Download the full report - Human Rights Watch
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Name: LP<br />
Gender: Male<br />
Age: 20<br />
Date Detained: March 2010<br />
Date Released: March 2010<br />
Circumstances of detention: In early March 2010, LP was walking back to his parents’ house in<br />
Vavuniya when he was stopped by a group of four or five soldiers, including some in civilian<br />
clo<strong>the</strong>s, who were traveling in a white van. LP told <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>Watch</strong> that <strong>the</strong> officials asked him<br />
to get into <strong>the</strong> van. LP said when he refused, he was dragged into <strong>the</strong> van and pushed face-down at<br />
<strong>the</strong> back of <strong>the</strong> van.<br />
Account:<br />
I was taken to Joseph Camp. Once we got <strong>the</strong>re, <strong>the</strong> officials took my ID away, photographed<br />
me, and recorded my details. I was blindfolded and taken in <strong>the</strong> van to ano<strong>the</strong>r location where I<br />
was kept in a dark room. An official came to my room and advised me to admit my role with <strong>the</strong><br />
LTTE. I refused. It was only after I refused that <strong>the</strong>y started first beating and <strong>the</strong>n torturing me. I<br />
was not given any food or water <strong>the</strong> first day. The second day I was taken to a different room.<br />
The officials questioned me and severely tortured me. They kicked my knees and hung me<br />
upside down and beat me. They forced a petrol-infused plastic bag on my head and tried to<br />
asphyxiate me and burned me with cigarette butts. I was kept in my underwear during my entire<br />
detention. During interrogation, I was stripped naked. At one point, one of <strong>the</strong> interrogators<br />
squeezed my penis very hard and I was in unbearable pain. I was raped at night. Different<br />
people came to rape me ei<strong>the</strong>r singly or in groups of two. One of <strong>the</strong>m held me down, while <strong>the</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r raped me. Those who attacked me wore civilian clo<strong>the</strong>s. They spoke Sinhala but swore at<br />
me in Tamil. The guards threw some bread or a food packet into my cell once a day. At times <strong>the</strong><br />
guards spat on my food before <strong>the</strong>y gave it to me. I could not eat because of <strong>the</strong> torture. I had<br />
injuries on my hands and my lips were battered and swollen. 131<br />
LP was detained for 15 days and made to sign a confession in Sinhala prior to his release. He was<br />
released in March 2010 after his family managed to bribe Sri Lankan army officials.<br />
131 <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> <strong>Watch</strong> interview with LP, December 10, 2011.<br />
“WE WILL TEACH YOU A LESSON” 80