The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) last week released a statement by Kanthasami Sivasuthan, a TRO staffer in Kalvayal, Chavakachcheri who was arrested and tortured by Sri Lanka Army was released to the press Saturday. Kanthasami, Technical officer of NECORD project, was beaten and threatened by Army Intelligence on 18 and 20 July. The text, translated from Tamil, of Kanthasami’s statement follows:
“On 18 July 2006, when I had visited the Community hall project site I was stopped by the Army near the Kodikamam Army camp in Point-Pedro road. I had my Sri Lanka Army issued ID and National Identity Card (N.I.C.) with me. They took those.
“They knew I am working at TRO. They asked if our office was attached to the LTTE. And also they asked me about 2 members of LTTE. They took me into the bushes where there was an open bunker. They beat me with the “Naval Kottan”. They then released me. They gave back my Army ID and NIC.
“On 20 July 2006, I visited our project site and, as before, while I was stopped by the same Army persons. They took my Army ID and NIC. I said: ‘you were stopped me on 18 July 2006 and you know about me.’ I asked for my IDs back. They said that their commander wants to meet me and they took me to the same place as before.
“They removed my shirt and covered my eyes with it. They asked me about the 2 members of the LTTE - the same as they had the last time and they asked me for places where LTTE was hiding the claymore mines, bombs etc… I told them that I don’t know anything about these. They beat again. They asked where Mr. Jeyaraj is. I said I don’t know.
“They beat me again. They then released me. They didn’t give me my Army ID and they said when I gave the details of LTTE they will give my Army ID. They said this beating was the last and next time they would shoot.
“[The beating] was done by Mr. Kumara (Army intelligent group, Kodikamam camp). Somebody was called him when he was interogating me. He spoke very good Tamil.
“I reported [the incident] to the HRC because I need my Army ID. I didn’t report to the police because somebody was shot dead after they reported to the police about Army harassment.”
“On 18 July 2006, when I had visited the Community hall project site I was stopped by the Army near the Kodikamam Army camp in Point-Pedro road. I had my Sri Lanka Army issued ID and National Identity Card (N.I.C.) with me. They took those.
“They knew I am working at TRO. They asked if our office was attached to the LTTE. And also they asked me about 2 members of LTTE. They took me into the bushes where there was an open bunker. They beat me with the “Naval Kottan”. They then released me. They gave back my Army ID and NIC.
“On 20 July 2006, I visited our project site and, as before, while I was stopped by the same Army persons. They took my Army ID and NIC. I said: ‘you were stopped me on 18 July 2006 and you know about me.’ I asked for my IDs back. They said that their commander wants to meet me and they took me to the same place as before.
“They removed my shirt and covered my eyes with it. They asked me about the 2 members of the LTTE - the same as they had the last time and they asked me for places where LTTE was hiding the claymore mines, bombs etc… I told them that I don’t know anything about these. They beat again. They asked where Mr. Jeyaraj is. I said I don’t know.
“They beat me again. They then released me. They didn’t give me my Army ID and they said when I gave the details of LTTE they will give my Army ID. They said this beating was the last and next time they would shoot.
“[The beating] was done by Mr. Kumara (Army intelligent group, Kodikamam camp). Somebody was called him when he was interogating me. He spoke very good Tamil.
“I reported [the incident] to the HRC because I need my Army ID. I didn’t report to the police because somebody was shot dead after they reported to the police about Army harassment.”
