Download the full report - Human Rights Watch
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Name: JV<br />
Gender: Male<br />
Age: 28<br />
Date Detained: April 2011<br />
Date Released: Cannot recall<br />
Circumstances of detention: JV, a resident of Trincomalee, had a cousin who worked in <strong>the</strong> media<br />
wing of <strong>the</strong> LTTE. In 2007, JV’s cousin asked him to carry some documents to Chennai when he was<br />
on a pilgrimage to India. JV’s cousin asked him to carry papers again in January 2008, January 2009,<br />
and September 2009. JV’s family sent him to <strong>the</strong> UK to study in 2010. However, his mo<strong>the</strong>r fell ill<br />
and had to be hospitalized in Colombo, forcing him to return to Sri Lanka in April 2011. In his<br />
medical interview, JV said <strong>the</strong> CID took him aside for questioning soon after his arrival in Colombo<br />
from <strong>the</strong> UK.<br />
Account:<br />
JV said <strong>the</strong> CID accused him of participating in anti-government demonstrations in London. He denied<br />
<strong>the</strong> charge and was released. The following day CID officials came to <strong>the</strong> place he was staying in<br />
Colombo and arrested him. They told him <strong>the</strong>y had proof of his involvement with <strong>the</strong> LTTE and<br />
photographs of him with Seeman [Indian Tamil activist], founder of <strong>the</strong> Naam Tamilar Iyakkam in<br />
India. JV confessed to taking papers to India, but denied involvement in any activities with <strong>the</strong> LTTE.<br />
His medical records, made available to <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>Watch</strong> with his permission, include<br />
transcripts in which JV describes various forms of torture. He told doctors he was hung by his wrists<br />
with his feet above <strong>the</strong> floor while he was interrogated, and beaten all over with batons. He said his<br />
interrogators deliberately beat him in areas where his skin broke because of <strong>the</strong> beating. He was<br />
returned to a small and dark cell after hours of beating and rarely given food and drink.<br />
JV said he was anally raped several times by interrogating officers during questioning.<br />
After about eight days he was taken to a court where he could not understand <strong>the</strong> proceedings as <strong>the</strong>y<br />
were conducted in Sinhala. He was released at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> proceedings and taken to hospital<br />
where <strong>the</strong> worst wounds were sutured and o<strong>the</strong>rs dressed. During his medical interview he revealed<br />
that he later learned that his fa<strong>the</strong>r and uncle bribed officials in <strong>the</strong> CID to secure his release. 117<br />
117<br />
Medical personnel interview with JV, January 30, 2012, contained in a medico legal <strong>report</strong> prepared for <strong>the</strong> UK<br />
courts in support of an asylum claim.<br />
“WE WILL TEACH YOU A LESSON” 66