AI Report on Sri Lanka: Main Focus LTTE Atrocities BY Daya Gamage – US Correspondent to Asian Tribune

The latest Amnesty International report on Sri Lanka has put the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the dock accusing it of politically motivated killings, assassination of political activists of rival Tamil parties and continued widespread recruitment of child soldiers.

The human rights group was sharp enough to unravel the Tiger outfit’s maneuver when it disclosed in the report “increased number of civilians, including members of opposition Tamil groups, were assassinated by the LTTE and (breakaway) Karuna’s supporters. Some of these killings took place in government-controlled territory or near Sri Lankan Army checkpoints, leading the LTTE to accuse the Sri Lanka Army of providing support to Colonel Karuna’s faction.”

The Amnesty International annual report was released last week covering 149 countries, highlighting the failure of national governments and international organizations to deal with human rights violations, and calls for greater international accountability.

The report covers the year 2004.

Briefly touching the several incidents of torture in police custody, the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the introduction by the government of anti-conversion bill and its fallout, the religious tension, the Amnesty International, in its report on Sri Lanka, mostly devoted its energy to highlight the atrocities of the LTTE.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has waged an armed insurrection against the Government of Sri Lanka since 1983 to win a separate nation in the north and east of Sri Lanka for the Tamil minority, who are mostly Hindu, alleging that the government, largely controlled by majority Sinhalese Buddhist, has discriminated against the Tamils and has suppressed their legitimate rights. A Norwegian brokered ceasefire was signed between the Tiger outfit and the government in February 2003 to facilitate talks to end the crisis. Tigers are currently holding several pockets in the north and east of the country.

In its introduction the Amnesty International says, “The ceasefire between the government and the LTTE remained in place, despite number of violations and a failure to resume peace talks. The human rights situation in the north-east deteriorated following violence split within the LTTE in April (2004) and a dramatic increase in politically motivated killings.

“Although a large number of child soldiers were released during the internal fighting (between the LTTE factions), the LTTE continued to recruit children, including through abductions.”

On politically motivated killings, the report says, “there was dramatic escalation in political killings, especially in the east, following the split in the LTTE. From April onwards an increasing number of civilians, including members of opposition Tamil groups, were assassinated by the LTTE and colonel Karuna’s supporters. Some of these killings took place in government-controlled territory or near Sri Lankan Army (SLA) checkpoints, leading the LTTE to accuse the SLA of providing support to (dissident) Colonel Karuna’s faction. The continued killings and intimidation created an atmosphere of fear among the civilian population in the east as well as putting the ceasefire under strain.”

The AI further states, “Throughout 2004 the east remained volatile with continued skirmishes between the LTTE and remaining (breakaway) Karuna supporters, growing number of political assassinations and widespread child recruitment (by the LTTE).”

On the issue of child soldiers, the AI forcefully charges the LTTE of continuous recruitment. “The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported the recruitment of 448 children as soldiers in the first half of 2004, while acknowledging that the actual figure was probably far higher.

“It was reported that a large number of child soldiers were deployed in the fighting between the LTTE and the Karuna faction in April (2004) and that there were some child casualties. Following the fighting, over 1,600 child soldiers from the east (of Sri Lanka), who had fought alongside Colonel Karuna, were disbanded and spontaneously returned to their homes. In May and June it was reported that the LTTE were recruiting many of these demobilized children, using tactics of intimidation, abduction and violence. Parents in the east, angry that their children had been used in internecine fighting, attempted to mobilize in an effort to resist re-recruitment. There was also an increase in child recruitment in the north in mid-2004 as the LTTE tried to make up for the large number of cadres it had lost during the split.”

Briefly turning to the government side, the Amnesty International in its Sri Lanka report says, “In November (2004) the government announced a “reactivation” of the death penalty. Torture in police custody was widely reported and victims seeking redress faced threats and violence. There was little progress towards holding security forces to account for past human rights violations. Religious minorities came under threat, with attacks on Christians and Muslims, as well as the tabling of a bill aimed at curbing religious conversions.”

(Asian Tribune - Washington, D.C. 22 June )