Executive Director of the Center for Human Rights and Research (CHR) Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon stated that the September 26, Rohingya refugee incident was an elaborate scheme to mask the shocking rape of one of the Rohingya refugees by a Sri Lankan law enforcement officer.
In a media release that was circulated yesterday (2), the CHR reported that a court case was lodged against a Police Officer who had allegedly abducted and raped a Rohingya refugee who was under the protection of the Lankan immigration authorities after she was returning from the hospital in August.
The CHR states that the Policeman, who was off duty at the time, abducted the Rohingya refugee from the hospital posing as her escort who was supposed to accompany her back to the UNHRC safe house in Mirihana. Thereafter he had tied the woman and raped her for an entire night at a private residance, before dumping her in front of the hospital where she was found by local authorities.
It was further reported that neither UN officials nor Legal officers were provided an opportunity to converse with the abused woman after the incident was reported to the Police.
Following the court case that was filed before the Nugegoda court, the Mirihana Police have suspended the suspects working titles and remanded him after he was branded as the perpetrator, after the Rohingya refugee and her brother-in-law positively identified him.
During the tense situation that ensued before the safe house where the Myanmar refugees were residing in on September 26, the CHR stated that several family members and well wishers of the remanded Police Officer were present at the protest. The CHR reported that they are of the belief that parties aligned with the Policeman were the main instigators of the Mount Lavinia incident in an attempt to deport the chief witnesses of the rape trial.
Keerthi Tennakoon further stated that the main individuals behind the radical protests should not be allowed to shift the focus off the allegedly guilty Policeman and his heinous crimes. He stated that the government should ensure that the credibility of the country is maintained by providing justice to the refugee who was allegedly raped.
The CHR emphasized the poignancy of the trial that is currently being heard stating that, the authorities should not allow the radical activists to deport the key witnesses who were wronged by the Policeman.
“The Police apprehended a few people who were involved in the incident yet, the main suspects who caused the event to cover for the Police Officer who raped one of the refugees are still at large. Immigration, UN Officials and the Police are working to detain the perpetrators. The unfortunate incident that took place on September 26, must not act as a shield to pivot focus off the rape trial” Keerthi Tennakoon said in his media release.
