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Name: Mariyanayagam Maruthanayagam (a.k.a.Christy)
Age: 31
Marital status: Single
Address: Periyavilan, Ilavalai centre, Elavalai
Occupation: Slightly handicapped and unemployed
Christy’s own family home is in Vasavilan which is near the Palaly High Security
Zone
in Jaffna. The family was forced out of their home by the Sri Lankan military in
the
1980s. Christy’s family has lived in Ilavalai for several years. They displaced
to Mallavi
in Vanni in 1995 and returned back to Ilavalai during the ceasefire period that
started in
2002.
Christy has some intellectual handicap and was staying at home. He did not start
to walk
until he was eight years old. He could not cope with the mainstream school
curriculum,
therefore he has stayed home ever since. His family has given him a mobile phone
and
his relatives would ring and talk to him on his mobile phone. He travels within
his
village on his bicycle.
He is a very friendly person and has been in friendly terms with the Sri Lankan
military
personnel from the nearby military camp. The information below is provided by
his
family.
Mother and brother move out of Jaffna
Tamil civilians who have been killed, disappeared, and seriously injured by SLA
and its
paramilitaries over the last two months in Jaffna included families whose
members
are/were in the LTTE.
One of Christy’s brothers was a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) who died in a battle. Christy’s mother took Christy’s younger brother and
moved to Vanni a couple of weeks ago, fearing he might be at risk because he is
the
brother of a late LTTE member. She left Christy behind with his father because
she was
confident that the Sri Lankan military and its paramilitaries will do no harm to
him due
to his condition and nature.
The disappearance
On January 9th 2006 Christy went to his married sister’s home. He had lunch with
his
sister and brother-in-law and watched a movie on the television. When he wanted
to
leave to go his home late in the afternoon, his sister advised him that it is
getting dark
and he should not leave. Like almost everyone in Jaffna she was thinking of the
prevailing level of violence. Christy insisted that he should leave because his
father is
alone at home. Sister begged him not to leave but Christy was too insistent that
he must
and he left for his home around 5.30 pm.
Christy appears to have stopped at his favourite tea shop (see map) near his
home on his
way. His friends have told the family that they saw him near the tea shop around
6.45
pm. The tea shop owner confirmed that Christy had tea in his shop around 6.30
pm. That
was the last sighting of Christy. Christy’s bicycle is also missing. His family
tried to ring
Christy on his mobile phone but it has been turned off. His family said that
Christy does
not turn off his mobile phone at all implying that someone else has turned it
off. His
mobile phone number is: 077-7179183.
Soon after Christy’s disappearance, while his family was earnestly searching for
him, his
brother-in-law heard from his neighbours that people came in a “white van”
looking for
the brother-in-law as well. Note that “white van” in current usage among the
people in
Jaffna has a strong contextual meaning. These “white vans” are referred to by
all families
who have lodged complaints with us about abductions of their family members.
These
“white vans” do not have number plates and they have darkened windows so that
one
cannot see the passengers inside.
The search
The family has lodged complaints with, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM),
ICRC,
the Ilavalai police station, and the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission.
Note by NESOHR: NESOHR is with holding the identities of the people who have
provided us with information about the case for their own safety. NESOHR is
ready to
share more detailed information with any reputable international human rights
organizations wishing to inquire into this case. |
