, , , , , , ,
The United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) quoting human rights organisations says that secret detention centres are in existence in Sri Lanka. The 47th Session of the CAT met in Geneva on Tuesday with the Sri Lankan Delegation where Sri Lanka's commitment to upholding rights was severely questioned. Several committee members accused the Sri Lankan government of not providing detailed information requested in advance. She said that the allegation on 'secret detention centres' suggests the need for an independent investigation. "Sri Lanka Army and affiliated Para military groups have run and made possible to run secret facilities which torture and extra judicial killings, have it is claimed, perpetrated" she said.She said that Amnesty International had cited 7 torture detention sites in northern Sri Lanka; five in Vavuniya and two in Mullaitivu. Poonthottam Maha Vidyalaya, 211 Brigade headquarters, Vallikulam Maha Vidyalaya, the PLOTE paramilitary detention centre and Dharmapuram as five camps in Vavuniya while two camps were named from Mullaitheevu. Miss Gaer said that there are allegedly five compounds in Dharmapuram detaining more than 700 men and women in abandoned buildings and houses, holding 80 top levels LTTE people and 300 civilian supporters.The UN Working Group on Disappearances has identified Sri Lanka as having the second largest most number of disappearance cases in the world, she informed the session. "While many of these cases have been clarified there are more than 5,000 that haven't been" states Miss Felice Gaer.
, , , , , , , , , ,
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today voiced concern over the plight of Internally Displaced Persons in Sri Lanka and said her country was looking at some innovative and creative ideas to break the impasse over the Sri Lankan Tamils issueHillary,who called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at the secretariat here,told her that U.S. was looking at some innovative and creative ideas to break the impasse and enable Sri Lankan Tamils in camps get back to their own homes. Jayalalithaa said though the war between the Sri Lankan army and LTTE in the island nation was over two years ago, Sri Lankan Tamils in Jaffna area are still in camps and unable to go back to the original areas where they used to live. While discussing the issue of Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa told Hillary they have been provided all facilities that were available to local citizens. Both of them discussed various social,political and economic issues of common interest, an official press release said. The US Secretary of State also congratulated Jayalalithaa on her electoral victory in the April 13 assembly polls. During the meeting,Jayalalithaa recalled the strong bilateral trade relations between India and United States. Inviting more US investment in the Automobile sector in Tamil Nadu, she said Tamil Nadu enjoyed pre-eminence in automotive and auto components. Jayalalithaa also expressed concern over reduction in issue of H1B visas even though in terms of number of Visas issued, the Chennai US Consulate was the second largest in the world. Hillary invited Jayalalithaa to visit US which would enable Americans to know about the great achievements of Tamil Nadu. The meeting lasted for an hour.
