Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission probing rehabilitation centre mass escape
ECONOMYNEXT – The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is investigating the escape of nearly 700 detainees at the Kandakauwa Drug Rehabilitation Center in Polonnaruwa, on Wednesday (29) June, an official said.
HRCSL Acting Director Sulari Liyanagama told EconomyNext on Friday July 01 that the investigation was launched on the day of the incident, and that the HRCSL officers and Regional Coordinator from Anuradhapura had visited the facility on Thursday June 31.
“We will give our recommendations based on our independent investigation,” said Liyanage.
The Police Media Division said around 600 escapees were arrested by Thursday (30) June. The rehabilitation centre houses 998 detainees at the time, police sources confirmed.
The escape took place during an investigation by the Welikanda police regarding the suspicious death of one of the inmates.
The Centre is guarded by the Sri Lankan Army, a media release from the military stated.
Footage aired on the privately owned NewsFirst network showed escapees begging not to be sent back to the Centre.
“We are suffering, send us to prison. If the family hadn’t called, they would have killed us,” an alleged victim featured in the footage said.
“We were sent here to be reformed. But they are not treating us. They are killing us,” another man was heard saying.
The video also showed a man claiming to have been assaulted at the centre and was then denied medical attention.
“They told me to go home and get medicine.”
The escape and the video footage regarding it has renewed conversation surrounding Sri Lanka’s handling of people with substance abuse issues, a marginalised community who activists say do not receive the support necessary to overcome their addictions and reintegrate into society.
Former Human Rights Commissioner Ambika Satkunanathan said in a tweet on Wednesday June 29 that the video validates her findings from a year ago.
“They beg to even be sent to prison but not back to Kandakadu. Imagine the conditions if they’re begging to be sent to prison,” she said.
6/In
video, ppl held at Kandakadu say they were beaten, refused medical treatment etc, which validates my findings 1 yr ago. They beg to even be sent to prison but not back to Kandakadu. Imagine the conditions if they’re begging to be sent to prison. https://t.co/5c8odckwok
— Ambika Satkunanathan (@ambikasat) June 29, 2022
The centre faces criticism from activists for its military involvement, alleged mistreatment of detainees and compulsory rehab concept, which is regarded as a Human Rights violation by organisations like the United Nations.
The UN called for closure of compulsory rehab centres as far back as 2012. Activists say that the “military style” treatment of the patients in such centres are not backed by medical evidence.
Rehabilitation Centres like Kandakadu fall under the purview of the Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation in Sri Lanka. The top officials of the Bureau are all Army officials, and activists are calling for systemic demilitarisation of treatment institutions.
The International Standards for Drug Abuse Disorders published by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime states that treatment for substance abuse disorders must be based on respect for human rights and dignity, avoiding “punitive, humiliating or degrading interventions.”
Satkunanathan tweeted that laws allowing compulsory rehabilitation should be repealed and any treatment should be voluntary, health, human rights and community based and also include post-treatment support.
“Another [example] of corrosive impact of militarisation that reiterates urgent need for demilitarisation,” she said.
5/Laws allowing compulsory rehab shld be repealed & any treatment shld be voluntary, health & HR & community based & incl post-treatment support. Another eg of corrosive impact of militarization that reiterates urgent need for demilitarization. @SingerHanaa @mbachelet @OHCHRAsia pic.twitter.com/GEyiSj6bY2
— Ambika Satkunanathan (@ambikasat) June 29, 2022
Police Media said on Thursday that the postmortem of the deceased detainee had not yet been conducted.
According to a media release, Welikanda police are collaborating with the Sri Lanka Army to arrest the remaining escapees. (Colombo/Jun30/2022)
