Adamant acts of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, troubling State Officials

The recalcitrant Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees and their adamant acts, said to be troubling the state administration and police officials, since the end of the ethnic war in the island nation.

In a high-type drama, three of the 33 inmates at the Chengalpattu special (Sri Lankan refugees) camp climbed up the 60 feet tall Pipal tree inside the premises and refused to come down unless they were handed down the `release orders'.

The three detainees, Ramana (33) Mohammad Rukshan (24) and Sekhar (27) continued with their tinsel style protest throughout the day, on Tuesday and when the trio finally descended in the evening, all the 33 inmates continued a `sit-in protest' until justice was meted out to them.

They then closed the inner gate of the camp late in the evening and refused to meet anyone none less than the rank of `Q' branch SP.

The tree-climbing trio had gone on a fast protesting against what they called their `illegal detention', and when the protest did not elicit the expected result, they desired, they intensified their protest.

The inmates questioned the rationale of the government to slap cases against them under the foreigners Act when they were `mere refugees' and contended that the police did not file any charge sheet against them for more than three years.

One of them said that if they were guilty, let the police produce them in the court where they would defend themselves. Demanding that they should at least be transferred to open camps, an inmate said that most of them were married with children who were 'equally languishing' in open camps in Tiruchy, Gummidipoondi and Poonamallee.

The A. S. P. (Chengalpattu) Xavier Dhanaraj and inspector Albert Wilson visited the camp in the evening to persuade them to give up their protest. `Q branch officials said, that the government was following established procedures as laid down by the Supreme Court and it was finally for the State government to act.

- Asian Tribune -