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Government says 16 Tamil political prisoners rejected rehabilitation

Rehabilitation and Resettlement Minister D.M. Swaminathan said on Tuesday that out of 218 Tamil political detainees, 39 persons were, in November last year, released on bail. 19 of those were recommended for rehabilitation before their eventual release, however only three had accepted the controversial programme.

Of the remaining 20, two were discharged from their cases and one was facing a case in the Trincomalee High Court while the other 17 accused were under examination.

As for 21 accused against whom indictments had been filed, three had accepted the proposal for rehabilitation. Another nine out of 41 convicted persons had gone on appeal. There were cases pending in High Courts and Magistrate courts against 117 persons, he further said.

Mr Swaminathan informed the Parliament that a Special High Court was established one and a half months ago to attend to court cases of the persons kept under detention, The Hindu reported.

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