Information on whether the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) kill traitors and tie their bodies to lampposts in public places [LKA17480.E]

Sources currently available to the DIRB do not provide information on whether the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) tie the bodies of traitors to lampposts in public places. However, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993 maintains that the LTTE
is thought to have executed a number of its opponents, as well as Tamil civilians accused of helping the security forces. In January [1992] the LTTE publicly executed two alleged traitors and in February executed three civilians in Mullaittivu District for allegedly passing information to the security forces. In December the LTTE announced that it had executed nine more "traitors" in Jaffna (1994, 1388).

As well, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992 maintains that the LTTE "summarily executed 37 'traitors' and 'deserters' during July [1991]" (1992, 1175). Although it does not specifically refer to traitors, Amnesty International Report 1993 states that "[t]he LTTE executed several prisoners accused of being informers" (1993, 266).

The two attached articles provides additional information on the execution of alleged traitors and executions in public places by the LTTE.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

References

Amnesty International. 1993. Amnesty International Report 1993. 1993. New York: Amnesty International USA.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing House.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing House.

Attachments

Amnesty International. February 1994. Sri Lanka: Summary of Human Rights Concerns. (AI Index: ASA 37/09/94). London: Amnesty International Publications, p. 8.

The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. June 1992. "Victims," p. 2.