DATE=6/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250049
TITLE=LANKA / AMNESTY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCHDOG AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS THERE
ARE ALMOST DAILY REPORTS OF TORTURE IN THE ARMED CONFLICT
BETWEEN GOVERNMENT SECURITY FORCES AND TAMIL TIGER REBELS IN SRI
LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST. VANDANA CHOPRA HAS THE DETAILS FROM
COLOMBO.
TEXT: THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS,
ALTHOUGH SEVERAL POSITIVE STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN RECENT YEARS
TO CURB TORTURE, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES IN THE SRI LANKAN ARMED
FORCES AND POLICE AND WITH THE TAMIL TIGER REBELS.
IN A SPECIAL REPORT TITLED "TORTURE IN CUSTODY" AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL SAYS THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE CHANGES
IN THE LAW IN SRI LANKA LEAD THE ARMED FORCES TO STOP USING
TORTURE. THE PROBLEM WAS SAID TO BE MOST SEVERE IN THE NORTH AND
EAST OF THE COUNTRY WHERE MOST OF THE FIGHTING BETWEEN GOVERNMENT
TROOPS AND REBELS IS TAKING PLACE.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, ROUTINE METHODS OF TORTURE INCLUDED
SUFFOCATION, NEAR DROWNINGS AND BEATINGS.
THE AMNESTY GROUP NOT ONLY CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA
BUT ALSO CONDEMNED MANY OF THE METHODS OF THE TAMIL TIGER REBELS.
THE REPORT SAYS CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 14 YEARS HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY
RECRUITED BY THE TIGER REBELS AND THEN TREATED BADLY ONCE THEY
BECAME MEMBERS OF THE REBEL FORCE.
ON MONDAY, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ISSUED A LEAFLET TITLED "WAR
GAMES IN PARADISE- CHILD SOLDIERS IN SRI LANKA" SAYING TIGER
GEURILLAS HAD STEPPED UP RECRUITMENT OF CHILD SOLDIERS LATE LAST
YEAR AFTER SUFFERING HEAVY CASUALTIES ON THE BATTLEFRONT.
LAST YEAR, THE NATION OF SRI LANKA APPEARED BEFORE THE UNITED
NATIONS COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
ACKNOWLEDGED TORTURE AS A PROBLEM AND PLEDGED TO MAKE EVERY
EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO STOP USING
TORTURE ON ITS ENEMIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/PLM
01-Jun-99 3:57 AM EDT (0757 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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