Victims of Sri Lankan conflict arriving with increasingly severe scars
People fleeing the violent conflict in Sri Lanka are presenting with increasingly pronounced scars as a result of torture, with a significant number having been persecuted in ways not previously seen by doctors at the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.
As an increasing number of Sri Lankans come under attack in the current wave of conflict sweeping the country, trapping thousands of civilians in conflict zones where they remain at risk from both the military and Tamil Tiger separatists, doctors at the MF say that those they have seen who are already seeking protection in the UK are unquestionably victims of torture.
Dr John Joyce, who has worked with clients at the MF for ten years, said: "While we have historically seen a number of Sri Lankan torture victims each year, it is worrying that the severity of the torture methods now being used is increasing, with highly visible scars now becoming a common pattern."
Evidence based on the cases of torture survivors referred to the MF in recent months suggests that torture and persecution remains a constant threat.
In the case of one man recently examined by doctors, his wounds were so severe when he arrived in the UK in August 2008 that he was admitted to a burns unit before being referred for an examination at the MF.
Documenting his case, doctors found that he had been burned on one of his shoulders leaving a clear scar in the shape of the number 101. The 22-year-old Tamil, who had been detained by the Sri Lankan army, also had 13 other scars as a result of his torture. While held in Colombo, he had also suffered sexual abuse and was burnt on his thighs with a heated metal object.
In another case, a 24-year-old Tamil who was detained by the Sri Lankan Army in February 2008 was left with almost 30 scars, all consistent with the his account of having been burnt with a heated metal bar and with cigarettes, and as a result of being beaten with a bamboo cane.
A heated metal object was used to inflict pain on yet another victim who was tortured by the authorities after he escaped from the LTTE. Documenting his testimony, doctors at the MF discovered that he had been beaten with sticks, suffered 'falaka' (beatings on the soles of the feet), and was burnt on his back and legs with a heated iron bar.
In other notable cases, people were burned on the legs, on the back and on the wrists. A number reported being beaten unconscious, with one presenting with symptoms of epilepsy. Many of the clients were scarred on various parts of their bodies as a result of being burnt with cigarettes. Sexual abuse and rape was also common.
The patterns emerging from the Sri Lankan clients examined in the past year echo a persistent trend in the number of survivors seeking help with the MF and in the symptoms they are presenting with. In 2008, the MF received 187 referrals of Sri Lankan men and women, which represents a marked increased compared with 137 referrals in 2007 and 80 in 2006.