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{{Short description|Sri Lankan murder victim}}
{{Infobox Biography {{Infobox person
⚫ | subject_name = Sarathambal funeral
| image_name = Sarathambalfuneral.jpeg | name = Sarathambal funeral
| image = Sarathambalfuneral.jpeg
| image_size = 150px
| image_caption = | image_size = 150px
| caption = Father and 3-year-old daughter during the ] at the ] in Colombo
| date_of_birth = ]
| birth_date = 1970
⚫ | place_of_birth = ], ]
| date_of_death = ], ] | birth_place = ], ]
| death_date = {{death date|1999|12|28|df=y}}
| place_of_death = ], Sri Lanka
⚫ | death_place = ], Sri Lanka
| occupation = Housewife and mother | occupation = Housewife and mother
| parents = Chandrasekara ] | parents = Chandrasekara ]
}} }}
⚫ {{Sri Lankan Conflict}}


'''Sarathambal''' or '''Sarathambal Saravanbavananthatkurukal''' was a ] ] woman who was ] and killed on ] ] and became a an Internationally known incident. <ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/45ee90b46a08ca5a802565fd004e2473/27cd954d0e41f7d1802568a200622e69?OpenDocument '''Sarathambal Saravanbavananthatkurukal''' or better known as '''Sarathambal''' was a ] ] woman who was ] and killed on 28 December 1999. This became an internationally known incident of the ].<ref name="AI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa37/001/2002/en/
⚫ |title= UN press release on Sarathambal case|date =2007-03-28 |format= |work=UNHCR.org }}</ref> of the ]. <ref> {{cite web |url= http://brcslproject.gn.apc.org/slmonitor/december99/sara.html
|title = SRI LANKA: Rape in custody 2002
|title= Sarathambal murder |date =2007-03-27 |format= |work=Sri Lanka Monitor.org }}</ref> <ref name="AI"> {{cite web |url= http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa370012002
|title= SRI LANKA: Rape in custody 2002 |date =2007-02-22 |format= |work=Amnesty.org }}</ref> |date = 2007-02-22
|format =
|work = Amnesty.org
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/45ee90b46a08ca5a802565fd004e2473/27cd954d0e41f7d1802568a200622e69?OpenDocument
⚫ | title = UN press release on Sarathambal case|date =2007-03-28 |format= |work=UNHCR.org }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://brcslproject.gn.apc.org/slmonitor/december99/sara.html
⚫ |title = Sarathambal murder
|date = 2007-03-27
|work = Sri Lanka Monitor.org
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081007102350/http://www.brcslproject.gn.apc.org/slmonitor/December99/sara.html
|archivedate = 2008-10-07
}}</ref>


==Incident== ==Incident==
According to ] report on 28 December 1999, Mrs.Sarathambal Saravanbavananthakurukal, 29, daughter of a local ]<ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.hri.ca/fortherecord2001/documentation/commission/e-cn4-2001-73.htm|title= UN report|date =2007-03-27 |format= |work=HRI.ca}}</ref> was forcibly dragged out from her home, in Pungudutivu, near ] Peninsula, allegedly by ] soldiers. <ref name="AHRC"> {{cite web |url= http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2000/372/ According to ] report on 28 December 1999, Mrs. Sarathambal Saravanbavananthakurukal, 29, daughter of a local ]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hri.ca/fortherecord2001/documentation/commission/e-cn4-2001-73.htm|title= UN report|date =2007-03-27 |work=HRI.ca}}</ref> was forcibly dragged out from her home, in ], near ] Peninsula, allegedly by ] sailors.<ref name=AI/><ref name="AHRC">{{cite web |url= http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2000/372/
|title= SRI LANKA: Systematic Detention,Torture, Rape and Murder as Weapon of War |date =2007-03-27 |format= |work=AHRC.org }}</ref> | title = SRI LANKA: Systematic Detention,Torture, Rape and Murder as Weapon of War |date =2007-03-27 |format= |work=AHRC.org }}</ref>


Her house was situated at about 500m from a navy camp. Her father and brother were tied up allegedly by four security officers dressed in black. Her dead body was found on barren land about 100m away from their home the next day. <ref name="AI"/> According to the ] her house was situated at about 500&nbsp;m from the nearest naval base and her father and brother were tied up allegedly by four security officers dressed in black. Her dead body was found on barren land about 100&nbsp;m away from their home the next day.<ref name="AI"/>


