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Sri Lankan activists freed after international outcry Sri Lankan activists freed after international outcry
(about 1 hour later)
Two activists detained in Sri Lanka under anti-terrorist laws have been freed after a global outcry.Two activists detained in Sri Lanka under anti-terrorist laws have been freed after a global outcry.
Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan were arrested in the northern town of Killinochchi and held by police for 48 hours on suspicion of fostering communal disharmony. They faced up to 20 years in prison.Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan were arrested in the northern town of Killinochchi and held by police for 48 hours on suspicion of fostering communal disharmony. They faced up to 20 years in prison.
Local and international campaigners called for their immediate release, describing the pair as committed to peace and reconciliation between Sri Lanka's ethnic and religious minorities.Local and international campaigners called for their immediate release, describing the pair as committed to peace and reconciliation between Sri Lanka's ethnic and religious minorities.
Sri Lanka has suffered decades of conflict between a largely Buddhist Sinhalese majority and a mainly Hindu Tamil minority.Sri Lanka has suffered decades of conflict between a largely Buddhist Sinhalese majority and a mainly Hindu Tamil minority.
Kilinochchi was the headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a violent separatist organisation defeated in 2009 after years of bloody military struggle that cost tens of thousands of lives.Kilinochchi was the headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a violent separatist organisation defeated in 2009 after years of bloody military struggle that cost tens of thousands of lives.
A statement issued by the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said Fernando and Mahesan had been detained "in connection with the investigation into the attempts to revive the LTTE by operatives".A statement issued by the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said Fernando and Mahesan had been detained "in connection with the investigation into the attempts to revive the LTTE by operatives".
"Investigations revealed that there is an attempt to regroup LTTE cadres and recruit unemployed local youth with the intention of using them for acts of terrorism, and 50 such persons had already been mobilised in the north, east and in Colombo," the statement said."Investigations revealed that there is an attempt to regroup LTTE cadres and recruit unemployed local youth with the intention of using them for acts of terrorism, and 50 such persons had already been mobilised in the north, east and in Colombo," the statement said.
Both sides in the civil war committed widespread abuses. Fernando and Mahesan had been working with families of individuals thought to have been abducted by either the LTTE or the authorities and killed during or immediately after the end of the conflict. Both sides in the civil war committed widespread abuses. Fernando and Mahesan had been working with families of individuals thought to have been abducted by either the LTTE or the authorities and killed during or just after the conflict.
Their research had recently focused on the case of an activist detained this month on suspicion of harbouring a criminal ; she remains in prison.Their research had recently focused on the case of an activist detained this month on suspicion of harbouring a criminal ; she remains in prison.
Balendran Jeyakumar and her 13-year-old daughter were among a crowd of women who waved pictures of their missing relatives at David Cameron's car when he visited Jaffna, in northern Sri Lanka, in November as the British prime minister attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Colombo.Balendran Jeyakumar and her 13-year-old daughter were among a crowd of women who waved pictures of their missing relatives at David Cameron's car when he visited Jaffna, in northern Sri Lanka, in November as the British prime minister attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Colombo.
David Cameron refused calls to boycott the Chogm but said he had given the Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, a tough message about the need to protect human rights and advance political reconciliation with the Tamil minority.David Cameron refused calls to boycott the Chogm but said he had given the Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, a tough message about the need to protect human rights and advance political reconciliation with the Tamil minority.
Cameron also said he would back an international inquiry if there were no progress towards accountability for war crimes committed by Sri Lankan officials and soldiers in the final days of the civil war.Cameron also said he would back an international inquiry if there were no progress towards accountability for war crimes committed by Sri Lankan officials and soldiers in the final days of the civil war.
A proposed resolution to be presented to the UN human rights council in Geneva this month calls for an international investigation into past abuses. It says such an investigation should also "examine more recent attacks on journalists, human rights defenders, and religious minorities".A proposed resolution to be presented to the UN human rights council in Geneva this month calls for an international investigation into past abuses. It says such an investigation should also "examine more recent attacks on journalists, human rights defenders, and religious minorities".
The draft resolution is sponsored by five countries: the US, the UK, Mauritius, Montenegro and Macedonia.The draft resolution is sponsored by five countries: the US, the UK, Mauritius, Montenegro and Macedonia.