Return to War - Human Rights Watch
Return to War - Human Rights Watch Return to War - Human Rights Watch
Acknowledgements This report is based primarily on research in Sri Lanka in February-March 2007 and continuing fact-gathering up to the time of publication. All secondary sources are cited. The report was written by Charu Lata Hogg, researcher in the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, and Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher. Brad Adams, executive director of the Asia Division, James Ross, legal and policy director, and Ian Gorvin, consultant to the Program Office at Human Rights Watch, edited the report. Andrea Cottom, associate for the Asia Division, formatted the report. Production assistance was provided by Fitzroy Hepkins, Andrea Holley, and Grace Choi. Human Rights Watch thanks the Sri Lankan lawyers, journalists, humanitarian workers, and human rights activists who provided information and analysis for the report. Above all, thanks go to the victims and witnesses of abuse in Sri Lanka who recounted their experiences in the interest of publicizing violations and bringing perpetrators to account. 127 Human Rights Watch August 2007
H UMAN R I GHTS WATCH 350 Fifth Avenue, 34 th Floor New York, NY 10118-3299 www.hrw.org H U M A N R I G H T S W A T C H Return to War Human Rights Under Siege Sri Lanka is reeling under a human rights crisis. The resumption of major military operations between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) over the past 18 months has exacted a heavy toll on civilians, both directly in the fighting and in the dramatic increase in killings, abductions, and “disappearances.” The LTTE is much to blame. The group, fighting for an independent Tamil state, has directly targeted civilians, murdered perceived political opponents, and forcibly recruited Tamils into its forces, including children. Human Rights Watch has long documented LTTE abuses. This report focuses primarily on abuses by the Sri Lankan government and allied armed groups. Disregarding the civilian toll in its military campaign against the LTTE, the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has engaged in and tolerated widespread abductions, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, and the forced return of internally displaced persons. Intolerant of criticism and dissent, it has restricted the media, humanitarian agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. Ethnic Tamils have borne the brunt, but members of the Muslim and majority Sinhalese populations have also suffered abuse. Mother of 24-year-old ethnic Tamil man who was abducted and killed in May 2007 mourns at a hospital in Vavuniya. © 2007 Reuters
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Acknowledgements<br />
This report is based primarily on research in Sri Lanka in February-March 2007 and<br />
continuing fact-gathering up <strong>to</strong> the time of publication. All secondary sources are<br />
cited.<br />
The report was written by Charu Lata Hogg, researcher in the Asia Division of <strong>Human</strong><br />
<strong>Rights</strong> <strong>Watch</strong>, and Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher. Brad Adams,<br />
executive direc<strong>to</strong>r of the Asia Division, James Ross, legal and policy direc<strong>to</strong>r, and Ian<br />
Gorvin, consultant <strong>to</strong> the Program Office at <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>Watch</strong>, edited the report.<br />
Andrea Cot<strong>to</strong>m, associate for the Asia Division, formatted the report. Production<br />
assistance was provided by Fitzroy Hepkins, Andrea Holley, and Grace Choi.<br />
<strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>Watch</strong> thanks the Sri Lankan lawyers, journalists, humanitarian<br />
workers, and human rights activists who provided information and analysis for the<br />
report. Above all, thanks go <strong>to</strong> the victims and witnesses of abuse in Sri Lanka who<br />
recounted their experiences in the interest of publicizing violations and bringing<br />
perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> account.<br />
127<br />
<strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>Watch</strong> August 2007
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