EU wants fair trail for Sri Lanka detainees

Colombo, May 6 (IANS) The European Union (EU) Sunday called for a fair trial for suspected Tamil Tiger rebels held in Sri Lankan prisons.

They should be either charged or released, said Jean Lambert, chair of the European parliament delegation for relations with countries in South Asia.

Hundreds of suspected Tamil Tiger rebels and political prisoners are currently lodged in Sri Lankan jails, some of whom have not faced trial or a charge years or months after they were arrested, Xinhua reported quoting Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka.

Asked about former Sri Lankan Army chief Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who is in prison and has sought bail, Lambert said the EU had wanted even him to be given a fair trial.

Fonseka was imprisoned over several charges just after he lost the presidential election in 2010 against incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Lambert also said that the fact that some war displaced people are still in temporary camps or shelters is of concern to the European parliament.

Lambert led a delegation to Sri Lanka last week and had talks with Sri Lankan officials in Colombo and in the eastern parts of the country.