Colombo, called off their simultaneous fasts yesterday.

Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe visited Welikada Prison on October 15 and promised to address the issues of the inmates, who had been arrested on suspected LTTE links.They have been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for a prolonged period, with no charges filed against them. They have also not been produced before courts. The protestors fasted demanding the repeal of the PTA and the commencement of a trial process.

On Friday (16), Thilak Marapana, Minister of Law and Order and Prison Reforms, told The Hindu that some 50 to 60 prisoners without charges were languishing in jails.