SOS by Canada Tamil to get niece released from LTTE clutches

TORONTO: A Sri Lankan Tamil living in Canada has sent out a desperate appeal seeking international help to secure the release of his niece who had been forcibly taken away by the LTTE for military training in Kilinochchi.

His letter reproduced from the Eelanasam website, has been given the widest publicity with the hope that it will reach the Fourth Session of the UN Human Rights Council meeting.

Gajan Kanagarajah, a resident of Mississauga, Ontario states that the LTTE had recently taken a census in the Kilinochchi district and took note of all children living in all households.

In his letter simply addressed ‘to whom it may concern’ Kanagarajah claims he has first hand information that one of the daughters of his sister, Pathmaseeli Kanagarajah aged 26 was forcibly removed from her home by the LTTE on February 9.

Kanagarajah domiciled in Canada for the last 14 years say he was born in Kilinochchi and has four brothers and five sisters.Two of his sisters are still living in Kilinochchi. One of them is Sooriyavathana Kanagarajah who has five children.(4 daughters and one son)

The eldest daughter is married and lives in Toronto and all other children(three daughters and son) are still living in Kilinochchi.

In his letter Kanagarajah states that recently the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) took a census in Kilinochchi district and took note of all the children living in all households. I have first hand information that one of the daughters of my sister, Pathmaseeli Kanagarajah, born on December 10, 1980, had been forcibly removed from her home by the LTTE on February 9, 2007. This had taken place around afternoon hours.

On February, 9, 2007, some LTTE men came to my sister’s house and demanded the release of my sister’s youngest daughter Thenuga Kanagarajah, (23), to be taken by them and to be given military training.

However, as they had information that conscripting was going on that day along Vinayagar Lane, the prospective conscript Thenuga went into hiding before the LTTE entered their home.

Pathmaseeli did not fear LTTE on that day as she was under the belief that the LTTE would take only the youngest in the family.

I state that when the LTTE entered home and found that Thenuga was missing they went into searching all over the house, including the adjoining house that belongs to my other sister. The LTTE members got very angry and demanded Pathmaseeli to join them.

When she declined, she was pulled and dragged to the LTTE vehicle. My sister and her husband interfered and tried to save her. But they were kicked violently and pushed aside. Pathmaseeli cried loudly and shouted at her parents seeking help but to no avail.

I state that my niece Pthmaseeli never intended to join the LTTE or any other militant movement.

I state that she was taken against her will and she is being detained forcibly by the LTTE now. I am making this statement voluntarily and under no compulsion, threat or fear.

I need your help in seeking the release of my niece Pathmaseeli and I demand that she is released by the LTTE immediately.