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| Sunday, 22 February 2004 |
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SLHRC to expedite investigations into police brutality by Ranjith Premadasa In the wake of rising incidents of human rights violations by police and prison personnel, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has decided to expedite its investigative procedure and commence inquiries into incidents of deaths while in police custody, torture and other forms of brutality, within 24 hours of the violation being reported. The Commission had received 7,986 complaints of police brutality in 2003 and 872 for the first two months of 2004. Nimal G. Punchihewa, Director, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka said that complaints of torture and inhuman treatment while in police custody should be addressed to the Commission within an year of the incident. "Complaints received later than one year will be entertained only on exceptional grounds," he said. He also said that assaults, deaths and attacks on places of religious worship spotlighted by the media would be investigated even in the absence of any complaints by any party. Punchihewa identified delays in receiving medical reports on the alleged incidents of torture and death while in police custody to be a serious handicap to investigations into complaints of human rights violations, especially by the police. Victims of torture, or the next of kin of those killed while in police custody have been invited to contact the Commission at any time of the day to lodge in their complaints. Despite the paucity of resources, the Commission will do its utmost to initiate prompt inquiries into public complaints, Punchihewa assured. |
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