Both Sri Lankan govt, Tamil Tigers committed ‘human rights abuses’: Wikileaks

COLOMBO - Secret US diplomatic cables released by the whistleblower website ‘Wikileaks’ have revealed that both the Sri Lankan government and the defeated Tamil Tigers had committed human rights abuses, and that the state had secretly carried out paramilitary activities including killings, child trafficking and organised prostitution during the war that ended in 2009.

According to the BBC, the cables dating from 2007 suggest that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) used systematic forced conscription during the war to recruit Tamil civilians to its forces.

Both the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lanka’s government have long faced accusations by human rights groups of committing abuses during the 26-year conflict.

The cables also said that the government was supporting extra-judicial behaviour by pro-government Tamil paramilitaries, led by men who are now ministers. They further claimed that one paramilitary was believed to be trafficking boys as workers and girls as prostitutes.

The BBC quoted one of the ministers allegedly involved in the crime, as saying the allegations were completely false.

“We are not involved in trafficking or extortions,” he added.

The cables have also accused pro-government paramilitaries and the Tigers of extorting money or food. (ANI)