SRI LANKA Murugesupillai Koneswary (35)

Murugesupillai Koneswary, a mother of four children, was killed at her home in 11th Colony village by a grenade being thrown at her genitals on the evening of 17 May. Reportedly only her two-year-old child was present when the attackers entered her house. Her husband and three older children were not at home. Circumstantial evidence suggests that she may have been raped prior to being killed and that the perpetrators may have been one or more police officers attached to the nearby Central Camp police station, on the border between Batticaloa and Amparai districts.

Neighbours say they heard screams from the house, and shortly afterwards they heard an explosion. When they tried to go to Murugesupillai Koneswary's home, they heard shooting and rushed back indoors so they did not actually see the perpetrators. However, because this area is under the control of the police, observers claim that it is unlikely that there could have been any other people with arms in the area at that time.

Local people believe that the perpetrators may have thrown the hand grenade near her genitals in order to cover up the evidence of rape.

The husband of Murugesupillai Koneswary, who discovered her body, made a complaint at Central Camp police station. Some police officers then took her body to the hospital at Kalmunai. However, no medical examination was carried out. It is not clear why no examination took place. Some reports suggest that the police, who also advised the relatives to dispose of the body, may have pressurized the hospital authorities.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In the context of the armed conflict between the security forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the main armed opposition group fighting for a separate state in the north and east of Sri Lanka, there have been continuing reports of arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, including rape, "disappearances" and extrajudicial executions.

In September 1996, the rape and death of an 18-year-old student who "disappeared" after she was stopped at a sentry point at Kaithady, Jaffna district, created widespread public protest in Sri Lanka. Her mother, brother and neighbour had gone missing on the same day after they made inquiries at the sentry point. Their bodies were found approximately 6 weeks later. Post-mortem investigations found evidence of rape on the girl's body. Amid public outcry, eleven members of the security forces were arrested in connection with this case and legal action against them is pending.

However, in less prominent cases reported from other parts of the north and east, such as several cases reported from Batticaloa district in early 1997, initial investigations have not resulted in any effective legal action against the alleged perpetrators. In those exceptional cases where perpetrators have been brought to trial, victims of rape have failed to appear in court because of fear for their lives.

Although the preliminary judicial inquiry against four soldiers allegedly responsible for the rape of Velan Rasamma and her sister, Velan Vasantha in March 1997 in the same district is proceeding, observers doubt whether they will be brought to justice. The soldiers have been released on bail. (For more information, see UA 82/97, AI Index: ASA 39/09/97 of 21 March 1997 and follow-up UA ASA 37/12/97 of 21 May 1997.)