Return-Path: Received: from host.oil.ca ([206.186.236.1]) by mailin05.sul.t-online.com with esmtp id 13p9ot-0oSkT2c; Fri, 27 Oct 2000 15:45:19 +0200 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by host.oil.ca (8.9.3/8.9.3) id HAA22337 for amnesty-l.list; Fri, 27 Oct 2000 07:21:07 -0400 X-Authentication-Warning: host.oil.ca: majordom set sender to owner-amnesty-l@oil.ca using -f Received: from fox.amnesty.org (fox.amnesty.org [194.131.159.110]) by host.oil.ca (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id HAA22334 for ; Fri, 27 Oct 2000 07:21:04 -0400 From: ai-news@amnesty.org Subject: Open letter to Sri Lanka's President on To: amnesty-l@oil.ca Message-ID: Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 13:02:07 +0100 X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on fox/I.S./Amnesty International(Release 5.0.5 |September 22, 2000) at 27/10/2000 13:13:46 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Sender: owner-amnesty-l@oil.ca Precedence: bulk Reply-To: owner-amnesty-l@host.oil.ca * News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International * 27 October 2000 ASA 37/031/2000 206/00 Wednesday's gruesome killing of at least 26 Tamil young men and boys aged between 14 and 23 who were detained for "rehabilitation" near Bandarawela, Sri Lanka, should be investigated fully, Amnesty International said today in an open letter to the President Kumaratunga. Police and army personnel deployed at the rehabilitation camp failed to protect the inmates from villagers armed with machetes and clubs. There are further allegations that some of them may have been involved in inciting the villagers or may have assisted them in entering the camp. The organization welcomed the President's condemnation of the attack and that two police teams were sent to investigate the scene immediately. However a full impartial investigation is needed to ensure that those found responsible are brought to justice and that compensation is paid to the victims and the relatives of those killed. It also urged for a thorough review of provisions in the Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act which allow for prolonged detention and were key contributing factors in this latest incident. **************************************************************** You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the list subscription message may be removed. **************************************************************** To subscribe to amnesty-L, send a message to with "subscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. To unsubscribe, send a message to with "unsubscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. If you have problem signing off, contact . handles only messages concerning list administration. Past and current Amnesty news services can be found at . Visit for information about Amnesty International and for other AI publications. Contact amnestyis@amnesty.org if you need to get in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty International.