After public protest<ref name="HS"> {{cite web |url= http://www.humiliationstudies.org/documents/GaneshpanchanDomesticViolenceIDPS.pdf|title= Violence against women|date =2007-03-28 |format= |work=Humiliation Studies.org }}</ref>, her body was sent to Colombo for post-mortem by a senior JMO who indicated that the cause of death was "asphyxia due to gagging"; that her underpants had been stuffed inside her mouth; and that "forcible sexual intercourse" had taken place. <ref name="AI"/> After public protest at the village where the incident happened{{cref|Protest}}<ref name="HS">{{cite web |url= http://www.humiliationstudies.org/documents/GaneshpanchanDomesticViolenceIDPS.pdf|title= Violence against women|date =2007-03-28 |format= |work=Humiliation Studies.org }}</ref> and in ] her body was sent to the capital ] for ] by a senior medical officer who indicated that the cause of death was "asphyxia due to gagging; her underpants had been stuffed inside her mouth, and that forcible sexual intercourse had taken place".<ref name="AI"/>


Her funeral was attended by a cross section of Sri Lankan activist from around the nation. ], then Member of Parliament, S.Sivadasan, the then ] Parliamentarian, ], Attorney-at-Law and the Secretary Of the Forum for Human Dignity and ] Of the Movement for Inter Racial, Justice and Equality delivered funeral orations <ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=4506 According to the pro-] ], her funeral was attended by a cross section of Sri Lankan activists from around the nation. ], then ], S.Sivadasan, the then ] Parliamentarian, ], Attorney-at-Law and the Secretary Of the Forum for Human Dignity{{cref|FFHD}} and ] of the Movement for Inter Racial, Justice and Equality{{cref|MIRJE}} delivered funeral orations.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=4506 |title= Sarathambal funeral held|date =2007-03-27 |format= |work=Tamilnet.com}}</ref>
|title= Sarathambal funeral held|date =2007-03-27 |format= |work=Tamilnet.com}}</ref>


==Government investigation== ==Government investigation==
The government under president ] ordered an immediate investigation but In mid-March ], ]. Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women ], who is herself Sri Lankan, emphasized the lack of government response to allegations of sexual violence by security personnel in Sri Lanka. The government under then ] ] ordered an immediate investigation but in mid-March 2000, ] on Violence against Women ], emphasized the lack of government response to allegations of sexual violence by security personnel in Sri Lanka.<ref name="AI"/>


She noted too, that, despite a presidential directive, little effort had been made to investigate the December 1999 gang-rape and murder by naval personnel of twenty-nine-year-old Sarathambal Saravanbavananthatkurukal near Jaffna. <ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.hrw.org/wr2k1/asia/srilanka3.html Furthermore she noted, that, despite a presidential directive, little effort had been made to investigate the December 1999 gang-rape and murder of Sarathambal Saravanbavananthatkurukal.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.hrw.org/wr2k1/asia/srilanka3.html
|title= Sri Lanka country report 2000|date =2007-03-27 |format= |work=HRW.org }}</ref> | title = Sri Lanka country report | year = 2000 | accessdate =2007-03-27 | publisher = Human Rights Watch }}</ref>


Victims father and brother were allegedly threatened not to reveal the identity of the four men who came to the house. According to the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, who had been instructed by the President of Sri Lanka to investigate the rape and murder, the brother had "not been able to identify any of the four persons who came to the house". <ref name="AI"/> ] also allege that the victim's father and brother were allegedly threatened not to reveal the identity of the four men who came to the house. Also Director of the ]'s Criminal Investigation Department, who had been instructed by the President of Sri Lanka to investigate the rape and murder, {{quote|"the brother had not been able to identify any of the four persons who came to the house".<ref name="AI"/>}}


It is alleged by witnesses that the soldiers who raped Sarathambal have been transferred from the area to prevent action being taken against them. <ref name="AHRC"/> Amnesty International further mention that the alleged sailors who raped Sarathambal have been transferred from the area to prevent action being taken against them.<ref name="AI"/>


The ]’s Department informed the Committee of Inquiry into Undue Arrest and Harassment (CIUAH) in late May of ] that there will be no prosecution relating to the Sarathambal rape and murder case, as the police report contained no evidence on the offenders. <ref> {{cite web |url= http://brcslproject.gn.apc.org/slmonitor/May2001/evide.html The ]’s Department informed the Committee of Inquiry into Undue Arrest and Harassment (CIUAH).{{cref|CIUAH}} in late May 2001 that there will be no prosecution relating to the Sarathambal rape and murder case, as the police report contained no evidence on the offenders.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://brcslproject.gn.apc.org/slmonitor/May2001/evide.html | title = Evidence | date = May 2001 | accessdate = 2007-03-28 | work = Sri Lanka monitor | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050519001239/http://brcslproject.gn.apc.org/slmonitor/May2001/evide.html | archive-date = 2005-05-19 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
|title= Sri Lanka monitort:May 2001|date =2007-03-28 |format= |work=Sri Lanka monitor}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
*]
*]
*] *]
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==Notes== ==Notes==
{{ref begin}}
<div class="references-small"> <!-- See ] and ] for an explanation of how to create content notes for this section -->
⚫ *{{cnote|Protest|More than 500 villages staged a demonstration outside the navy camp in northern Sri Lanka to protest the rape and murder of Sarathambal. The protestors carried placards accusing members of the armed forces for carrying out the brutal crime they also told reporters, "We organised this demonstration not just to register our protest against the raping and murder, but this has become a matter for self, respect, not only for women, but also for men. That’s why we staged this demonstration carrying dry palmyrah leaves. We wanted to show the world the undignified manner in which the human beings in these areas are treated-human beings are treated not worth more than a dry palmyrah leaf." They went on to explain that there had been previously many unreported cases of harassment and sexual violence by security forces. According to the village people, whenever women and girls passed through a military barrier or checkpoint they were subjected to various kinds of dirty antics by the army forces.<ref name="HS"/>}}

