Expulsion of non-resident Tamils from Colombo explained

The expulsion of non-resident Tamils from Colombo was an incident which took place on June 7, 2007 when 376[1] ethnic Tamil refugees living in Colombo were deported from the city by the Sri Lankan Police.[2] [3] [4] The evicted were sent back to Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa, where they are originally from, in several buses with a police escort.[5] However the buses only went as far as the town of Vavuniya and the evicted Tamils were forced to stay in a detention camp.[6] The President asked those who were evicted to come back to Colombo[6] and ordered an investigation into the incident

Background to the Expulsion

The Tamil militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization (the LTTE or the "Tamil Tigers") has carried out numerous bombings in Colombo, the largest city in Sri Lanka, over the course of the Sri Lankan Civil War.[7] Ethnic Sri Lankan Tamils traveling from the Northern Province and Eastern Province in Sri Lanka have to compulsory register with the Police and mandatory carry a police certificate as per the Prevention of Terrorism Act and emergency regulations if found not living in the house in the certificate they could be arrested.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

The breakdown of the Norwegian-backed peace process saw an increase in IED explosions and suicide bombings, attributed by the Sri Lanka Police, to the LTTE in Colombo. In May 2007, at least three such explosions took place in the city, including an attack on a military vehicle that killed seven civilians and one police officer.[13] Police investigations identified that those responsible for a number of these bombings had temporarily lived in and planned their attacks from low budget lodges in the city.[14] The Sri Lanka Police said that, for instance, there were occasions where some individuals had lived in these lodges for over six months on the pretext that they had come to obtain their passports,[15] which could be obtained in as little as one day.[16]

Therefore, the Sri Lanka Police said:

"Temporary occupants who cannot provide valid reasons for their stay in the Colombo area will be sent back to their homes"
Keheliya Rambukwella, government minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence acknowledged
"Tamils were singled out for scrutiny in Colombo, but only because rebel attackers -- who have killed members of all ethnic groups -- routinely hid among the capital's large Tamil community"
[17]

Expulsion

On the morning of June 7, heavily armed Sri Lanka Police officers[6] entered low-budget hostels in the Wellawatte, Dehiwala, Kotahena, Pettah and Wattala areas of Colombo and asked 376 persons, comprising 291 males and 85 females, who did not have valid reasons for being in Colombo to leave. They were then put into buses and were sent away from Colombo to destinations in the east and north of Sri Lanka.[15] People were taken to the town of Vavuniya and made to stay in a detention camp.[6] On the next day they were handed over to Government officials of Vavuniya.

Concern

The move to expel these people drew wide criticism of the government. The United States Embassy in Sri Lanka condemned the act, asking the government of Sri Lanka to ensure the constitutional rights of all the citizens of the country.[18] Norway also condemned the act, describing it as a clear violation of international human rights law. Their press release urged government of Sri Lanka to desist from any further enforced removals.[19] Canada has also condemned the action.[20] The expulsion was also condemned in the Sri Lankan media.[21] Eight human rights groups wrote a joint letter to the President claiming that act was "a flagrant violation of (freedom of movement) and a disgrace to humanity".[22]

Allegation of Ethnic cleansingHuman rights groups, Local think tank and other observers have termed this act as "ethnic cleansing".[23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] The media group said that this type of act reminds people of what "Hitler did to the Jews",[2] [29] and the Asian Center of Human Rights urged India to intervene.[3]

Eyewitness Accounts

One of the men who was forced to leave Colombo managed to call a local radio station, Sirisa FM from a mobile phone. He said;

A 64-year-old woman from Jaffna, who was among those evicted said that;

Another 54-year-old woman was quoted as saying;

Aftermath

The Sri Lankan Supreme Court on June 8, 2007 issued an injunction on the Sri Lanka Police to stop the evacuation of residents of Colombo lodges after hearing a fundamental rights petition filed by a non governmental organization, the Center for Policy Alternatives, Sri Lanka (CPA).[30] [31] [32] As a result of the ruling, police boarded 185 out of the 270 people who were sent to Vavuniya onto five buses and took them back to Colombo.[33] [34]

President Mahinda Rajapaksa reprimanded his police chief for the deportations[35] and ordered the Inspector General of the Police to present a report on the manner of transportation of the Tamils and on the alleged exceeding of authority by the officials involved. He has also invited the people who were sent to Vavuniya to return to Colombo.[36] [37]

Government reaction

On June 10, 2007 Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake told reporters that the government regretted the eviction of 376 Tamils from Colombo and that he accepted responsibility of the incident. He promised that this kind of incident would not recur.[38]

Two days later Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa defended the move, saying

