Amnesty International
27 October 2000
ASA 37/031/2000
206/00
Open letter to Sri Lanka's President
Wednesday's gruesome killing of at least 26 Tamil young men and
boys aged between 14 and 23 who were detained for
"rehabilitation" near Bandarawela, Sri Lanka, should be
investigated fully, Amnesty International said today in an open
letter to the President Kumaratunga.
Police and army personnel deployed at the rehabilitation
camp failed to protect the inmates from villagers armed with
machetes and clubs. There are further allegations that some of
them may have been involved in inciting the villagers or may have
assisted them in entering the camp.
The organization welcomed the President's condemnation of
the attack and that two police teams were sent to investigate the
scene immediately. However a full impartial investigation is
needed to ensure that those found responsible are brought to
justice and that compensation is paid to the victims and the
relatives of those killed.
It also urged for a thorough review of provisions in the
Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act which
allow for prolonged detention and were key contributing factors
in this latest incident.
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