To face war crimes charges
LTTE renegade commander Karuna Amman, who was sentenced to nine months in a British prison after being charged with having entered the country on false travel documents, has been allegedly tortured in the prison, The Nation learns.
Reports reaching Colombo said that Karuna was sent to a maximum security prison as a political prisoner and was to be housed with other Tamil inmates who had been charged with other crimes.
It is said that fellow Tamil inmates had either poured hot water on the former rebel leader or assaulted him with a weapon, compelling the authorities to provide him medical treatment.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Karuna Amman after serving his nine month sentence in a British prison would face charges for war crimes.
Human rights activists told The Nation that once the nine months are completed, it was unlikely that Karuna would actually be deported to Sri Lanka, because several international human rights organizations in the likes of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are campaigning for the prosecution of Karuna for committing serious human rights violations, including war crimes.
“It is possibile that these organisations would pressure the British authorities to file a case against Karuna, whilst he is in prison.
UK prison If he is found guilty of the charges leveled against him, which includes killings, abductions, torture and child soldier recruitment, he could be locked up again, as soon as he is released, ,” the activists noted.
Meanwhile, Karuna’s legal representative, David Philips, told the BBC after the judgment that the LTTE renegade leader might apply for political asylum, after serving the prison sentence.
“He hasn’t applied for asylum because until the sentencing takes place for a criminal case, no immigration officer will ever entertain an application,” he said.
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