Tamils in remand prison for over 15 years: Report

A group of Tamil Tiger suspects arrested more than a decade ago has written to a pro-government Tamil parliamentarian asking his help to get them released.

One suspect who has been held for over a decade without being charged told BBC Sandeshaya that nearly 30 suspects are being held for years in remand prison.

The group has earlier approached many other parliamentarians but the inmate who wished to be anonymous said they said received no favourable response from authorities.

“We are routinely taken to the courts and then brought back to prison. Lawyers ask for too much money to appear for us. We are suffering, our families are suffering,” he said.

“It is better to die than suffering like this.”

He said it is up to the Attorney General (AG) to decide whether to charge them or release.

Justice Minister Athuda Seneviratne admitted that some suspects are being held for years without being charged.

He told BBC Sandeshaya that the delay is due to charges against these suspects are “serious and based on some witness accounts.”

Some suspects are thought to have acted against the national interests in Sri Lanka, he added.

However, Minister Seneviratne said, action will be taken to charge or release them “as soon as possible” after discussions with the AG and other authorities. – (BBC)