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INFORM
report documents killings, rights violations
Some of the main subjects dealt with are human rights violations during the implementation of emergency regulations, politically motivated killings and attacks in the East, child abductions by the LTTE, public protests and demonstrations, media freedom, women’s rights, inter-religious harmony, Bindunuwewa compensation and ransom negotiations. The report referred to emergency regulations being implemented as done after the recent assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, where a suspect can be detained up to 90 days without any access to lawyers or family members. Many local and international human rights groups are reported to have protested against similar situations, because of possible human rights violations while many complaints were received from civilians who were harassed by Special Task Force (STF) personnel, who would abuse their powers by arbitrarily checking people, at great inconvenience to them. In August alone, it reported there were more than 30 politically motivated killings that took place, mostly in the Eastern province. A particularly tragic incident reported was that of an unidentified young woman who was brutally tortured, raped and killed, and whose body was discovered at Batticaloa Central College last month, highlighting the vulnerability and helplessness of the community in the area. The fact that she was buried as an unidentified person, took the pressure off the Police to investigate the crime. However, women’s rights groups are reported to have demanded a thorough inquiry into the case, especially as the body was found inside a locked room of a fairly big public building. |
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