‘Tainted Peace’- Torture report reveals Tamils are still being abused 6 years after the war

A report from Freedom from Torture UK alleges that torture continues in Sri Lanka with 148 victims including 23 women, detailing their abuse.

The report released Thursday, entitled ‘Tainted Peace’ claims all victims were beaten, over 70% experienced sexual abuse and burning and almost 40% were deprived of oxygen.

Sonya Sceats from Freedom from Torture said "torture is deeply entrenched in the Sri Lankan policing and security apparatus."

Last year, for the third year running, Sri Lanka was the top country of origin for victims the charity had helped and even saw a few cases this year after Sirisena came into power.

More than a third of the victims had returned to Sri Lanka from the UK after working or studying abroad.

On survivor, named Anuja in the report said she was tortured in a camp after refusing to take her clothes off and be photographed, she was questioned as her first husband was an LTTE member.

"One of them smashed my head into a metal bar. I still don't have any feeling in some parts of my mouth" she said.

She was then imprisoned and said every guard in the prison had raped her by the time she left after 18 months there.

She managed to get out after her brother bribed officials to get her released.

Dr. Juliet Cohen, Head of Doctors at Freedom from Torture said one of the main difficulties with victims from Sri Lanka is getting them to open up about sexual abuse.

'"Such an awful, shameful, frightening experience is very difficult to talk about to a stranger" she said.

Sceats added that whoever is elected in must pursue accountability for those responsible for committing such violent acts and that a plan must be put in place to prevent it from happening in future.

Prime Minister Ranil Wikremesinghe told Reuters these claims would be addressed after the UN Human Rights Comission report on Sri Lanka's war crimes is made available in September.

The report claims 136 people were detained with no formal charge, no legal representation, no hearing, no notification to family members and no independent medical examination.

#news