Prison fear

IN the aftermath of the massacre at the Bandarawela rehabilitation centre in October, Tamil detainees in prisons and detention centres have expressed fear for their safety. Detainees in Kalutara prison, 25 miles south of Colombo, demand transfer to detention centres in Tamil areas. In the alternative, they suggest transfer to any detention centre in Colombo, with facilities for supervision by international human rights agencies. The Kalutara prisoners allege that after the Hill Country killings, a number of Tamil prisoners were isolated on the pretext of enquiry and brutally assaulted by prison guards. In late October, at least six detainees were taken out of the prison allegedly for transfer to other prisons.

In mid-November, Justice minister Batty Weerakoon ordered strengthening of security for Tamil detainees in Kalutara and Boossa detention centre in Galle, 65 miles south of Colombo. The minister also wants special protection for Tamil detainees when they are taken to courts to attend cases. But observers say that in the light of the large number of detainees under Emergency regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and security force and prison guard connivance or participation in massacres, these measures unlikely make any difference to the present climate of impunity.

According to reports, currently there are some 2,500 Tamil detainees under the Emergency regulations and the PTA in eight prisons, 346 police stations throughout the island and a few Army camps. many of them have not been charged and cases relating to others are dragging for months or years as a result of delays in the Attorney General and Police departments. Observers say that there is an urgent need for the review of the detention regime as recommended by Amnesty International.

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