An Open Letter to the Amnesty
International
Why Are the Tamil Tigers Exempted from War Crimes?
Ravi Randeniya Ottawa, Canada
To Secretary General Irene Khan Amnesty
International International Secretariat 1 Easton Street London WC1X
0DW, UK
I was pleased to read today on CNN.com about AI’s decision to
accuse Hezbollah of war crimes in their recent conflict with Israel
and applaud your constant attention paid to the plight to the civilians
caught up in war.
However, I am perturbed by your lack of enthusiasm to express the
same on the most vicious terrorist group on the planet, the Sri Lanka’s
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It bothers me that in spite
of their brutal history of violence which you have well documented
over many years haven’t convinced you yet that the LTTE deserves
the same attention as the Hezbollah.
You had noted since the signing of the ceasefire agreement with the
participation of Nordic countries, the LTTE has continued to violate
the agreement and the killing of non-combatants in Sri Lanka.
Allow me to quote your statements on some of the violent acts against
non combatants:
“Since the signing of the Agreement there have been tens of killings,
abductions and other human rights abuses against civilians in Sri
Lanka. The majority of the victims have been members or ex-members
of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) and the Eelam People’s
Revolutionary Liberation Front - Varathar (EPRLF-V). Attacks have
also occurred against members of the People’s Liberation Organization
of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), and the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
(TELO).
There is substantial evidence that members of the LTTE are responsible
for the majority of these attacks. The LTTE however have so far denied
responsibility.”
“Amnesty International has documented 22 killings, 16 abductions
and other human rights abuses, details of which have been submitted
to the leadership of the LTTE. Below are three illustrative cases.
Amnesty International believes they each demonstrate failures by the
LTTE, the SLMM and the Sri Lankan police to safe guard the fundamental
rights of citizens in Sri Lanka.”
§ Poobalapillai Alahathurai [m]
§ Pooniah Ramachandran [m]
§ Sivapunniam Rathirani Varatharajah [f]
You have also faulted the Government of Sri Lanka (Police) and the
Nordic Sri Lanka monitoring Mission (SLMM) for not investigating your
catalog of crimes satisfactorily. In particular with regards to the
Sri Lankan Police the AI has commented that “Although Amnesty
International recognizes that the police face difficulties due to
the political situation, both at present and historically, in Sri
Lanka.“ However, I have also noted that you were not so sympathetic
about the conduct the Nordic SLMM and the following explains why:
“However, to date Amnesty International is unaware of the publication
of any findings from such investigations, and calls on the SLMM to
make such findings public at the earliest opportunity. Amnesty International
is also concerned that investigation into some incidents may not be
being initiated by the SLMM due to, what it claims, is a lack of evidence
available at the initial stages of enquiries. Amnesty International
urges the SLMM to react promptly and robustly, by conducting investigations
into any incident involving the killing, abduction, torture or attack
against any civilian by either of the parties to the Agreement. The
SLMM should ensure it has enough resources and expertise to conduct
such investigations thoroughly and promptly.”
“Reports of meetings between the SLMM and the LTTE indicate
that the LTTE leadership has been unable or unwilling to thoroughly
investigate these reports, giving vague commitments to investigate
breaches of the Agreement. Amnesty International calls on the LTTE
to abide by international humanitarian law, in particular Common Article
3 of the Geneva Conventions which gives protection to individuals
not taking part in hostilities in armed conflicts. The LTTE should
immediately stop the killing and abduction of all civilians, and give
instructions to its members to abide fully with the human rights provisions
in the Agreement. The LTTE must also cooperate fully with any investigations
conducted by the SLMM.”
Following is a list of some of your own reports compiled in the recent
times about the crimes of LTTE:
1) Sri Lanka: Tamil Tigers leaders should account for latest killings
- Amnesty International
URL: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGASA370201997
2) Sri Lanka: Tamil Tigers beating up families to recruit child soldiers
- Amnesty International
URL: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGASA370022004
3) Open letter to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and Sri Lankan Police concerning recent
politically motivated killings and abductions in Sri Lanka. - Amnesty
International
This open letter to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the Sri
Lankan Monitoring Mission and the Sri Lankan Police expresses concern
over the numerous abductions, killings and other human right...
URL: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGASA370042003
4) India: A set back for human rights in Tamil Nadu - the new Prevention
of Terrorism bill - Amnesty International
Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign
for internationally recognized human rights.
URL: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGASA200121998
5) Sri Lanka: Fear of Torture/"Disappearance": Mahendrarajah
Gajamukan - Amnesty International
A young Tamil man, Mahendrarajah Gajamukan, was taken from his home
on 30 January by men believed to be members of an armed group allied
to the Sri Lankan armed forces. Amnesty International is co...
URL: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGASA370052000
6) Sri Lanka: Amnesty International condemns killing of Neelan Thiruchelvam
MP - Amnesty International
Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign
for internationally recognized human rights.
URL: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGASA370191999
7) Sri Lanka: "Disappearance": Nadarajah Navakrishnan Murali
- Amnesty International
URL: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGASA370022000
With such overwhelming evidence how is it possible for AI to remain
silent over the extra judiciary killing that LTTE habitually commit?
And I wonder what additional crimes by the LTTE have to be recorded
before the AI considers LTTE to be included in the exclusive club
with Hezbollah?
Would not the recent murder of Keetheshwaran Loganathan, Deputy Director
of the Peace Secretariat and another Tamil peace activist a motivation
for the AI to set off on a mission to report the LTTE on war crimes?
How about the detonation of a landmine under a crowded civilian bus
in Kebithigollewa recently by the LTTE to massacred 89 innocent civilians
to incite racial riots in Sri Lanka?
If that those would not convince you, what about dispatching their
inane suicide bombers against the Sinhalese, recruitment of child
soldiers, committing civilian massacres in the Sinhala villages and
political assassinations of both Sinhalese and Tamils? I am confident
that should you search deep enough in your own archives that you will
find a catalog of crimes against humanity by the LTTE and observers
like myself need not provide further evidence to you to present my
case to accuse the LTTE of war crimes.
May I remind you that just as Hezbollah is proscribed in the EU where
you are based, the LTTE has joined that notorious club too. It is
a very strong indication that both deserve the same treatment regardless
of the nationality or geography or who sponsor their activities.
To paraphrase the AI’s vision, “a world in which every
person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and other international human rights standards,”
surely there is room for Sri Lankans to live without fearing the brutal
LTTE.
I strongly urge you NOT to single out Hezbollah and allow the LTTE
to go scot free for the sake of humanity.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
Ravi Randeniya
Ottawa, Canada
