Torture still continues in Sri Lanka - UN official

7 May 2016 09:07 pm - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A UN official slammed Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system today, accusing police of sexually abusing suspects and still using torture seven years after the end of its ethnic war, AFP reported.

United Nations Human Rights Expert Juan E. Mendez told reporters in Colombo he had found credible evidence of detainees being tortured and disappearances since the end of the war in May 2009.

Mendez, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, said he heard between 16,000 and 22,000 people had gone missing during the conflict and its immediate aftermath.

He described the disappearances as the “torture of the most horrifying kind”.

“The current legal framework and the lack of reform within the structures of the armed forces, police, attorney-general’s office and judiciary perpetuate the real risk that the practice of torture will continue,” he warned.

Suspects have been beaten with sticks or wires on the soles of the feet, suspended for hours while handcuffed, asphyxiated using plastic bags drenched in kerosene and hung upside down, he said.

In some cases, victims had chilli powder thrown on their face and eyes and there were “sexual violations, including mutilation of the genital area and rubbing of chilli paste or onions on the genital area”.

Some people were tortured for days or even weeks, he said after visiting Sri Lankan prisons and meeting with some survivors during a nine-day visit to the island.

Still, he expressed hope the government of President Maithripala Sirisena will deliver on promises of accountability for war crimes and an end to rights abuses.

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Comments - 9

indira Sunday, 08 May 2016 08:04 AM

What action then you suggest to get the truth from these suspects. most of the time they are the real suspects but behave like the most innocent. no culprit will tell the truth unless they are given some sort of pain, sir.

Leo Sunday, 08 May 2016 08:54 AM

When one party is satisfied another has to pop up. via DM Android App

ANTON Sunday, 08 May 2016 09:17 AM

THIS REMINDS ME, WHAT CRABS INSTRUCT TO THEIR BABY CRABS.

Yuri Sunday, 08 May 2016 09:36 AM

i would say, use brain , which is much lees produced in the Island.

Barney Sunday, 08 May 2016 09:43 AM

What if the suspect was innocent?

Padmapriya Sunday, 08 May 2016 10:39 AM

It looks like UN is to continue torturing Sri Lanka.

nivek Sunday, 08 May 2016 10:54 AM

indira you should also realize that maybe a really innocent party can also be forced to plead guilty for a crime he/she never did merely to get rid of the torture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie_detection ... come on nowadays there are so many civillized ways to get the truth out of people, there are lie detectors, drugs, also tickling can be quiet torturous and a fun way to get the truth out (joking ;). and if the crime is substantial (eg:murder) then there should be a legal structure which should allow law enforcement units to put the person under a probation period where he will be monitored at all time.. in todays world everything can tracked,bugged,hacked Eg : phones computers and GPS locators,... theres only three things in the world which cannot be hidden the sun, the moon and the truth. maybe its time for our small nation AKA the pearl of the indian ocean to be an example to the BIG CRABS, and show them that we are lot more smarter and civillzed than they are:)

Willa Monday, 09 May 2016 08:50 PM

Take the suspects to International Criminal Court. As seen by you Sir, justice is not possible in SL

Tharuniah Tuesday, 10 May 2016 02:04 AM

A torture on any equal human being irrespective of any ethnic , religion , culture and background is unacceptable. Those people who say that such torture methods should rethink whether such treatment will be accepted if it was done to them or their immediate family members . It might sounds right , when someone says torturing a fellow human being is right if that person does not belong to your community but first of all we belong to human race so think about it.

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Torture still continues in Sri Lanka - UN official

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