August 5, 2007

Return to War

Human Rights under Siege

Map of Sri Lanka
I. Summary
Abuses during armed conflict
Abductions and "disappearances"
Arbitrary arrests and detention..
Karuna group abuses
Crackdown on dissent
Impunity reigns
An international role..
Key recommendations
Methodology
II. Background
2002 ceasefire agreement
Return to hostilities
III. Internal Displacement
LTTE prevents civilian flight
Violence and intimidation by the Karuna group..
Forced returns
High Security Zones
IV. Attack at the Kathiravelli School
V. Enforced Disappearances and Abductions
Jaffna..
Colombo..
Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Ampara..
Karuna group..
The government's response..
VI. Tamil Evictions from Colombo
VII. Emergency Regulations
History of abuse..
The Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulations (EMPPR), August 2005
Emergency Regulation (Prevention and Prohibition of Terrorism and Specified Terrorist Activities) No. 7 of 2006
VIII. Freedom of Expression and Association
Attacks on media..
Attacks on Uthayan and Sudar Oli
Blocking of Tamilnet website..
Attacks on Sinhala media..
Harassment by the Karuna group..
Pressure on NGOs
IX. Karuna Group and State Complicity100
X. Impunity for Rights Violations105
Lack of witness protection.. 108
Non-implementation of the 17 Amendment109
Inefficacy of the Human Rights Commission.. 112
Inadequacy of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry114
The need for international leverage.. 122
XI. Recommendations123
To the Government of Sri Lanka.. 123
To the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)124
To the Karuna Group (TMVP and its military wing)124
To donor governments125
Acknowledgements127