Sri Lanka must account for missing rebels: Human Rights Watch
April 9th, 2011 - 3:46 pm ICT by ANIColombo, Apr.9 (ANI): The New York based Human Rights Watch has said Sri Lanka should account for the disappearance of all Tamil Tiger rebels.
Human Rights Watch said at least 20 Tamil Tiger rebels, including a prominent political leader Yogaratanam Yogi, captured by the troops in May 2009, are still unaccounted for.
“The Sri Lankan government needs to respond to all allegations of disappearances with more than a ritual blanket denial,” BBC quoted Human Rights Watch Asia director Brad Adams, as saying.
“Family members of the disappeared have the right to know if their loved ones are alive or dead,” he added.
Sri Lankan troops had crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels in May 2009, ending their 26-year fight for an independent state for ethnic minority Tamils.
Both sides have been accused of targeting civilians, and human rights groups have demanded that they be investigated for war crimes.
Colombo has denied the allegations, saying it made public the names of all those who had been arrested.
According to United Nations estimates, over 100000 people were killed in the war between the Sri Lankan government and the Tigers. (ANI)
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