Sri Lanka must investigate Karuna Amman – Human Rights Watch
The Sri Lankan authorities have ordered an investigation into a former commander of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after he publicly boasted about killing several thousand Sri Lankan soldiers during the country’s civil war, which ended in 2009. He killed more soldiers, he reportedly said, than Sri Lankans had died from the coronavirus.
In truth, Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan, who is better known as Colonel Karuna Amman, should have been criminally investigated long ago for war crimes. During the 26-year armed conflict, the LTTE was responsible for countless grave abuses, including unlawful killings and attacks on civilians. Forces under Karuna’s command were implicated in the summary execution of several hundred police officers in June 1990, after they had surrendered to the LTTE. The following month his forces executed about 75 Muslim travelers. And in August that year, his forces were allegedly responsible for killing more than 200 civilians in Batticaloa district.
Even after Karuna split from the LTTE to lead a pro-government armed group in 2004, his alleged crimes were never investigated. Instead his forces committed more abuses, apparently this time on the government’s behalf. The United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and others reported that Karuna’s group, known as the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), was responsible for enforced disappearances, torture, and child recruitment.
Karuna has never been held accountable for his alleged crimes. In 2007 he was arrested in the United Kingdom for traveling on a false document. He testified that his fake diplomatic passport was provided by the then-defense secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, now Sri Lanka’s president. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is currently the prime minister but was then the president, appointed Karuna a government minister in 2009.
Sri Lankan authorities should investigate and appropriately prosecute Karuna for war crimes and other grave human rights abuses. But with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in office, himself implicated in war crimes, there remain concerns that Karuna will once again escape justice.
Human Rights Watch
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Of course the present government must get involved immediateky to arrest Karuna. I was schocked when I read Minister Dinesh Gunawardene saying this happened in the past. Remember Mr. Dinesh, these soldiers sacrificed their lives at that time so that even you and your family could live today in peace. They sacrificed for our future. Shame on you.
Hello Human Right (or left watch)! Please go and complain to Geneva! UN human Rights! Just like you guys did to SL Government. Karuna is responsible for enforced disappearances, torture, and child recruitment. Where are these women ? Jasmin Suka and Nawa-neecha Pilai. May be Tamil Diaspora will fund the investigations because Karuna betrayed their supreme leader Velu Pilai.
Hello Amarakoon,
Thank you for confirming my earlier comment on Col Karuna Virus being a bosom pal of the SB’s.
Of course, the T’s demand justice for crimes committed by both parties to the War.
But the SB’s keep ignoring this demand and supporting top LTT’ers who joined them.
Had the Sun God been living today, he would have been a Senior Cabinet Minister and top leader of an SB Political Party.