A new report that reviewed cases of torture victims from Sri Lanka has revealed that there is no let-up in the use of torture of those suspected with LTTE, even though over five years have passed since the end of the conflict.
Torture victim – Sri Lanka | File foto
The Guardian in a news report states that the report compiled by the Freedom from Torture advocacy group that had been submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva has revealed that 2/3 of the victims they examined had suffered rape or other forms of sexual abuse.
The report findings had also revealed that most of the victims had been subjected to torture and other abuse by the Sri Lankan security forces upon arresting them when they were on their way to visit family or friends. It has included 40 new cases reviewed by Freedom from Torture medical team from November 2013 to August 2014 and the organisation states that more torture victims from Sri Lankan were referred to them last year than from any other country.
However, The Guardian notes that despite such evidence the Home Office continues to carry out fast-track deportations of Tamil asylum seekers who display evidence of being tortured and that there an increase of the results of Sri Lankan asylum claims in the past couple of months.
Freedom from Torture Head of doctors Juliet Cohen who was involved in drafting the FCO’s protocol for preventing and documenting sexual violence said, among 90% of victims of torture at the hands of Sri Lankan security forces – a significant majority were raped or suffered other forms of sexual abuse.
“What I think stands out in Sri Lanka is a culture of impunity,” Dr Cohen has told the Guardian. “We see victims from many countries around the world but what we see in the Sri Lankan group is that not only is the torture very brutal, the victims are often disfigured with obvious scars. There is no attempt to hide this by his interrogators. They are not expecting anyone to hold them to account for this. . . It’s particularly tragic to see one of the victims of Sri Lankan torture from 20 years ago who is still recovering and then to see people tortured in 2013 who may never recovered. Nothing has changed.”
MrRetort / September 24, 2014
This decision of not do anything till court settle the matter is with UVA results. Even the judges learn to reagd political winds for the decisions in the land. In future it would become increasingly difficult including judiciary to run with MR FOR WIND HAS STARTED BLOWING against.
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Ram / September 24, 2014
I must agree with Dr Cohen that Tamil terrorists seeking asylum in the UK should be granted that status without delay. The Sri Lankan government must facilitate the departure of those who wish to depart to Britain which they see as the motherland. They were merely orphaned in Sri Lanka at Independence.
Dr Cohen has the difficult job of persuading the British government when Britain is being inundated with immigrants from Eastern Europe and refugees from the Middle East where Arabs have been successfully pitted against each other.
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Native Vedda / September 24, 2014
Ram
“I must agree with Dr Cohen that Tamil terrorists seeking asylum in the UK should be granted that status without delay.”
Of course they should grand asylum as they did when Sinhala/Buddhist JVP terrorists sought refuge in the UK, including Somawansa’s people.
The British are very generous indeed. The don’t discriminate between a Tamil and Sinhala terrorists.
They are so generous, UK will grant asylum to MR and his clan if sought in the fullness of time.
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anonymous / September 24, 2014
MR appointed Deputy Commissioner to Italy Rani Bulathwela is a political refugee who claimed asylum in 1986.
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Native Vedda / September 24, 2014
anonymous
Former ambassador Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide was hiding in India as a political refugee.
Somawansa and his comrades were looked after by Hindians for a considerable period of time.
Douglas and his close associates were once refugees in Hindia and elsewhere.
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anonymous / September 25, 2014
I never denied that, did I?. All I wanted to bring to peoples attention was , this is the mentality of the present day rulers and the politicians in power. So, ‘oba sematama Aba Saranai’
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 24, 2014
“Torture victim”, AKA reveller at the last Thaipusam :D
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Native Vedda / September 24, 2014
Siva Sankaran Sarma Menon
Apt comment though its bit timid.
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aratai / September 24, 2014
“….There is no attempt to hide this by his interrogators. They are not expecting anyone to hold them to account for this……”
This is what I like about Srilankans…. they do horrible stupid things and they are very proud about it.
:-)
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thondamannar / September 24, 2014
This is not Torture. A reveller at a Hindu Kovil or at a festival. Similar to Spanish Bull Run victims where butted by the raging bull.Such similar torture like patterns can be observed in those participating Veil Cart processions and at other hindu festivals.
To the gullible Westerner, such self inflicted horrible scars owing to religious rituals & revellry are Torture.
Self inflicting such wounds are nothing new to impress the gullible West when considering the incidents of self immolation. Tamils will stoop to any level to sacrifice their kind ( considering the Tamil Youth & children sacrifices in a senseless war whose leaders had no guts to bite the Cyanide capsule but got other to do it) for the betterment and to seek greener pastures for the majority.
NO GAIN WITH NO PAIN.
Money loosing diaspora make it look real.
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jansee / September 24, 2014
You have to tell your president to seek blessings from this temple. Mind you, he had already promised you people that he is willing to tie the noose around his head. Once thief, forever a thief. The UNHRC did not buy the regime’s lies and the loyal sinhalese are itching to send their ruler to paradise. Well done thondamannar. I know you people are angry that despite tons of lies and denial by the regime did not work. What to do, have you heard of shooting oneself in the foot. God bless you for yours and the like-minded sinhalese to give a shot to the president to realise his dream. He owes you guys a lot.
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justice / September 24, 2014
http://www.refworld.org/docid/47d683cf2.html
http://www.refworld.org/docid/47d683cf2.html
Reports on torture in Sri Lanka, by UN rapporteurs, have been conveyed to sri lanka.
Prof. Manfred Novak visited in 2008 and reported that torture was extensively practiced in police stations and prisons.
