Torture in Sri Lanka - ‘Many times I would lose consciousness’

In Sri Lanka, people seen to be critical of the authorities can be detained for years without access to the outside world.

26 June 2013

Thevan (not his real name) has flashbacks of the impossible days he spent being tortured in a police cell in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo.

These flashbacks force him to relive a story so harrowing that even he sometimes struggles to believe it happened to him.

“

I was blindfolded and with my hands tied behind my back. Sometimes our heads were banged against the wall or we would be kicked on our chests. Many times I was half conscious or would lose consciousness. When I would come back I would find people hitting me. They used to say: ‘You must accept that you are part of the Tamil Tigers and you must sign these papers’.

”

Sri Lankan torture survivor.

“

Thevan’s story clearly shows how poorly the legal system functions in Sri Lanka. The fact that there was no charge against him, that he was repeatedly tortured, and had no idea if was going to be held in prison for a day or two, five months or 30 years, shows exactly what is wrong with the system.

”

Polly Truscott, Deputy Asia-Pacific Director at Amnesty Internationa

Torture in Sri Lanka ‘Many times I would lose consciousness’ by nelvely