Hundreds of grieving relatives of the disappeared who have gathered in front of the Jaffna GA’s office were prevented from meeting the Commissioner, by the Sri Lankan forces deployed around the office. Similar blockages were also made to the relatives when they tried to meet the Commissioner at the UNHCR Jaffna office and Jaffna Bishop’s house. The Sri Lankan troops also blocked the journalists from reporting the meeting in all the meeting venues.

The meeting between Ms. Louise Arbour and the Jaffna Government Agent took place at 11.00 a.m. at the GA’s office. During the 30 minutes long meeting the Jaffna GA K.Ganesh briefed the UN Human Rights Commissioner on the prevailing situation of the peninsula. In the meantime, hundreds of relatives of the disappeared who gathered to see the High Commissioner were blocked by the Sri Lankan troopers deployed around the GA’s office. After meeting the GA Jaffna, the UN Human Rights Commissioner visited the Jaffna Bishop’s House where she met with the Bishop. She also met with civilian society organizations and some family members of the disappeared persons.

Ms. Louise Arbour then visited the UNHCR office at Nalloor temple road. The journalists who tried to report the visit in all the meeting venues were forcibly evicted by the Sri Lankan forces. They also Speaking to Tamilnet website the North Ceylon Journalists Association representatives told that the local journalists were subjected to direct threats by the Sri Lankan military officials not to cover the visit by the UN High Commissioner.

Meanwhile, hundreds of family members and relatives of the victims were seen outside the Human Rights Commission office, the Bishops' House, the UNHCR office, the SLMM office, and the Jaffna District Secretariat. Only a few were allowed to meet Louise Arbour at the Bishop's House. The people gathered in despite the threatening presence of the Sri Lankan troopers in all the areas. The military personnel videoed the people gathered out side all the meeting venues.

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