Return to War - Human Rights Watch
Return to War - Human Rights Watch Return to War - Human Rights Watch
ZOA denied all the allegations, and said it also helped non-Tamil communities, including Muslims resettling in Musali in Mannar, Sinhalese families in Serunuwara, and Sinhalese and Muslim families in Polonnaruwa. 219 The Select Committee is chaired by a JVP parliamentarian, Wijitha Herath, and consists of the chair plus members from the JVP and the Buddhist monk party, JHU. Both parties represent a strong Sinhalese nationalist perspective. Hardline segments of Sinhalese polity are vehemently opposed to a negotiated, federal solution to the conflict, and have openly supported an intensified military strategy. NGOs register under the Voluntary Social Services Organization Act or the Companies Act and are subject to the financial oversight of these acts. Any allegations of fraud or misappropriation of funds by NGOs registered under the Voluntary Social Services Organization Act are brought to the notice of the government by the registrar, which may refer the matter to a Board of Inquiry. Those NGOs registered as non-profit organizations under the Companies Act must provide an annual report and statement of accounts to the Registrar of Companies. As existing checks and balances are already in place, the need for additional financial reviews seems unnecessary and raises questions about the parliament’s motives in monitoring NGO work. 219 Email correspondence between ZOA staff member and Human Rights Watch, January 27, 2007. 99 Human Rights Watch August 2007
IX. Karuna Group and State Complicity With the government’s acquiescence if not open backing, the Sri Lankan security forces continue their support for the abusive Karuna group, the Tamil armed group that split from the LTTE in 2004. The LTTE’s loss of key territories in the east has permitted the Karuna group to extend its influence over the districts of Ampara, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa. In 2007 the group was expanding its operations in the Vavuniya district in the north, working in tandem with government forces, and continuing to engage in extortion and abductions. In late 2006 and early 2007 the Karuna group, with the complicity of the security forces, continued to forcibly recruit children for use as soldiers, as well as commit abductions and murders of suspected LTTE members and supporters, and kidnappings for ransom of wealthy Tamil businessmen. International criticism of the Karuna group has grown. On April 27, 2007, UNICEF publicly criticized the Karuna group for stalling on its promises to end child recruitment. 220 On May 10, US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher called on the government to rein in paramilitary groups, a clear reference to the Karuna group. At a press conference after a three-day trip to Sri Lanka, he said, [I]t is also important that the government ensures security for everybody. And in the current circumstance that means stopping and controlling the paramilitary groups that have operated in various parts of the island and who are suspected, believed, known to be involved in many of the abductions and killings that have occurred in recent months. 221 On May 11 the chairman of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict released two statements condemning the recruitment and use of 220 “UNICEF Says Karuna Faction ‘Not Serious’ About Child Releases,” UNICEF news note, April 27, 2007, http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39477.html (accessed May 13, 2007). 221 Remarks by US Assistant Secretary of State Richard A. Boucher, Colombo, May 10, 2007. Return to War 100
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IX. Karuna Group and State Complicity<br />
With the government’s acquiescence if not open backing, the Sri Lankan security<br />
forces continue their support for the abusive Karuna group, the Tamil armed group<br />
that split from the LTTE in 2004. The LTTE’s loss of key terri<strong>to</strong>ries in the east has<br />
permitted the Karuna group <strong>to</strong> extend its influence over the districts of Ampara,<br />
Trincomalee, and Batticaloa. In 2007 the group was expanding its operations in the<br />
Vavuniya district in the north, working in tandem with government forces, and<br />
continuing <strong>to</strong> engage in ex<strong>to</strong>rtion and abductions.<br />
In late 2006 and early 2007 the Karuna group, with the complicity of the security<br />
forces, continued <strong>to</strong> forcibly recruit children for use as soldiers, as well as commit<br />
abductions and murders of suspected LTTE members and supporters, and<br />
kidnappings for ransom of wealthy Tamil businessmen.<br />
International criticism of the Karuna group has grown. On April 27, 2007, UNICEF<br />
publicly criticized the Karuna group for stalling on its promises <strong>to</strong> end child<br />
recruitment. 220 On May 10, US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher called on<br />
the government <strong>to</strong> rein in paramilitary groups, a clear reference <strong>to</strong> the Karuna group.<br />
At a press conference after a three-day trip <strong>to</strong> Sri Lanka, he said,<br />
[I]t is also important that the government ensures security for<br />
everybody. And in the current circumstance that means s<strong>to</strong>pping and<br />
controlling the paramilitary groups that have operated in various parts<br />
of the island and who are suspected, believed, known <strong>to</strong> be involved<br />
in many of the abductions and killings that have occurred in recent<br />
months. 221<br />
On May 11 the chairman of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and<br />
Armed Conflict released two statements condemning the recruitment and use of<br />
220 “UNICEF Says Karuna Faction ‘Not Serious’ About Child Releases,” UNICEF news note, April 27, 2007,<br />
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39477.html (accessed May 13, 2007).<br />
221 Remarks by US Assistant Secretary of State Richard A. Boucher, Colombo, May 10, 2007.<br />
<strong>Return</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>War</strong> 100
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