Responding to reports that former LTTE cadres were joining the JVP, the Sri Lankan Army has warned them not to join groups that look to “overthrow the government in an uprising” and reiterated that they would be closely monitored.
Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Chandana Rajaguru confirmed that former cadres were being watched but on the issue of tem joining the JVP commented,
“Our people who are monitoring these people have not reported their joining this group.”
His warning came as Sri Lanka declared that at least 4 “rehabilitation centres”, where former cadres were sent, would remain open, because as Rehabilitation Ministry Secretary A Dissanayake said,
“From time to time, we receive ex-combatants for rehabilitation”
In addition to the publicised “rehabilitation centres”, there is also evidence of secret detention centres dotted around the North East, where the Sri Lankan Army and paramilitary groups would torture and kill suspects.
The decision to keep the centres open comes as courts passed a ruling last week, which said they had no authority to decide on the time limit that a suspect had to spend in “rehabilitation”. Instead, it would be up to the rehabilitation authorities to decide.
See our earlier piece: Criminalising a nation (11 Jan 2012)
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