Tamil lawyers involved in mass grave case intimidated by state spies

State intelligence agencies in Sri Lanka are intimidating Tamil lawyers involved in the Kokkuthoduvai mass graves case the district court in Mullaitivu has been told.

This was brought to the notice of Mullaitivu Judge T. Paradeepan by the Tamil attorneys when the case regarding the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave was taken up for hearing in the court on Thursday (31 August).

The court was told the state intelligence agencies enquired about the details of the lawyers from their neighbourhood and the local government official — Grama Niladhari.

“After our visit to the site of the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave on the 10th of August, details like where we come from and our names were enquired from in and around the places and collected details based on our vehicle number plates,” lawyers told the judge.

Grama Niladhari of Kokkuthoduvai Central also informed the court that state intelligence officials visited him and enquired about the details of the Tamil lawyers.

Senior Attorney and Jaffna district MP M.A. Sumanthiran brought to the notice of the court that “normally intelligence agencies collect details secretly but now collecting such details openly and enquiring is clearly intimidation”.

In reply the Officer in Charge of Kokkilai Police Station informed the attorneys to file a complaint and they would take action on it. Reacting to this the judge ordered the Police to take necessary action since the matter has been brought to the notice of the court and duly recorded.

Whilst earlier the public and civil society members who were actively involved in the rights and welfare of the Tamil people in Mullaitivu were continuously threatened by the intelligence agencies, now attorneys too are being subjected to such intimidation.