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Study on Criminal Accountability in Sri Lanka as of January 2009 June 2010 The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights is an independent non-profit human rights organization registered in the municipality of Berlin-Charlottenburg. It works with a team of international lawyers and internationally recognized experts. ECCHR is devoted to protect individuals and groups whose human rights have been or are at risk of being violated by state or private agents. ECCHR‘s Universal Justice Program is designed to address violations of internationally recognized crimes, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity, by using various legal mechanisms to hold the perpetrators accountable and to compensate the victims of these crimes. The concept of strategic litigation is used to achieve best results and create public awareness and concern regarding the rehabilitation of conflicts. European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights e.V. (ECCHR) Zossener Str. 55-58, Aufgang D D-10961 BERLIN Tel: + 49 - 030 - 40 04 85 90 Fax: + 49 - 030 - 40 04 85 92 Mail: [email protected] Web: www.ECCHR.eu i Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 3 I. Historical background to the conflict in Sri Lanka ............................................................. 3 II. Sequences of events that occurred after January 2009 ...................................................... 4 III. Reliability of the sources .................................................................................................. 5 PART ONE: THE FACTS ......................................................................................................... 6 I. The parties to the conflict ................................................................................................... 6 A. The structure of the Sri Lankan Military and Government ........................................... 6 1. The Sri Lanka Army ................................................................................................... 6 2. The Sri Lankan Government ...................................................................................... 8 B. The structure of the LTTE ............................................................................................. 9 1. Leadership and command structure within the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ... 9 2. The Governing Committee of the LTTE .................................................................. 10 II. The alleged acts of the Sri Lankan Government ............................................................. 11 A. The situation in the internally displaced persons camps during and after the end of the conflict .............................................................................................................................. 11 1. Introductory remarks ................................................................................................ 11 1.1 General situation in the camps ........................................................................... 11 1.2 The mass movement of the Tamil population ..................................................... 13 2. Entry and exit to the camps ...................................................................................... 14 2.1 Situation ............................................................................................................. 14 2.2 Cases: The Sri Lankan High Court’s decision and the legality of detention in the camps ........................................................................................................................ 16 3. Obstruction to humanitarian access .......................................................................... 17 4. Conditions of detention ............................................................................................ 17 4.1 Water .................................................................................................................. 18 4.2 Food ................................................................................................................... 18 4.3 Sanitation and accommodation .......................................................................... 19 4.4 Witnesses statements .......................................................................................... 20 5. Violence in the camps .............................................................................................. 21 5.1 General violence ................................................................................................ 21 5.2 Sexual violence against women and girls .......................................................... 23 B. Treatment of suspected LTTE members ..................................................................... 26 1. Screening procedures ............................................................................................... 26 2. Disappearances ......................................................................................................... 27 3. Arrests and detentions .............................................................................................. 30 4. Treatment ................................................................................................................. 31 4.1 Situation ............................................................................................................. 31 4.2 Cases .................................................................................................................. 32 C. The killing of captured or surrendered LTTE members .............................................. 34 1. The alleged execution of nine LTTE prisoners in January 2009 ......................... 35 2. The alleged killing of senior LTTE leaders and their families between May 14 and May 18, 2009 ......................................................................................................... 35 D. The bombardment of government proclaimed no fire zones ...................................... 36 1. The armies advance into the no fire zone on April 19, 2009 ................................... 37 2. The bombardment of the no fire zone close to Mullaitivu on May 9 and 10, 2009 . 38 E. The bombardment of hospitals .................................................................................... 39 F. Civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian objects ........................................... 41 ii 1. The general situation ................................................................................................ 41 2. Cases ......................................................................................................................... 42 3. The destruction of churches ..................................................................................... 43 4. Attacks on humanitarian aid workers ....................................................................... 44 III. The alleged acts of the LTTE ......................................................................................... 45 A. Preventing civilians from fleeing the conflict zone ..................................................... 45 B. Civilian casualties ........................................................................................................ 48 C. Military installations close to civilians and civilian objects ........................................ 49 D. Children fighting for LTTE ......................................................................................... 50 E. Forced enrolment ......................................................................................................... 51 PART TWO: THE LAW .......................................................................................................... 52 I. Article 7 of the ICC Statute: Crimes against Humanity ................................................... 52 A. The general elements of crimes ................................................................................... 52 1. General remarks ....................................................................................................... 53 2. Civilian population ................................................................................................... 53 3. Attack ....................................................................................................................... 54 4. Widespread and systematic ...................................................................................... 54 5. Knowledge of the attack ........................................................................................... 55 B. Specific elements of crimes ......................................................................................... 56 1. Murder ...................................................................................................................... 56 2. Extermination ........................................................................................................... 56 3. Deportation or forcible transfer of population ......................................................... 57 4. Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty ................................. 59 5. Sexual and gender violence .....................................................................................