Even the small section of the former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have been released so far in batches, following prolonged harassments, find themselves further harassed and mentally tortured now by the occupying Sri Lankan military in Jaffna and Vanni. Medical sources in Jaffna say that the inhuman treatment meted out on the former Tiger members by the occupying military and the psychological harassment drives many of them to depression.
24 ex LTTEers were released at Ramanaathapuram in Vaddakkachchi of Ki’linochchi district recently. But, they have been instructed to frequently present themselves in the SL military camps, where Sri Lanka Army soldiers subject them to torture.
The released ex Tigers in Jaffna and Vanni complain that they are being attacked at random by the SLA soldiers when spotted in the streets. Their movement has been completely ‘banned’ during the nights, they added.
Ex-LTTE female members, released in Vanni, are the most affected as they were being continuously harassed by the SL military. They are summoned to the army camps irrespective of day or night.
The released LTTE members in Jaffna also complain similar harassments. There are more than one thousand former LTTE members living with their families in Jaffna.
Being monitored by the SL Military intelligence personnel throughout the day, many of them find it dangerous to move around in the city or near localities that have heavy SL military presence. They are forced to reside inside their houses.
Many of the released have to go to the notorious SL Military intelligence camps at Oorezhu and Achchezhu, once in a week, and have to put their signature in a logbook to prove their presence in Jaffna.
Although they were released under a so-called ‘rehabilitation’ scheme, nothing was provided to them in the name of rehabilitation, the ex-LTTE members said.
Potential employers also avoid employing former LTTEers, fearing the prying eyes of the SL military intelligence.
In the meantime, the SLA has hurriedly announced this week that all the former LTTEers in Jaffna to be present at Oorezhu SLA camp on 21 May, causing fear among them.
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