2006 Trincomalee massacre of students

The incident referred to as Trincomalee massacre in 2006 happened when five minority Sri Lankan Tamil high school students playing by the beach were briefly detained and then shot dead by Special Task Force.[5][6][1][2][3][4]

2006 Trincomalee Massacre
LocationTrincomalee, Sri Lanka
DateJanuary 2, 2006
TargetSri Lankan Tamil students
Attack type
Armed massacre
WeaponsAutomatics rifles
Deaths5
PerpetratorsSpecial Task Force of Sri Lanka[1][2][3][4]



Reactions

Sri Lankan government

The government claims were contradicted by the results of the local coroner, who said that they were killed by gunshot wound in execution style.[6] Although a court case is still pending, a Human Rights agency known as UTHR accused that a local police superintendent as the mastermind of the operation to kill the students.[6]

Investigation

The official inquiry into this incident is still undergoing and Special Task Force personnel were remanded in connection with the murder and further remanded on 18 July 2013 by the Trincomalee Magistrate court.[5][6]

Witnesses

The only witness who came forward is the target of threats to his safety. Dr. Manoharan, the father of one of the victims, has been threatened by some elements of the Sri Lankan security forces. Human Rights Watch has called on the government to provide adequate protection for the doctor.[7]

According to RSF a minority Tamil journalist Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan who took pictures of the slain students that proved that they died of gunshot injuries not by an explosion of a grenade as claimed by local military authorities was shot dead by unknown gunmen suspected to be paramilitary men.[8]

Court Judgement

In 3 July the accused IPs Sarath Chandra Perera and Rohitha Vijithakumara, Sgt. M.G. Jayalath, A.P. Amal Pradeep, PCs R.K. Ratnayake, M. Chaminda Lalitha, R.M. Udhaya Mahinda Bandara, M.G.H. Sanjeewa, K.A. Tharaka Ruwansiri, J.M. Nimal Bandara, J.M. Senarath Dissanyake, S.J. Indika Thushara of the STF and SI (Retired) P.G. Ananda Bulanawewa of the Police were acquitted by Chief Magistrate M.M. Mohammed Hamza after a lengthy hearing due to the non-availability of evidence against the accused.[9]

References
  1. "Trinco-5 Operations Commander Reappointed To Trinco As DIG Ahead Of Northern Election". Colombo Telegraph. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. "Sri Lanka seeks fresh trial over student massacre". AFP. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  3. "12 STF personnel remanded over Trincomalee massacre". Adaderana. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  4. "KILLING OF 5 STUDENTS AT TRINCOMALEE: IT MUST BE THE STF WHO KILLED THEM, SAYS HRC-SL REPORT". Sri Lanka Brief. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. "Is the State complacent?". The Nation. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
  6. Unfinished Business of the Five Students and ACF Cases– A Time to call the Bluff
  7. "'Murder of five Tamil youths highlights need to end impunity' – Govt must protect witnesses to Trinco killings – HRW". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
  8. "Tamil journalist gunned down in Trincomalee after covering paramilitary abuses". Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original on 28 February 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
  9. "Killing five people including two undergrads: Accused acquitted". Retrieved 3 July 2019.
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