Sri Lanka Navy rape case refugees say threatened
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 March 2005, 14:05 GMT]
Representatives from the group of refugees that alleged it was beaten, robbed and raped by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel on a sandbank off Thalaimannar on 5 February informed the Mannar Citizens Committee Wednesday that they want to withdraw their case from Mannar courts as they are facing threats. On Tuesday none of refugees turned up at the Mannar courts for the identification parade of twenty two sailors from Thalaimannar SLN base to point out the men who had allegedly robbed them and raped women in the group.
The refugees declined to specify the nature of the threat they are facing. They lodged a complaint with the Mannar Citizens’ Committee on 9 February that they suspected the men who assaulted and robbed them and molested women in the group were from the Sri Lanka Navy. Thalaimannar Police investigating the case produced twenty two sailors for identification at the Mannar courts Tuesday. Mannar magistrate Mr. N.M.M Abdullah postponed the case for 23 February when the refugees failed to turn up for the identification parade Legal sources said that the Police took no interest in bringing the refugees for the identification parade.
|