*{{cnote|FFHD| Forum for Human Dignity was founded by ] lawyer ] and is known for tracking the status of returned failed ] claimants from other countries to Sri Lanka particularly the ].<ref name="BBC">.</ref>}}
⚫ *{{cnote|Protest|More than 500 villages staged a demonstration outside the navy camp in northern Sri Lanka to protest the rape and murder of Sarathambal S. The protestors carried placards accusing members of the armed forces for carrying out the brutal crime they also told reportersWe organised this demonstration not just to register our protest against the raping and murder, but this has become a matter for self, respect, not only for women, but also for men. That’s why we staged this demonstration carrying dry palmyrah leaves. We wanted to show the world the undignified manner in which the human beings in these areas are treated-human beings are treated not worth more than a dry palmyrah leaf”.They went on to explain that there had been previously many unreported cases of harassment and sexual violence by security forces. According to the village people, whenever women and girls passed through a military barrier or checkpoint they were subjected to various kinds of dirty antics by the army forces.<ref name="HS"/>}}
*{{cnote|MIRJE| Movement for Inter-Racial Justice & Equality was founded in Sri Lanka in 1979 . It was the first major majority ] based group calling for ethnic equality. It is currently almost defunct, but is a precursor of all other organizations and groups that have mushroomed in recent years calling for peace and ethnic equality from the People's Peace Front to Sri Lanka First.<ref name="Sunday Observer 2002-01-20">, 2002-01-20.</ref>}}

*{{cnote|CIUAH|The government appointed a new Committee of Inquiry into Undue Arrest and Harassment (CIUAH) in mid-December. The nine-member Committee will again be led by Lakshman Jayakody and include the new Justice minister Batty Weerakoon and other ministers - GL Peiris, SB Dissanayake, ] and ]. The Committee will receive complaints on illegal detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency regulations, delay in cases, harassment by security forces during and after arrest, non-issue of arrest receipts, police registration, holding relatives as hostages and problems faced by people from north-east Sri Lanka.}} *{{cnote|CIUAH|The government appointed a Committee of Inquiry into Undue Arrest and Harassment (CIUAH) in mid-December 2000 . The nine-member Committee was led by the then cabinet minister Lakshman Jayakody and included the then Justice minister Batty Weerakoon and other ministers such as GL Peiris, SB Dissanayake, ] and ]. The Committee was set up to receive complaints on illegal detention under the ] (PTA) and Emergency regulations, delay in cases, harassment by security forces during and after arrest, non-issue of arrest receipts, police registration, holding relatives as hostages and problems faced by people from north-east Sri Lanka.<ref name="UNHCHR report"> Communication No. 186/2001 : Switzerland. 28/11/2003.CAT/C/31/D/186/2001</ref>}}
{{ref end}}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}}
<references />


==External links== ==External links==
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* *{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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⚫ {{Sri Lankan Civil War}}


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Latest revision as of 21:34, 25 October 2024

Sri Lankan murder victim
Sarathambal funeral
Father and 3-year-old daughter during the last rites at the burial grounds in Colombo
Born1970
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Died(1999-12-28)28 December 1999
Pungudutivu, Sri Lanka
Occupation(s)Housewife and mother
ParentChandrasekara Sarma

Sarathambal Saravanbavananthatkurukal or better known as Sarathambal was a minority Sri Lankan Tamil woman who was gang raped and killed on 28 December 1999. This became an internationally known incident of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Incident

According to AHRC report on 28 December 1999, Mrs. Sarathambal Saravanbavananthakurukal, 29, daughter of a local Hindu temple priest was forcibly dragged out from her home, in Pungututheevu, near Jaffna Peninsula, allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy sailors.

According to the Amnesty International her house was situated at about 500 m from the nearest naval base and her father and brother were tied up allegedly by four security officers dressed in black. Her dead body was found on barren land about 100 m away from their home the next day.

