Sri Lanka still torturing Tamils

11 Nov. 2011

The Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations (AFTA) welcomes the decision by the UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) to include Sri Lanka as one of the 9 countries to be examined in its 47th Session being held in Geneva from 31 October – 25 November 2011. As this UN committee meets in Geneva to discuss the continuing torture of innocent civilians in Sri Lanka, human rights groups are calling for an urgent investigation into the allegations that human rights abuses are still rife in Sri Lanka.

On Monday the British Channel 4 news revealed mounting credible evidence that shows Sri Lanka is still torturing Tamil prisoners of war. This brief breaking news item can be watched at http://bcove.me/qtwh0nbk

A UK charity, Freedom From Torture – formerly known as the Medical Foundation for the care of Victims of Torture, has handed the UN committee, a file of medical evidence to support allegations that authorities in Sri Lanka are continuing to torture opponents. This submission is based on a review of 35 cases drawn from the 300-plus Sri Lankans who have been referred to the charity's UK clinics for examination or treatment over the last two years.

The "Freedom From Torture" full report in pdf format can be downloaded here.

In its briefing to the U.N. Committee on Monday, Amnesty International (AI) working closely with Sri Lankan human rights defenders documented a persistent pattern of torture of detainees and a culture of impunity in that country. The AI report on this matter can be accessed from: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/docs/ngos/AI_SriLanka47.pdf. There is no longer an independently functioning unit investigating torture allegations levelled against the security forces, which calls into question Sri Lanka's commitment to ending this abhorrent practice," said Yolanda Foster, Amnesty's Sri Lanka expert.

On Tuesday while meeting the Sri Lankan delegation at the session, UNCAT quoting human rights organisations has alleged that secret detention centres are in existence in Sri Lanka and several committee members accused the Sri Lankan government of not providing detailed information requested in advance. Felice Gaer, the current Vice-Chair of UNCAT has said that the allegation on 'secret detention centres' suggests the need for an independent investigation. “Sri Lanka Army and affiliated Para military groups have run and made possible to run secret facilities which torture and carry out extra judicial killings” she has said. She has said that Amnesty International had cited 7 torture detention sites in northern Sri Lanka; five in Vavuniya and two in Mullaitivu. The UN Working Group on Disappearances has identified Sri Lanka as having the second largest most number of disappearance cases in the world, she informed the session.

AFTA calls on the Australian Prime Minister, as the current Chair of the Commonwealth of Nations, to request Hon. Kevin Rudd - the Chair of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) - to convene a special CMAG meeting to explore ways the recently reformed Commonwealth organisation could put an end to these human rights violations still continuing in one of its member nations, Sri Lanka.

AFTA appeals to the Australian media to exert pressure on our government to act without delay by highlighting this serious matter while the 47th session of the UNCAT is in progress.

ENDS

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