Two political prisoners on a hunger strike
- Feb 22, 2016
Two political prisoners Madhi Arasan Sulakshan and Ganeshan Dharshan who are in the Anuradhapura prison have started a hunger strike from today morning 22nd. It’s been two years and four months since the charge sheet filed in the high court has been removed citing an amendment but the attorney general has so far not produced an amended charge sheet proving their allegations, has been the caused for the fast. Both are under custody from May 19th 2009.
Madhi Arasan’s mother said his son surrendered to the Omanthai army camp on the 19th of May 2009. He was detained in the rehabilitation camp in the Omanthai maha vidyalaya for thirteen months and then handed over to the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) on 15th July 2010. Following that he was detained in Colombo and Bossa camps and after one and a half years he was produced to the Aluthkade Magistrate Courts on 9th January 2010 and further remanded. After one and a half years on 15th July 2013 he was indicted in the Vavuniya high court under HCV/2491/13 supposedly taking a confession.
After three months despite lacking evidence to prove his allegations the earlier charge sheet was removed in order to produce a new charge sheet. However for more than two years and four months has elapsed a new charge sheet has not been produced. Sulakshan’s lawyer who has appeared 31 times in the courts has produced information and few times has submitted information to the attorney general but so far no solution has been given.
Sulakshan’s mother has written a letter to the president, prime minister, attorney general, justice minister, prisons minister and the Anuradhapura prisons authority urging a solution and informing his son’s intention to start a hunger strike. Following no response so far Sulakshan and Dharshan both has started a hunger strike today. Although the political prisoners problem was highlighted recently and the president pledged to give a solution still no positive attempts has been taken.
After three months despite lacking evidence to prove his allegations the earlier charge sheet was removed in order to produce a new charge sheet. However for more than two years and four months has elapsed a new charge sheet has not been produced. Sulakshan’s lawyer who has appeared 31 times in the courts has produced information and few times has submitted information to the attorney general but so far no solution has been given.
Sulakshan’s mother has written a letter to the president, prime minister, attorney general, justice minister, prisons minister and the Anuradhapura prisons authority urging a solution and informing his son’s intention to start a hunger strike. Following no response so far Sulakshan and Dharshan both has started a hunger strike today. Although the political prisoners problem was highlighted recently and the president pledged to give a solution still no positive attempts has been taken.
