Tamil refugees forced into sex rackets

by sivakaran | July 2, 2009 at 06:40 am

14616 views | 65 Recommendations | 17 comments

Sri Lankan military is alleged running prostitution ring using women kept in the Camp. It is further alleged, no action was taken by the senior government officials although it was brought to their attention.

Aid workers told The Australian yesterday officials at the internally displaced people's camp in Pulmoddai, a remote northeast region, are running the prostitution ring using women kept in the camp.

The Australian understands the allegations are the subject of a joint investigation between the Sri Lankan government and an aid organisation.

"It's been brought to the attention of senior government officials but no one seems to be doing anything about it," said an aid worker, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

As usual, Sri Lankan government officials denied the allegations, and claims that the military "could have raped every single woman on the way if they wanted to." But also claims, since tents are very close together it would be impossible to have racket going.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Palitha Kohona described the claims as "absolute rubbish", but confirmed the government was investigating the reports.

"These (the military) are the guys who were winning the war - they could have raped every single woman on the way if they wanted to. Not one single woman was raped," he told The Australian last night.

"I am sure in a mass of people there may be individuals who want to make a quick buck one way or another, but you have to remember the tents are so close together you can't do anything without the entire neighbourhood knowing. If you had a racket going, thousands of people would know about it."

Its important to note that UN expressed concern regarding men and women believed to be Tamil Tiger fighters were removed without proper documentation.

A UN official said yesterday many families remained separated in the camps and that men and women believed to be Tamil Tiger fighters were being removed with "no due process or proper documentation, like arrest receipts, given to parents or guardians". "These issues are of huge concern for us," the official said. "The lack of freedom of movement is a violation of human rights under Sri Lanka's own constitution."

IDPs had a mass protest at one of the camps and military increased restriction. Military had opened fire during the protest, while Tamilnet.com claimed two people were killed, aid worked suggested troops only fired into air.

The restrictions have heightened tensions in the camps, including a mass protest in the Ramanathan camp in the northern town of Vavuniya on Sunday in which IDPs tried to break down barbed-wire fences separating one camp zone - and many relatives - from another.

Tamilnet.com claimed two people were killed and at least two were injured when troops opened fire on the refugees.

But reports from aid workers in the camp suggested troops fired only into the air, causing no casualties, and that camp officials reached a compromise that allowed the IDPs movement between the two camps

UN Sri Lanka coordinator stated that Camp conditions are improving but "the main thing is people are still inside these camps, and can't go anywhere.

UN Sri Lanka co-ordinator Neil Buhne said camp conditions were slowly improving, thanks to better water and sanitation facilities.

"But the main thing is people are still inside these camps and they can't go anywhere. The government has made public commitments to get 80 per cent of people back to their homes by the end of the year (after separating civilians from the fighters) but that's going to be a difficult target to meet."

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Amy Judd

at 09:02 on July 2nd, 2009

wow, this is terrible.

sivakaran

at 11:06 on July 2nd, 2009

Its interesting, how they "could have raped every single women" despite tents being closely together, but its impossible to run a prostitution ring because tents are so closely together.

See below:

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Palitha Kohona said:

"you have to remember the tents are so close together you can't do anything without the entire neighbourhood knowing."

But also said:

"These (the military) are the guys who were winning the war - they could have raped every single woman on the way if they wanted to."

This is clearly display of triumphalism, and arrogance!! You can't fool the world forever.

sivakaran

at 20:26 on July 2nd, 2009

Unlike Sri Lanka, I am not hinding something to fool the world.

Uncle Sam (not verified)

at 16:53 on July 2nd, 2009

"You can't fool the world forever."

You too can't.

sivakaran

at 20:16 on July 2nd, 2009

Oh really? Let us find what the truth then.

senthil5000

at 09:17 on July 2nd, 2009

prostitution for getting some money to buy food for their kids
Sinhala business men bring goods in Lorries and sell in the camps but many people has no money to buy even for their kids. In order to buy some biscuits or some other thing to give to eat to their kids many young mothers who lost their husbands were persuaded for prostitution by security personnel for one hundred rupees. This prostitution for getting some money to buy food for their kids is very common and very much open to public awareness.

People have to be always in queue throughout the day. Queue to use toilet, fetch water, bath, get meals, and get treatment. If one was delayed in getting treatment he will lose all other provisions.

sivakaran

at 11:18 on July 2nd, 2009

ya unfortunately, Sri Lankan government is able to get away with keeping the world out.

Nihal Muller (not verified)

at 18:39 on July 2nd, 2009

Don't say that, JamalDavid ! They are attractive in some people's eyes.

I received an e-mail few days ago of some white guy taking nude group photos of this kind of women (a second camaraman has shot the same group with the first camaraman included). The e-mail had a cover story claiming that these photos were taken during LTTE regime when the NGO crows freely moved around. Possible, because now those 'victim industry' a'holes are not allowed. It further said that LTTE kept a blind eye to these NGO activities since it was co-existance.

My point is, there is nothing extraordinary if those who posed nude for $ extending their services now for Rs.

sudharaka

at 18:43 on July 2nd, 2009

Another concocted piece of “heresay“ junk with the usual doze of anons [very convenient] ghosts and ghouls.
Pathetic attempt to divert attention from the issues at hand and generate ah…'s and oohs…'s.

Tamiya

at 20:42 on July 2nd, 2009

I would say this comment can be easily classified as a personal attack on the author and reported to NP moderators for removal.

Tamiya

at 21:13 on July 2nd, 2009

This is what the "honorable" Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Palitha Kohona told the paper, in response to the accusations :

"These (the military) are the guys who were winning the war - they could have raped every single woman on the way if they wanted to. Not one single woman was raped."

Wow, the Foreign Minister saying that the government military could have easily raped every single Tamil women and thus by implying that they would have been able to get away with it; the Defense Minister, Gotabaya, has said to the military that the "Tamil men are for the sea and the Tamil women are for you" to "encourage" the military offense on Tamils.

Sure, Tamils are "safe" under the strict watch of Sri Lankan government with "guarding" Sri Lankan Security Forces.

Nihal Muller (not verified)

at 21:41 on July 2nd, 2009

It is a fact that SL Govt. is hiding things. Which Govt in this world is 100% transperant ?

Its interesting, how they "could have raped every single women" despite tents being closely together, but its impossible to run a prostitution ring because tents are so closely together.

There is a technical difference between on the way and in the camp. There were no tents close together on the IDP's way from the LTTE hell hole up to the camp.

Misinterpreting or twisting what is implied amounts to fooling too !

Amy Judd

at 07:31 on July 3rd, 2009

sudharaka, your comment is completely against our code of conduct, is disrespectful, and frankly I am getting tired of members just saying other stories are junk and propaganda without providing any evidence to the contrary. Any more comments along this line and I will issue a suspension as this is getting completely out of hand.

Amy Judd

at 07:37 on July 3rd, 2009

Due to commenters being unable to keep their comments under control and within our guidelines, I am closing this comment thread. I apologize to sivakaran.

sivakaran

at 20:22 on July 2nd, 2009

the same question I posted to JamalDavid!

Tamiya

at 20:43 on July 2nd, 2009

"Pathetic attempt to divert attention from the issues at hand"

Yes. Indeed. Sri Lankan government & its supporters are very good at this.

Uncle Sam (not verified)

at 22:45 on July 2nd, 2009

The 'you' in this comment is not you, but you know which 'you' it is.

Nice attempt though. Some other story was urging Obama to "act" on/in Sri Lanka. If this is the meaning of act, then definitely Mr. President is a wrong person for that.