News
Rohingya case: Allegations of rape and inaction by police
View(s):An identification parade will be conducted tomorrow at the Mt Lavinia Magistrate’s courts to identify the suspects involved in the intimidation of the Rohingya refugees — amid allegations about the rape of a refugee and inaction by some police officers.
Rohingya refugees being escorted to safety from their safehouse in Mount Lavinia. Pic by Reka Tharangani
Six suspects have been taken into custody and remanded until tomorrow.
The refugees were accommodated in a two-storey house and the owner had lodged several complaints regarding hostilities against them, leading to the arrest of six suspects while another is evading arrest.
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon told Sunday Times there were about 1,300 refugees in Sri Lanka and he did not understand why the hostilities were against only the 31 Rohingyas.
He said he believed the hostilities were politically motivated or a plot staged to cover up a rape case.
The Police Media Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said police had acted fast on the complaints and arrested six suspects while the Ven. Arambepola Rathanasara Thera is the only suspect still evading arrest.
Meanwhile, Police are investigating allegations that Mirihana station policeman had taken one of the Rohingya refugees from the Colombo South hospital and raped her in a hotel room.
Colombo South Teaching Hospital Director Dr. Asela Gunawardena said Immigration Department officials held an inquiry and statements were obtained from the hospital staff.
The Rohingya girl had been admitted to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital when she was suffering from dengue and was discharged on June 18. However, according to Dr. Gunawardena, the hospital informs the Mirihana refugee detention camp and it sends an official to take the patient back.
According to hospital records, after she was discharged on June 18, she was brought back to the hospital and she left stranded in the ward in which she had been treated. The ward’s staff with the help of another patient who acted as the translator, had managed to obtain information about the alleged rape.
“We had to readmit her when we became suspicious of the situation. After we realised what had happened, we informed the Police,” Dr. Gunawardena said.
According to him, the patient was kept at the hospital for about two more months where she had to undergo tests regarding her physical state.
Meanwhile, Ceylon Teacher’s Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that the Government had failed to give the refugee children their fundamental right to education.
He appealed to the Education Ministry to act on this.
“We have sent a letter to the relevant ministry to look into the matter and act,” he said.
Mr. Stalin also condemned the hostility against the Rohingya refugees and accused the Police of failing to take quick action against the groups connected to the case.
Police Media Spokesman Gunasekara said the Police Constable accused of raping the rohingya refugee had been arrested and later released on bail two months ago. He said the PC had been interdicted.
He also said investigations were being held on allegations that some police officers did not act promptly to disperse the gangs involved in the hostilities against the refugees.