Tamils in Batticaloa brave police intimidation to stage protest

Tamils families of the disappeared in Batticaloa braved Sri Lankan police intimidation to stage a protest to mark International Human Rights Day last week, even as the security forces attempted to stop their demonstration.

Families of the disappeared in Batticaloa were initially threated by Sri Lankan police officers that they would be forced into a quarantine centre, if they continued with their protest. More police officers arrived at the protest site in Batticaloa, where they were seen noting down the details of the protestors.

Despite the threats, the family members, local politicians and civil society members gathered in Batticaloa to stage their protest, demanding international intervention to find their disappeared loved ones.

The protest took place in line with others across the North-East to mark International Human Rights Day.