Starting his protest at Magazine prison in Colombo today (09), Murugiah Komagan alleged courts in two provinces were acting differently with regard to the same accusation against him.

Arrested under the PTA on 23 August 2010, he was freed by the Vavuniya court last November 26, but a case is being filed in a court in Colombo over the same charge, he claimed.

The Vavuniya court refused to accept a confession submitted by police, but based on same, a case was heard at a Colombo court on November 26, where it was told that he was to be prosecuted on the same charge, Komagan said.

He said he wanted the president and the prime minister to intervene in the matter.

Komagan asked the government as to whether it was an act of revenge to file such cases over their participation in the recent fast to demand freedom for political prisoners, said human rights activists Fr. Marimutti Sathivel.

15 warrants against OIC

Fr. Sathivel also said a political prisoner started a fast at Jaffna prison yesterday.

Also arrested under the PTA, Sivaraja Jenifan is protesting against an OIC, who recorded a statement from him in Colombo, over his having avoided courts on more than 30 occasions.

Fr. Sathievel said this OIC had been issued with more than 15 warrants, but that he was yet to make an appearance.

Meanwhile, a protest will take place tomorrow, on international human rights day, at 10.00 am in front Vavuniya bus stand, led by Sundaram Mahendran, convener of committee for missing persons and the movement for freedom for political prisoners.

Also, Platform for Freedom, which works against enforced disappearances, will hold a function to mark the day, at the BMICH, under the patronage of prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.