Sri Lanka: Try 'Col' Karuna For War Crimes: Human Rights Groups

Tuesday, 06 November 2007

Human rights groups in Britain and the US are working towards ensuring that rebel Tamil leader 'Col' Karuna, who was arrested here last Friday, is tried for war crimes. In particular, they hope to bring legal cases against him for allegedly abducting teenagers and children and forcing them to fight as 'child soldiers' in his armed units. Karuna, whose real name is Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, is a former member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Human Rights groups such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Coalition to Stop Child Soldiers have called on the British government to launch investigations into Karuna's activities. They are also gathering evidence to launch prosecution.

There are unconfirmed reports that after his arrest in a joint operation by immigration and police officials, Karuna has sought political asylum in Britain. The Home Office confirmed that Karuna was being held in an immigration detention, but would not say whether his case was being studied by its internal war crimes unit.

An Amnesty International spokesperson said: 'Under article six of the Geneva Conventions if the UK is satisfied there's reasonable testimony of torture the government would have to start a preliminary inquiry under UK law.

'If one person was to complain with credible evidence then there would have to be an investigation. We are in touch with international groups about bringing evidence to this country to help the police and prosecution services.'

In New York, James Ross, legal and policy director of Human Rights Watch, said: 'We have raised our concerns with the UK government. We would like (the government) to see whether there's a valid basis under the principle of universal jurisdiction to prosecute Col Karuna for possible war crimes or human rights abuses such as torture.'

Lucia Withers, Asia programme manager of the Coalition to Stop Child Soldiers in London, told The Guardian that said a possible prosecution of Karuna would be an 'exemplary' case.

She said: 'Up until September there had been 395 reports of children with his faction. He has been recruiting children under the age of 15. We know of at least four children killed while with his group.

'Some of it is forcible abductions from temples, playgrounds and refugee camps. Parents have tried to get their children rescued. This is happening in an area controlled by the Sri Lankan government.'

The question is whether in Britain universal jurisdiction for war crimes extends to the use of children, she said.

Added a Home Office spokesperson: 'We have a war crimes unit, formed in 2004, to ensure that we are not providing sanctuary (to war criminals). Where appropriate we refer cases to the Metropolitan police for criminal action.'

The Sri Lankan High Commission in London said it had not been informed of the arrest by Britain but was aware of Col Karuna's detention. It said no decision had been taken about whether representations would be made to the Foreign Office.

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Keshav said:

Indded it is very necessary to detain and to prosecute the alleged racist Karuna Under the international War trials. My frank opinion is the he was the first man who dubbed himself as a saviour of Batticaloa peoples so that he created a rift betwen tamils. I am sure, during the period of his rift with LTTE, that all Jaffna Tamils has to be widrawn from Eastern Province.

2007-11-07 01:33:19

James said:

Monster Karuna did many atrocities against the Tamil Nation instructed by GoSL:-

-Assassinations of TNA Parliamentarians?
-Massacre of TRO aid workers
-Abduction and Murder for ransom
-Abduction and Massacre of Tamil Journalists, LTTE supporters
-Child recruitments
He must be punished under the War Crimes and who helped him to commit these war crimes also prosecuted in the International Criminal Court.

2007-12-21 11:24:29

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