As reported previously (see here and here) the Sri Lankan government’s victory over the Tamil Tigers insurgency did not lead to peace but led to the consolidation of the Government’s autocracy. One of the tactics used to suppress dissent was the use of white vans to abduct people off the streets. Some of these people were later found killed, others simply disappeared. A recent investigative report has found that the Australian government helped to equip the Sri Lankan security apparatus in exchange for cooperation in returning asylum seekers.
As reported previously (see here and here) the Sri Lankan government’s victory over the Tamil Tigers insurgency did not lead to peace but led to the consolidation of the Government’s autocracy. One of the tactics used to suppress dissent was the use of white vans to abduct people off the streets. Some of these people were later found killed, others simply disappeared. A recent investigative report has found that the Australian government helped to equip the Sri Lankan security apparatus in exchange for cooperation in returning asylum seekers.