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Lanka defends expulsion of Tamils . 2007-06-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121016232407/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-10/rest-of-world/27995050_1_tamils-defence-ministry-hundreds-of-ethnic-minority . dead . 2012-10-16 . . 2007-06-10 .
  2. News: Sri Lanka police evict ethnic Tamils from capital . 2007-06-07 . . Jayasinghe . Amal . 2007-06-07.
  3. News: Deportation of Tamils from Colombo is reminiscent of The Holocaust. 2007-06-08. 2007-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20070610124824/http://www.achrweb.org/press/2007/SLK0307.htm. 2007-06-10. dead.
  4. News: Sri Lanka accused of ethnic cleansing as over 400 Tamils evicted from capital. https://archive.today/20110813063158/http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/sri-lanka-accused-of-ethnic-cleansing-as/n20070607092309990001. dead. 2011-08-13. 2007-06-07 . . Francis. Krishan . 2007-06-07 .
  5. News: Lanka SC steps in, halts eviction of Tamils from Colombo . https://web.archive.org/web/20121016232353/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-08/rest-of-world/27979168_1_eviction-crackdown-on-ltte-rebels-tamils . dead . 2012-10-16 . . 2007-06-08.
  6. Web site: Tamils return to Sri Lanka capital . 2007-06-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070615023529/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/EA3925AE-9EC5-4D7B-8140-DC7D87F0CAC6.htm . 2007-06-15 .
  7. http://www.cfr.org/publication/9242/#5 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Sri Lanka, separatists) - Council on Foreign Relations
  8. Book: Anoma Pieris. Sovereignty, Space and Civil War in Sri Lanka: Porous Nation. 9 July 2021. 25 October 2018. Taylor & Francis. 978-1-351-24632-3. 93–.
  9. Book: Sharika Thiranagama. In My Mother's House: Civil War in Sri Lanka. 9 July 2021. 16 August 2011. University of Pennsylvania Press. 978-0-8122-0511-4. 250–.
  10. Web site: SL State reinforces stringent police registration of residents in Colombo . Tamilnet . 22 May 2018 . 9 July 2021.
  11. Web site: RESPONSES TO INFORMATION REQUESTS (RIRs) . Justice Government . 11 December 2006 . 9 July 2021 . 9 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709213139/https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/03/06/LKA102016.E.pdf . dead .
  12. Book: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Country reports on human rights practices. 9 July 2021. 20 February 2013. Government Printing Office. 2613–. GGKEY:NN89UP1JS4T.
  13. http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Roadside_bomb_kills_seven_near_Sri__05282007.html Roadside bomb kills seven near Sri Lanka military base
  14. http://www.rnhit.com/mcns/fullnews.php?id=6136 OCCUPATION OF LODGINGS
  15. News: Police evict Tamils from Colombo . 2007-06-07 . BBC . 2007-06-07 .
  16. Department of Immigration and Emigration, Passport fees
  17. Web site: Sri Lanka: Treatment of Tamils in Colombo by members of the Sri Lankan security forces and police; registration requirements in Colombo for Tamil citizens . RefWorld . 9 February 2012 . 9 July 2021.
  18. News: The United States condemns the forced removal of Tamils . 2007-06-08 . U.S. Department of State. . press release June 2007 . 2007-06-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091105131731/http://srilanka.usembassy.gov/pr-08june2007.html . November 5, 2009 .
  19. News: Norway condemns enforced removal of Tamils from Colombo . 2007-06-08 . Norway - the official site in Sri Lanka. . press release June 2007 . 2007-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070318202614/http://www.norway.lk/press/press+releases/press+releases.htm . 2007-03-18 . dead .
  20. News: Canada condemns 'dislodging' of Tamils . 2007-06-08 . Dailymirrir . 2007-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930225250/http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/06/11/news/7.asp . 2007-09-30 . dead .
  21. News: Sri Lanka media slam Tamil eviction . 2007-06-09 . . 2007-06-10 .
  22. News: Mass expulsion of Tamils from Colombo denounced. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185037/http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20070607/55214.htm. usurped. September 27, 2007. 2007-06-07 . INAS . 2007-06-07 .
  23. News: Police evict Tamils from Colombo . BBC News . 2007-06-07 . 2010-05-02.
  24. "Ethnic Cleansing" in Sri Lanka?. https://web.archive.org/web/20070615003452/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1631473,00.html . dead . June 15, 2007 . Time . 2007-06-11 . 2010-05-02 .
  25. Web site: Apex court halts eviction of Tamils from Colombo . Rediff . 8 June 2007 . 11 July 2021.
  26. News: Ethnic cleansing claim after police move Tamils at gunpoint . The Guardian . London . Randeep . Ramesh . 2007-06-08 . 2010-05-02.
  27. Web site: Sri Lanka: End Expulsion of Tamils from Colombo . Human Rights Watch . 8 June 2007 . 11 July 2021.
  28. News: Sri Lanka court blocks state deportation of Tamils . 2007-06-08 . Reuters . Simon . Gardner.
  29. News: Lanka says sorry to Tamils over expulsion . 3 January 2021 . . . 10 June 2007.
  30. News: BHARATHA . MALLAWARACHI . Court: End Tamil Expulsions in Colombo . 2007-06-08 . AP . Guardian Unlimited . 2007-06-08 . London .
  31. News: Sri Lanka Supreme Court orders to stop evacuation of ethnic Tamils from Colombo lodges . 2007-06-08 . ColomboPage . 2007-06-08 .
  32. News: SC issues Interim Order against forcible transportation of Tamil lodgers . 2007-06-08 . Free Media Movement . LankaeNews . 2007-06-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928084721/http://lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=4239 . 2007-09-28 .
  33. News: Those chased from Colombo yesterday brought back to Colombo today . 2007-06-08 . Free Media Movement . LankaeNews . 2007-06-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928083916/http://lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=4240 . 2007-09-28 .
  34. News: Those chased from Colombo yesterday brought back to Colombo today . 2007-06-08 . Free Media Movement . LankaeNews . 2007-06-08 . si . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070711001310/http://www.lankaenews.com/Sinhala/news.php?id=2496 . 2007-07-11 .
  35. Web site: IndianExpress.com :: Lanka SC halts Tamil eviction . 2007-07-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070727084053/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/33088.html . 2007-07-27 .
  36. News: Vacation of lodgings: President asks IGP for immediate report . 2007-06-09 . The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd . Daily News . 2007-06-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070714175556/http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/06/09/news02.asp . 2007-07-14 .
  37. News: President orders probe . 2007-06-09 . Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. . Daily Mirror . 2007-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070611140342/http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/06/09/front/7.asp . 2007-06-11 . dead .
  38. News: Sri Lanka PM expresses regret . 2007-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070613075530/http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/11/stories/2007061115040100.htm . dead . 2007-06-13 . 2007-06-11 . . Chennai, India.

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