Sri Lanka: Information on whether death squads are still operating after the November 1994 elections
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LKA19843.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sri Lanka: Information on whether death squads are still operating after the November 1994 elections, 1 March 1995, LKA19843.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab1d48.html [accessed 22 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
An associate professor with expertise in Sri Lankan issues at the Communications Department of Ohio State University in Columbus stated during an 8 March 1995 telephone interview that he is not aware of any reports indicating death squads are still operating after the November 1994 election of President Chandriga Kumaratunge. This information was corrobrated by a representative of the London-based Tamil Information Centre during a 9 March 1995 telephone interview.
The associate professor at Ohio State University indicated that they were two types of death squads operating in Sri Lanka (8 Mar. 1995). The first were paramilitary groups set up by the former Premadasa government to "put down" the Janatha Vimulthi Peramuna (JVP) terrorist activities as well as its political opponents; the other death squads were operated by the "de facto LTTE government" (ibid.). The associate professor added that since the election of President Kumaratunge, the rule of law has returned to the areas under the control of the Sri Lankan government (ibid.).
The representative of the Tamil Information Centre also indicated that two types of death squads were known to be operating in Sri Lanka (9 Mar. 1995). According to this source, the first type of death squads were set up by the JVP, and the second were the death squads sponsored by the former United National Party (UNP) government led by former President Premadasa (9 Mar. 1995).
A 9 June 1993 AFP article indicates that the vigilante group formed by former President Premadasa to "hound government opponents, public servants, journalists, and even some party members he dislikes" were disbanded in May 1993 by President Dingiri Wijitunge who took office following the Premadasa's assassination (ibid.). According to Country Reports 1994, there were no known killings by vigilante groups during the last three years although suspicious deaths have been reported (1995, n.p.).
For further information on the death squads, including allegations of their revival in 1993 and during the 1994 general elections, please refer to the attachments.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 9 June 1993. "Colombo Rejects Probe into `Vigilante' Unit." (FBIS-NES-93-110 10 June 1993, p. 59)
Associate professor at the Communications Department, Ohio State University, Columbus. 8 March 1995. Telephone interview.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. (electronic copy received from Resource Info Centre, INS, US)
Tamil Information Centre, London. 9 March 1995. Telephone interview with a representative.
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 9 June 1993. "Colombo Rejects Probe into `Vigilante' Unit." (FBIS-NES-93-110 10 June 1993, p. 59)
_____. 12 April 1992. "Police Try to Silence Reports on `Death Squads'." (FBIS-NES-92-072 14 Apr. 1992, p. 45)
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995. United States Department of State. Washing DC. (electronic copy received from Resource Centre, INS, US)
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. April 1993. Vol. 39, No. 4. "Sri Lanka: Assassination of Athulathmudali," p. 39415.
The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. October 1994. No. 81. "Re-Writing the Death-Squad Years: Digging up the Past," p. 4.
_____. January 1994. No. 72. "Colombo Killers," p. 3.
_____. January 1994. No. 72. "Mass Graves Unearthed at Suryakande: Spectre of the Killing Fields," p. 4.
_____. October 1993. No. 69. "Tiger Hunt in Colombo," p. 1.
_____. August 1993. No. 67. "Death Squads Return to Trincomalee: Task Force Takes Batticaloa," p. 3.
Tamil Information [London]. June/July 1994. No. 35-36. "The `Business' of Elections," pp. 1-4.
