Words not deeds
London-based human rights agency Amnesty International says in an August report titled Sri Lanka: Wavering commitment to human rights that the Sri Lankan government is not living up to its stated commitment to human rights.
Amnesty alleges that disappearances and arbitrary arrests continue and impunity remains a serious concern. Since Amnesty’s report further abuses have occured and the discovery of three dead bodies in and around Colombo have rekindled fears over death squads.
Seven policemen were arrested in August by the CID, accused of the murder of Colombo Tamil businessman S. Subramaniam. Twenty two police officers detained in 1995 for the murder of 31 Tamils have returned to active service after being granted bail.
Amnesty has documented several cases of torture and rape by security forces. In an application to the Supreme Court in August, Jaffna resident R Ramamurthy alleges he was brutally tortured by the Army in Vavuniya and Colombo. V Sivan currently in Colombo’s Magazine prison says he suffered torture at a Batticaloa Army camp.
According to Amnesty thousands of Tamils have been arbitrarily arrested. Over 100 Tamil prisoners in Kalutara and Magazine prisons decided in late August to begin a fast against prolonged detention. These prisoners ended a 7-day fast in June after the Defence Ministry assured them that they would either be charged or released.
Several executions and disapperances are attributed to Tamil groups PLOTE and TELO. The LTTE is accused by Amnesty of carrying out large-scale massacres, particularly of Sinhalese civilians in border villages of north-east. An unknown number of Tamils and Muslims continue to be detained by the Tigers.
Government sources angrily described the report as "unfair". Justice minister GL Peiris says the government remains commited to human rights and allegations of Amnesty will be answered.
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