• Amnesty International Calls on the Sri Lankan Government to Prosecute Security Forces Responsible for Disappearances in Sri Lanka - 7 October 2004

" August 30 is observed in many parts of the world as the Day of the Disappeared. Amnesty International has for many years been working to obtain accountability for the tens of thousands of "disappearances" that occurred in Sri Lanka in recent decades. As part of our observance of the Day of the Disappeared, AI has updated our online action on "disappearances" in Sri Lanka. It can be found at:

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=11085

Call on the Sri Lankan government to investigate all the cases of "disappearances," to compensate the victims or their families and to bring to justice those found responsible for the "disappearances."

A "disappearance" occurs when someone is arrested by government forces, or by private forces operating with the government's consent, and the government then denies all knowledge of the person's location or status.

AI opposes "disappearances" in all cases. In Sri Lanka, the security forces have been responsible for tens of thousands of "disappearances" in connection with two separate conflicts: the war between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil separatist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), as well as the insurrection in the late 1980s by an opposition group from the majority Sinhalese community, the People's Liberation Front. "Disappearance" appeared to be used for two purposes: it facilitated torture without accountability and it concealed the killing of prisoners. In the overwhelming majority of these cases, there have been virtually no reported prosecutions or convictions. Impunity for these crimes continues.

Amnesty is calling on the Sri Lankan government to investigate all the cases of "disappearances," to compensate the victims or their families and to bring to justice those found responsible for the "disappearances."