Uncle seeks release of niece abducted by LTTE
February 20th, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The maternal uncle of a twenty – seven year old woman abducted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is seeking International assistance in securing the safe release of his niece from her captors.
Gajan Kanagarajah of Sri Lankan origin who is now a Canadian citizen based in Mississauga has written an open letter outlining the circumstances about how his niece Pathmaseeli Kanagarajah was forcibly removed from her home in Kilinochchi by tiger cadres on February 9th.
The LTTE now on an intense conscription drive had initially come in search of Pathmaeeeli’s 23 year old younger sister Thenuga Kanagarajah.
Upon discovering that Thenuga was hiding elsewhere to avoid being forcibly recruited by the LTTE the tigers had got angry and abducted the 27 year old elder sister instead.
The protesting parents were kicked and pushed aside.
Repeated entreaties by the parents and other family members had not resulted in Pathmaseeli being released.
Gajan Kanagarajah who was formerly a resident of Vattakachchi in Kilinochchi has now written an open letter seeking International assistance to get his niece released from LTTE clutches.
“I state that my niece Pathmaseeli 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.” says Kanagarajah in the letter.
He is now sending copies of this letter to organizations such as the Amnesty International. Human Rights watch, Red Cross, UNHCR and also to the various diplomatic missions stationed in Colombo
He has also sent the letter to representatives of the Canadian Government at various levels. Copies of the letter have also been sent to various media institutions.
“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. ” implores Kanagarajah in his letter.
This is perhaps the first time that a Tamil person of Sri Lankan origin has dared to come out openly against the LTTE by seeking international help to get a close relative released from tiger custody.
The full text of the letter dated Feb 17th is reproduced below -
Gajan Kanagarajah
5299 Landsborough Avenue,
Mississauga ON
L5R 3X1
T.Ph: 416 939 2064
17 February 2007
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a citizen of Canada and presently living in Canada for the last fourteen (14) years. I was born in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka. I have four (4) brothers and five (5) sisters. I have two sisters still living in Kilinochchi, Vanni district, Sri Lanka.
I am writing this letter seeking your help to secure the release of my niece PATHMASEELI KANAGARAJAH who was forcibly taken by the LTTE on 9 February 2007 from her home in Kilinochchi.
I state that one of my two sisters still living in Kilinochchi is Sooriyavathana Kanagarajah and she has five children; four (4) daughters and one son. The eldest daughter is married and lives in Toronto and all other children (three daughters and the son) are still in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka. One other daughter is also married and lives separately in Kilinochchi. The rest of the children, two daughters and the son live with my sister and her husband. They live at Vinayagar Lane, Vaddakachchi, Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka.
I state 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 10 December 1980, had been forcibly removed from her home by the LTTE on 9 February 2007. This had taken place around afternoon hours.
On 9 February 2007, some LTTE men came to my sister’s house and demanded the release of my sister’s youngest daughter Thenuga Kanagarajah, 23yrs, to be taken by them and to be given military training. However, as they had information that conscription was going on that day along Vinayagar Lane, the prospective conscript Thenuga went into hiding before the LTTE entered their home. Pathamaseeli did not fear the 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 Pathmaseeli 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.
Yours truly,
[Gajan Kanagarajah]
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