The Hindu : Save jailed Tamils in Maldives, Jayalalithaa tells Centre

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 30, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Save jailed Tamils in Maldives, Jayalalithaa tells Centre

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI NOV. 29. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today wrote to the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, to bring to his attention the plight of two jailed Tamils in the Maldives. Another had reportedly died of torture.

She wanted the Centre to ensure their release and also legal help is made available to them there once the youth come back.

Also, the Government should ensure that the Maldivian Government paid adequate compensation to the next of kin of the youth who died in custody.

In the letter, Ms. Jayalalithaa said S. Rajan (Kanyakumari), S. Kamal (Thanjavur) and S. Saravanan (Tiruchi) — came to the Maldives for work in a construction company.

They were reportedly charged with rape and murder of a woman whose body was found near the place where Mr. Rajan was staying. ``It is reported that they have made desperate attempts to contact me, but their efforts seem to have been thwarted...Representations to the Maldivian Mission in India and our High Commission in Male have also brought them no relief.''

Ms. Jayalalithaa said she was ``greatly concerned'' over the spurt in such incidents against Tamils in Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives.

``I do wish that the Government of India would take swift and assertive action to stop this trend.''

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