The Hindu : Rights panel notice to Maldives

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 02, 2004

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Rights panel notice to Maldives

By K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI Jan. 1. The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has stepped in the matter of demand for the release of two Tamil youths, lodged in a Maldives prison.

Following a letter from a non-governmental organisation, the rights body has ordered issue of notice to the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva and the Human Rights Commissioner of the Maldives, returnable by January 30.

The Peace Trust of Dindigul wrote saying that it came to know that two Tamils, Rajan (27) of Kanyakumari district and Kamal of Thanjavur district had been held in the Maldives prison on the charge of rape and murder.

Enclosing copies of newspaper reports, the organisation said Rajan left for the Maldives in March last on a work visa and was employed in a construction company in Male. A few days after his arrival, the body of a young woman was found near the place where the youth was staying along with two friends.

The organisation said the Maldivian police arrested Rajan, Saravanan of Tiruchi and Kamal in April this year. Despite their protests of innocence, the youths were beaten up and lodged in prison. Rajan wrote to the Chief Minister on a piece of newspaper seeking her assistance for securing the release of the youths. The letter, barely legible, said the three persons were beaten up and Saravanan was made to sign a confession statement. He died later. The youths did not understand the Male language and no translation was provided. Rajan said the three were falsely implicated in the case. He was living in perpetual threat of death.

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