Stop-Torture-Report

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Impunity is so entrenched that ITJP has identified forty-one sites in Sri Lanka where victims state they were tortured after the war, as well as numerous alleged individual perpetrators of war crimes, rape, torture and execution. This is the result of painstaking research and cross-referencing new evidence from security force insiders with the testimony of survivors including some of the one hundred “white van” abductions we have documented that took place after the war ended. We reveal the GPS coordinates for the secret naval intelligence detention facility in Trincomalee Naval Dockyard, and also possess names and photographs of torturers and guards who worked there. In Vavuniya, Joseph Camp was the base for military intelligence “white van” abduction teams and a site where multiple victims were tortured and sexually abused; we have multiple names and photographs of torturers who worked there, as well as other sites island wide. However the 41 sites we have identified represent only a fraction of the total number of torture sites in Sri Lanka because many witnesses have no idea where they were tortured, having been blindfolded when transferred there and out. The victims cannot be looked at in isolation from their families, who continue to suffer reprisals even after one member is driven out of the country. More than a quarter of torture survivors interviewed abroad said a close relative back home had been subjected to physical violence, including beatings, torture, rape and in some cases killing, after they had fled the country. These violations occurred at the end of the war and continues to the present day. The findings of this report should raise red flags about any domestic accountability process for Sri Lanka. Witness safety simply cannot be guaranteed at present. International organisations, including the United Nations, have offered technical assistance to the government on addressing human rights violations and accountability need to take cognisance of the findings of this report regarding ongoing violations by the security forces. The proposed UN involvement envisages consultations with law enforcement agencies that are not just responsible for past violations, but are alleged to be still committing crimes and attempting to silence witnesses. 6
The report is based on: - 180 cases of post-war torture and/or sexual violence in Sri Lanka. - From which ITJP has recorded 115 statements from witnesses and survivors. Of these, 100 are “white van” abduction survivors. - These cases include eight accounts of torture and sexual abuse that occurred after 8 January 2015, and fourteen cases that occurred in 2014. - 84 witnesses were asked about reprisals against their families. 7
Page 1 and 2: A Still Unfinished War: Sri Lanka
Page 3 and 4: Contents Executive Summary 5 Acknow
Page 5: Executive Summary This report paint
Page 9 and 10: I.Political Context Total impunity
Page 11 and 12: Meanwhile Sri Lanka faces parliamen
Page 13 and 14: All witnesses interviewed by ITJP w
Page 15 and 16: III .Narrative 180 cases of post-wa
Page 17 and 18: the end of the war had been further
Page 19 and 20: national authorities put in place t
Page 21 and 22: apprehend the perpetrators, while c
Page 23 and 24: the case study in this report on th
Page 25 and 26: even after our report in March 2014
Page 27 and 28: extraordinary spirit of survival in
Page 29 and 30: 2014 Arbitrary Detention, Torture a
Page 31 and 32: uttons of my blouse. My breasts wer
Page 33 and 34: Post Presidential Election 2015 Cas
Page 35 and 36: Media reports said a special police
Page 37 and 38: efore he had managed to desert. In
Page 39 and 40: (Witness 117) His expert medical re
Page 41 and 42: (Witness 122) On arrival in the UK
Page 43 and 44: “I am unable to sleep properly, e
Page 45 and 46: “They are trying to come to terms
Page 47 and 48: B. Identified Torture Sites, Comman
Page 49 and 50: From our evidence, it is clear that
Page 51 and 52: (Witness 70) The Forward Maintenanc
Page 53 and 54: this time because if the Government
Page 55 and 56: 8 17 47 9 2 Jaffna 14 3 1 Elephant
Page 57 and 58:
Note on Iniya Bharathi’s office i
Page 59 and 60:
“An army officer came to my tent
Page 61 and 62:
Key to Map of Joseph Camp 1 Male In
Page 63 and 64:
Joseph Camp Organisation Joseph Cam
Page 65 and 66:
Sexual Torture Of the 14 witnesses
Page 67 and 68:
In addition, ITJP is in possession
Page 69 and 70:
A female witness saw the Major when
Page 71 and 72:
“I witnessed the security forces
Page 73 and 74:
(Witness 42) Some witness were deta
Page 75 and 76:
a vehicle and let her go on the roa
Page 77 and 78:
Case Study 3: Secret Torture Site:
Page 79 and 80:
including to the navy who denied an
Page 81 and 82:
Two recent media reports refer to a
Page 83 and 84:
At the Embassies in some overseas c
Page 85 and 86:
“There were reports that authorit
Page 87 and 88:
However, in the majority of cases w
Page 89 and 90:
2009 to document and keep tabs on a
Page 91 and 92:
Many witnesses told us that the sec
Page 93 and 94:
“In every letter my mum has menti
Page 95 and 96:
to attend the opening ceremony. The
Page 97 and 98:
as a result of the PM's visit, neit
Page 99 and 100:
stop. The petrol bag was repeated t
Page 101 and 102:
close members of her family abducte
Page 103 and 104:
The Extensive Use of Informers Many
Page 105 and 106:
the Tamil collaborators they encoun
Page 107 and 108:
these orders. Several have given tr
Page 109 and 110:
Persecution of Family Members One o
Page 111 and 112:
“Around 4 people on a motorbike c
Page 113 and 114:
“Military intelligence has come t
Page 115 and 116:
much she had to be taken to hospita
Page 117 and 118:
(Witness 91, speaking in 2015) Ther
Page 119 and 120:
“Since I left Sri Lanka the CID a
Page 121 and 122:
This pattern, as set out in detail
Page 123 and 124:
with command responsibility as well
Page 125 and 126:
Given these past experiences, UN ag
Page 127 and 128:
- Interpreters of an internationall
Page 129 and 130:
VI. Recommendations Call to UN Secr
Page 131 and 132:
The European Union: Subject to witn
Page 133 and 134:
“In Sri Lanka there is a mytholog
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Stop-Torture-Report

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