Tortured Toronto man says he

feels vindicated by UN report on

Sri Lanka

Roy
Samathanam: At least they recognized it and said this happened. They at least acknowledged it. That is
really good, Im satisfied with that.

STEWART BELL | September 16, 2015

TORONTO Roy Samathanam was beaten with pipes and kicked in the groin after he
was arrested by Sri Lankas Terrorism Investigation Division, but it was when they

threatened to rape his wife that he broke and agreed to sign a false confession.
On Wednesday, the Toronto resident said he felt a sense of vindication over a chilling
report by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioners office into the torture and
other abuses committed during the final stage of Sri Lankas long civil war.
The report found the Sri Lankan security forces had tortured detainees on a
widespread and systematic scale, and that, were the evidence ever brought before a
court, the acts may well amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Waterboarding was frequently used, it said. Bags soaked in gas or chili powder were
placed over the heads of detainees. Fingernails and toenails were removed with pliers.
Needles were stuck under their nails. They were branded with metal rods and forced to
drink their urine.
At least they recognized it and said this happened, Samathanam said in an interview.
They at least acknowledged it. That is really good, Im satisfied with that.
But he isnt convinced it will change the culture of impunity in the country of his birth.
At least they recognized it and said this happened
The UN launched its investigation in March 2014 following complaints that both
government forces and the Tamil Tigers rebels had committed atrocities during the
fighting that ended in May 2009.
The report, which examined the period between 2002 and 2011, said there were
reasonable grounds to believe that all parties in the conflict had committed gross
human rights violations that may amount, depending on the circumstances, to war
crimes.
Investigators said the security forces and pro-government paramilitary groups were

implicated in widespread unlawful killings of Tamil politicians, aid workers,

journalists and civilians. The Tamil Tigers, also known as the LTTE, similarly killed
Tamils who did not sympathize with their cause, as well as political figures, public
officials, academics and civilians many of them victims of indiscriminate suicide
bombings.
There was also evidence that rebels and others taken captive during the finals days of
fighting had been executed, among them Balachandran Prabhakaran, the 12-year-old
son of Tamil Tigers boss Velupillai Prabhakaran, the report said.
Arbitrary arrests, disappearances and rapes also occurred, it said, blaming the security
forces. The patterns of sexual violence appear to have been a deliberate means of
torture to extract information and to humiliate and punish persons who were
presumed to have some link to the LTTE.

Sri Lankan soldiers in May 2009. The UN received complaints that both government
forces and the Tamil Tigers rebels had committed atrocities during their fighting.

As it closed in on the LTTE, the Sri Lankan military failed to safeguard civilians, tens
of thousands of whom lost their lives, the report said. Hospitals were repeatedly
shelled and heavy weapons were used in densely populated areas.
The Tamil rebels also share blame for placing weapons such as artillery in civilian
areas and enforcing a high level policy of preventing civilians from leaving the war
zone, in some cases by shooting those trying to flee, including children.
The report said investigators had documented extensive recruitment of children by
the LTTE, especially during the final months of the battle, when kids under 15 were
sent to fight. The pro-government Karuna Group also recruited children, it said.
We welcome the findings of the high commissioners report that finally acknowledge
the grave human rights violations that amount to war crimes and crimes against
humanity, the Canadian Tamil Congress said in a statement that urged the
international community to ensure the recommendations were implemented.
The key recommendation in the UN report was the establishment of a hybrid special
court composed of Sri Lankan representatives and international judges, prosecutors,
lawyers and investigators to try those responsible for war crimes.
The Sri Lankan government has long been reluctant to entertain an international
investigation into the conduct of its forces. In protest, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
boycotted the 2013 Commonwealth summit in Colombo, the capital. But the election in
January of a new president, Maithripala Sirisena, has fuelled optimism of a coming to
terms with wartime abuses.
Samathanam isnt so sure.
Two years ago, he took a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, asking for an

investigation into the torture he suffered during the three years he was held after
police grew suspicious about cellphones he had imported. He is still awaiting action
and said he is considering taking his case to the RCMP.
Although the war ended more than six years ago, the Sri Lankan government has still
not rescinded its strict anti-terrorism law, and he has little faith that those responsible
for what he and so many others suffered will ever be held to account.
I dont think much is going to happen.
Posted by Thavam