After public protest at the village where the incident happened and in Jaffna her body was sent to the capital Colombo for post-mortem by a senior medical officer who indicated that the cause of death was "asphyxia due to gagging; her underpants had been stuffed inside her mouth, and that forcible sexual intercourse had taken place".

According to the pro-LTTE Tamilnet, her funeral was attended by a cross section of Sri Lankan activists from around the nation. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, then Member of Parliament, S.Sivadasan, the then EPDP Parliamentarian, Maheswary Velautham, Attorney-at-Law and the Secretary Of the Forum for Human Dignity and Nimalka Fernando of the Movement for Inter Racial, Justice and Equality delivered funeral orations.

Government investigation

The government under then president Chandrika Kumaratunga ordered an immediate investigation but in mid-March 2000, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women Radhika Coomaraswamy, emphasized the lack of government response to allegations of sexual violence by security personnel in Sri Lanka.

Furthermore she noted, that, despite a presidential directive, little effort had been made to investigate the December 1999 gang-rape and murder of Sarathambal Saravanbavananthatkurukal.

Amnesty International also allege that the victim's father and brother were allegedly threatened not to reveal the identity of the four men who came to the house. Also Director of the Sri Lanka Police's Criminal Investigation Department, who had been instructed by the President of Sri Lanka to investigate the rape and murder,

"the brother had not been able to identify any of the four persons who came to the house".

Amnesty International further mention that the alleged sailors who raped Sarathambal have been transferred from the area to prevent action being taken against them.

The Attorney General’s Department informed the Committee of Inquiry into Undue Arrest and Harassment (CIUAH). in late May 2001 that there will be no prosecution relating to the Sarathambal rape and murder case, as the police report contained no evidence on the offenders.

See also

Notes

  •  Protest: More than 500 villages staged a demonstration outside the navy camp in northern Sri Lanka to protest the rape and murder of Sarathambal. The protestors carried placards accusing members of the armed forces for carrying out the brutal crime they also told reporters, "We organised this demonstration not just to register our protest against the raping and murder, but this has become a matter for self, respect, not only for women, but also for men. That’s why we staged this demonstration carrying dry palmyrah leaves. We wanted to show the world the undignified manner in which the human beings in these areas are treated-human beings are treated not worth more than a dry palmyrah leaf." They went on to explain that there had been previously many unreported cases of harassment and sexual violence by security forces. According to the village people, whenever women and girls passed through a military barrier or checkpoint they were subjected to various kinds of dirty antics by the army forces.
  •  FFHD:  Forum for Human Dignity was founded by Human Rights lawyer Maheswary Velautham and is known for tracking the status of returned failed refugee claimants from other countries to Sri Lanka particularly the West.
  •  MIRJE:  Movement for Inter-Racial Justice & Equality was founded in Sri Lanka in 1979 . It was the first major majority Sinhalese based group calling for ethnic equality. It is currently almost defunct, but is a precursor of all other organizations and groups that have mushroomed in recent years calling for peace and ethnic equality from the People's Peace Front to Sri Lanka First.
  •  CIUAH: The government appointed a Committee of Inquiry into Undue Arrest and Harassment (CIUAH) in mid-December 2000 . The nine-member Committee was led by the then cabinet minister Lakshman Jayakody and included the then Justice minister Batty Weerakoon and other ministers such as GL Peiris, SB Dissanayake, Lakshman Kadirgamar and Douglas Devananda. The Committee was set up to receive complaints on illegal detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency regulations, delay in cases, harassment by security forces during and after arrest, non-issue of arrest receipts, police registration, holding relatives as hostages and problems faced by people from north-east Sri Lanka.

References

  1. ^ "SRI LANKA: Rape in custody 2002". Amnesty.org. 2007-02-22.
  2. "UN press release on Sarathambal case". UNHCR.org. 2007-03-28.
  3. "Sarathambal murder". Sri Lanka Monitor.org. 2007-03-27. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07.
  4. "UN report". HRI.ca. 2007-03-27.
  5. "SRI LANKA: Systematic Detention,Torture, Rape and Murder as Weapon of War". AHRC.org. 2007-03-27.
  6. ^ "Violence against women" (PDF). Humiliation Studies.org. 2007-03-28.
  7. "Sarathambal funeral held". Tamilnet.com. 2007-03-27.
  8. "Sri Lanka country report". Human Rights Watch. 2000. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  9. "Evidence". Sri Lanka monitor. May 2001. Archived from the original on 2005-05-19. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  10. BBC News South Asia.
  11. Sunday Observer, 2002-01-20.
  12. UNHCHR Report Communication No. 186/2001 : Switzerland. 28/11/2003.CAT/C/31/D/186/2001

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