The Research Directorate found two reports on airmen and officers who deserted from the Air Force since 1995. Both reports follow:

(1) The Sunday Leader [Colombo]. 6 July 1997. Premalal Wijeratne. "Search on For Army Deserters."

Military police have begun a massive countrywide search for more than 10 000 soldiers who deserted rank and file military officials said on Friday. Military police have also sought the assistance of Interpol to apprehend those soldiers who have fled the country. The Sri Lankan embassies have also been alerted in this regard by the military police.

Since 1995 more than 30 000 troops deserted the army. However after the government offered them an amnesty 20 000 troops surrendered leaving 10 000 soldiers at large. On June 30 1995 2 880 surrendered on December 15 1995 1 880 surrendered on July 31 1996 4 206 and in December the same year 11 205 surrendered to the authorities. Military officials said since the amnesty period has ceased those who are apprehended will be court-martialled under the army ordinance section three Army Commander Rohan Daluwatte told

The Sunday Leader.

On Tuesday army spokesman Sarath Mu-nasinghe told a news conference that a soldier who was apprehended had been sent to Welikada prison for three years.

`We have despatched photographs to all our embassies abroad to apprehend the deserters ' military officials said.

Meanwhile 300 airmen who deserted the air force are still at large. A senior air force officer told The Sunday Leader that ten senior officers who deserted the air force had fled abroad. Two of these officers were employed in Oman he said. `We arrested them and brought them back to Sri Lanka for legal action and they are presently in custody ' the officer said. He said the two officers had been attached to the Oman Royal Air Force at the time of their arrest.

A military officer said investigations are being carried out to find out the reasons why soldiers were deserting the army as most of them were bachelors and were granted leave every two months.

`Most soldiers who return home on leave go on a spending and merry-making spree and when the time comes to return to their bases they are reluctant and most of them fear they would be punished when they delay to return which prompts some of them to desert their rank and file ' the military officer said. `If the deserters come forward to surrender their punishment could be mitigated' the officer said.

Meanwhile soldiers who are fighting in the north told The Sunday Leader they were given step-motherly treatment by the army hierarchy. They added that many of their colleagues had quit the army and deserted because they could not bear the treatment meted out to them. They said they were not allowed to return to their homes even during their vacations. `When we come to the Palaly base to go home to visit our families we are told that there aren't flights. Then we have to get back to the battlefront ' they said. They pointed out that senior rankers in the army were enjoying all the facilities while they were denied these. `If we are treated properly why should we desert? This alone indicates that there is unfair treatment by the army ' they said. The soldiers revealed their grievances when a group of journalists spoke to them last week in the north. They also said the punishment meted out to them following the surrender was too harsh. They however did not generalise but added that some senior officers were kind to them but they could not help them in a crisis hour like this.

(2) Tamil Monitor [NSW, Australia]. 15 July 1997. No. 30. "Massive Search on for Army Deserters." (Published by The Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations).

Sri Lanka has begun a massive search for army deserters estimated to be over 10,000. Colombo sources admit to a total desertion of 30,000 but claim that over 20,000 have "returned" having taken advantage of the amnesty offered by the Government. The search is not being confined to Sri Lanka. It is known that many of the deserters have fled the Island. The assistance of Interpol has been sought to track these deserters and their photographs have been circulated to all Sri Lankan embassies. Two senior Air Force officers who deserted their posts and joined the Oman Royal Air Force have been extradited. Meanwhile, in early July this year around 15 Sri Lankans landed in a remote West Australian coast having been transported there by a Taiwanese boat. Although the ethnic identity of these "Sri Lankans" has not been officially disclosed, they are understood to be Sinhalese. This has given rise to speculation that there may well be deserters amongst this group.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

The Sunday Leader [Colombo]. http://www.lanka.net/sundayleader. 6 July 1997. Premalal Wijeratne." Search on for Army Deserters."

Tamil Monitor [NSW, Australia]. http://www.ozemail.com.au?~eelam/tmonit. 15 July 1997. No. 30. "Massive Search on for Army Deserters."

Additional Sources Consulted

Peace Brigades International. http://www.labornet.org/pbi. 21 January 1998.

Sri Lanka Situation Report 1995-End 1997.

Resource Centre. "Sri Lanka" country file. July-December 1996, January-July 1997.

Sri Lanka Information Monitor (INFORM) [Colombo]. Situation Report. Monthly. January-December 1995, February 1996, July 1997.

Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. Monthly. January 1997, March 1997, May 1997, July 1997, August 1997, October 1997, December 1997.

Sri Lanka News Update [Colombo]. Chronology: 2 October1996-6 June 1997. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Electronic sources: Internet, IRB Databases.