Amnesty calls for "full investigation"

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 October 2000, 19:57 GMT]
Wednesday's gruesome killing of at least 26 Tamil young men and boys aged between 14 and 23 who were detained for "rehabilitation" near Bandarawela, Sri Lanka, should be investigated fully, Amnesty International said Friday in an open letter to the President, Chandrika Kumaratunga.

"Police and army personnel deployed at the rehabilitation camp failed to protect the inmates from villagers armed with machetes and clubs," Amnesty said. "There are further allegations that some of them may have been involved in inciting the villagers or may have assisted them in entering the camp."

The organization welcomed the President's condemnation of the attack. "However a full impartial investigation is needed to ensure that those found responsible are brought to justice and that compensation is paid to the victims and the relatives of those killed," Amnesty said.

It also urged for a thorough review of provisions in the Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which according to the London based human rights group, "allow for prolonged detention and were key contributing factors in this latest incident."