Sri Lanka: Update to Response to Information Requests LKA27504.E, LKA20885.E, LKA15605.E and LKA20638.E regarding the current treatment of Muslims who are of Tamil ethnic origin by the LTTE and the Sri Lankan army in the eastern region of Sri Lanka, particularly the Batticaloa region, and on whether the LTTE extort money from Muslim and Tamil businessmen

The following information was provided during a 30 June 1998 telephone interview with a researcher with the British Refugee Council in London.

The researcher indicated that three years ago the LTTE bombed two mosques in the eastern region. Although the situation is still tense, the situation improved significantly a few months ago when discussions were held between the Muslim community and the LTTE. The researcher was of the opinion that the assassination of a Muslim policeman (see below) in a mosque would not derail the newly opened dialogue between the two groups. Relations between the Muslim community and the army are good.

The researcher added that extortion of money from Muslim and Tamil business people is common. Members of the Sri Lankan army and the government do not hold the belief that Muslims of Tamil heritage are siding with and spying for the LTTE. Muslims of Tamil origin would be safe to resettle in Colombo and they would not face human rights abuses at the hands of the army or the police. The researcher did not have information on "lamppost killing" of businessmen who refuse to pay extortion money to the LTTE.

Tensions between the Muslim Tamil community have increased since 1990 when "suspected LTTE gunmen" massacred 123 Muslims at prayer, following the forced displacement of over 100,000 Muslims by the Tigers (AFP 21 June 1995). In February 1997, Tamils and Muslims fought for several days following the killing of a Muslim paramilitary guard (AP 11 Feb. 1997).

In May 1998,

in a series of incidents, LTTE terrorists have begun to attack places of religious worship of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka with two attacks on Mosques in Kalmunai and Akkaraipattu... (19 May 1998).

On 14 May 1998, the day of the attack in Akkaraipattu, a Muslim reserve policeman was killed while praying in the Mosque (ibid.; The Hindu 18 May 1998; Sri Lankan Monitor May 1998, 3).

In an article written from the Batticoloa district in August 1997 John D. Cramer quotes a local man on the extortion tactics employed by the Tigers against residents. He does not indicate whether the victims are Muslim or not:

The Tigers come and extort money, and if you refuse, you are in trouble. They are caught in the middle. They are detained, tortured, killed by both sides because each thinks they support the other (3 Aug. 1997).

Cramer provides other examples of extortion by the Tigers although he does not identify the victims as Muslims nor as businessmen.

Cramer also indicates that many Tamils give money willingly to the rebellion:

In nearby villages, many Tamil civilians, living in dirt floor shacks without electricity or running water, wearing threadbare rags and riding dilapidated bicycles and ox carts, say they willingly give money, food and other supplies to the rebels, who are neatly dressed, disciplined and well-fed and ride expensive motorcycles up and down the dirt roads. "They ask politely, lovingly, for what we can give," an old woman said. "The rich Tamils do not support the Tigers, but the poor do, and these Tiger boys and girls are only trying to get us what is rightfully ours" (ibid.).

According to News India, extortion by the LTTE is both a national and an international operation:

... a large majority of Tamil businessmen in Sri Lanka and overseas had handed over money to the LTTE, either voluntarily or by force. "It's mandatory," he said. "It's not only in Sri Lanka, it happens in Canada, France, in England. In Dubai, Tamils have to buy tickets to prove their contributions. He said Tamil businessmen in Sri Lanka were issued receipts for their donations which had to be sent to relatives in the rebel-held northern Jaffna peninsula to be shown to the Tigers...The Tigers...levy their own taxes, but much of their financing comes from sympathizers living overseas (1 Sept. 1995).

In its May 1998 issue The Sri Lanka Monitor reports that the extortion of money by the LTTE also occurs in the Batticoloa district

The civilian population continues to live under pressure from the Tigers and the military. Sources say that the LTTE continues to demand 'taxes' from civilians in areas it controls and in parts of Army-held territory, in some instances even from old people without any income. Five civilians were injured when a 'tax collector' threw a hand grenade at a crowd chasing him in Batticoloa town on 10 May.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 21 June 1995. Narayan Swamy. "Sri Lanka Moslems Live Under Shadow of Death." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 11 February 1997. Niresh Eliatamby. "Tamil Rebels Overrun Police Post Killing 15 Policemen." (NEXIS)

British Refugee Council, London. 30 June 1998. Telephone interview.

Newsday [Nassau]. 3 August 1997. Nassau and Suffolk Edition. John D. Cramer. "In the Fight of Their Lives Sri Lankans Endure 14 Years of Civil War." (NEXIS)

News India. 1 September 1995. "Police Bust Tamil Tigers' Money Hub." (NEXIS)

The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. May 1998. "Murder in the Mosque." Copy faxed to the Research Directorate by the British Refugee Council.

The Sri Lankan News Update [Colombo]. 19 May 1998. "LTTE Target Muslim Mosques in Akkaraipattu and Kalmunai." Internet:

< http://www.lanka.net/directory/lankaupdate/19_may_98 > [Accessed 30 June 1998]