Now the Department of Defence maintains special places of detention of political opponents of the regime and those arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism act such as at Boosa, administered by the secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse, who extends detention of inmates routinely every three months – where torture is reported to happen regularly.
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Eusense / September 24, 2014
justice,
“Prof. Manfred Novak visited in 2008 and reported that torture was extensively practiced in police stations and prisons.”
You mean the same exact thing that the US and UK did with suspected Iraqi and Al quida militants?
What has this good professor said about water boarding?
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Native Vedda / September 25, 2014
Nuisance
“What has this good professor said about water boarding?”
Would you now consider not sitting on your brain?
Read his
Letter of endorsement for the report entitled “The North Carolina Connection to Extraordinary Rendition and Torture”
http://www.law.unc.edu/documents/clinicalprograms/finalrenditionreportweb.pdf
CIA torture exemption ‘illegal’
A detainee being carried to an interrogation in Guantanamo Bay prison
Mr Obama has banned the use of controversial interrogation techniques
US President Barack Obama’s decision not to prosecute CIA agents who used torture tactics is a violation of international law, a UN expert says.
The UN special rapporteur on torture, Manfred Nowak, says the US is bound under the UN Convention against Torture to prosecute those who engage in it.
Mr Obama released four “torture memos” outlining harsh interrogation methods sanctioned by the Bush administration.
Mr Nowak has called for an independent review and compensation for victims.
“The United States, like all other states that are part of the UN convention against torture, is committed to conducting criminal investigations of torture and to bringing all persons against whom there is sound evidence to court,” Mr Nowak told the Austrian daily Der Standard.
The memos approved techniques including simulated drowning, week-long sleep deprivation, forced nudity, and the use of painful positions.
Torture trials
Mr Obama on Thursday said he would not prosecute under anti-torture laws CIA personnel who relied in good faith on Bush administration legal opinions issued after the 11 September attacks.
BUSH-ERA INTERROGATION
Waterboarding: Aimed at simulating sensation of drowning. Used on alleged 9/11 planner Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Insect: Harmless insect to be placed with suspect in ‘confinement box’, suspect to be told the insect would sting. Approved for Abu Zubaydah, but not used
Walling: Detainee slammed repeatedly into false wall to create sound and shock
Sleep deprivation: Detainee shackled stading up. Used often, once for 180 hours
‘Amnesty’ dismays campaigners
Interrogation: Obama’s approach
Mr Nowak – who is due to travel to Washington to meet with officials – said that could be a mitigating factor, but does not absolve those involved.
“The fact that you carried out an order doesn’t relieve you of your responsibility,” he was quoted as saying by AP news agency.
Mr Nowak, an Austrian law professor, said US courts could still try those suspected of carrying out torture, as Mr Obama has not sought an amnesty law for affected CIA personnel.
He called for an investigation by an independent commission before suspects were tried and said it was important that all victims receive compensation.
Human rights groups have criticised President Obama’s decision to protect CIA interrogators, saying charges were necessary to prevent future abuses and hold people accountable.
President Obama banned the use of the controversial interrogation techniques in his first week in office.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8006597.stm
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justice / September 25, 2014
http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=search&docid=50a0f9b12&skip=0&query=torture&coi=LKA
The UN report on prevalence of torture in Sri Lanka is above.
Extensive incidence of torture confirmed.
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Eusense / September 24, 2014
The picture appears that a “Tiger” has scratched his back! Possibly a LTTE Tiger to get his asylum work done!
All these “victims” appear during UNHRC meetings so they are definitely legitimate. The British citizens are asking why these victims always run to Britain. Why don’t they jump to Tamil Nadu India where those open armed Tamil politicians are waiting to welcome them?
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Native Vedda / September 25, 2014
Nuisance
“Why don’t they jump to Tamil Nadu India where those open armed Tamil politicians are waiting to welcome them”
Perhaps the Tamils do not want to crowd out Tamilnadu. They expect Sinhala speaking people to arrive in boat loads any time soon, getting away from Sinhala/Buddhists, seeking asylum in Tamilaham, like the old times, only difference is next time around it is going to be in reverse order.
Given the opportunity even Gota’s wife would take the first boat heading towards Dhanushkodi.
You could spend quality time alone with finger wagging Gota.
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Maveeran / September 26, 2014
I wonder why these Sinha[Edited out]act tough but they crumble like cookie when they see Tamils In foreign countries. Almost every Sinhalames I came across talk tough but act like softies when they face a Tamil. Where I live (London) I see Sinha-lames get beaten up for speaking in singala. Funny how they keep a baba face and act like they are not Sinhala lol. Eusene, Thondamanar, SivaSankara[Edited out], all u Sinhala [Edited out] I’l make ya [Edited out] go wee wee in ya pants if I catch you.
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Native Vedda / September 26, 2014
Maveeran
“Almost every Sinhalames I came across talk tough but act like softies when they face a Tamil.”
Check your forehead where you might find a Tattoo informing “Warning I am Tamil Taliban Suicide Bomber”. Or you may look like a mugger. Unfortunately you can’t change your appearance but if you try you can change your bad vibes.
By any chance you are related to ela kolla?
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Maveeran / September 27, 2014
[Edited out]
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 27, 2014
LOL, it’s too bad Thalaivar didn’t think to employ the services of big bad internet warriors like Mabeeran here when the superior We Thamizh were getting our hinds handed to us by the Sinhala softies :D
[Edited out]
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Native Vedda / September 27, 2014
Siva Sankaran Sarma Menon
Thanks
I like your innovative comments.
Keep up.
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