A Toronto man who was imprisoned and tortured while visiting Sri Lanka must be compensated for the abuses he suffered, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has ruled.<\/p>\n
The decision calls for Sri Lanka to prosecute those responsible and \u201cprovide adequate compensation\u201d to Roy Samathanam, a Canadian who had filed a complaint with the committee three years ago, The National Post reported.<\/p>\n
Samathanam, 46, called the ruling handed down in Geneva \u201ca measure of justice\u201d in a statement to be released Monday by the Canadian Centre for International Justice, which worked with him on the complaint.<\/p>\n
The case is another rebuke of Sri Lanka arising from abuses committed by security forces during the country\u2019s long civil war that ended in 2009 with the defeat of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thrilled with the committee\u2019s conclusions,\u201d said Matt Eisenbrandt, legal director of the CCIJ, which urged Sri Lankan to \u201cimmediately implement\u201d the obligations set out in the decision.<\/p>\n
A refugee from Sri Lanka, Samathanam traveled to Colombo during a 2007 lull in the country\u2019s civil war to marry. But police raided his home and seized 600 mobile phones he had helped import from Singapore for a friend\u2019s business.<\/p>\n
He said after he refused to pay a bribe to police he was taken to a Terrorism Investigation Division detention centre, where he was branded a \u201cCanadian Tiger\u201d and subjected to abuses.<\/p>\n
He was locked up under the authority of controversial anti-terrorism measures. The order authorizing his detention accused him of \u201cacting in a manner prejudicial to national security.\u201d<\/p>\n
Initially accused of importing \u201chigh tech communication and radar equipment\u201d for the Tamil rebels, he was later accused of plotting to assassinate VIPs. But it was all untrue, he said.<\/p>\n
While in custody, he was handcuffed in painful positions, slapped, kicked, struck with rifles, beaten with pipes, threatened with death and told his wife would be arrested and raped unless he confessed.<\/p>\n
He eventually pleaded guilty to a single count of illegally importing an electronic device and paid a fine. He returned to Canada in April 2011 and testified before the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Allegations that Sri Lanka committed atrocities during the conflict have long been dismissed by the Commonwealth nation, but videos and photos that appear to show victims of executions have surfaced, along with first-hand accounts of rape and torture.<\/p>\n
Courtesy: Colombo Gazette<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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