Sri Lanka- STF members acquitted over Trinco 5 murder

(MENAFN- Colombo Gazette) The Special Task Force (STF) members accused over the murder of five youth in Trincomalee in 2006 were today acquitted in the case.

Trincomalee Chief Magistrate, M. Hansa acquitted 13 Special Task Force members who were suspected of executing five youth at the Trincomalee beach in 2006.

Fifteen charges were filed against the suspects but they were released due to lack of evidence.

Popularly known as the 'Trinco 5' case, the murder of the five youth became a high profile case which was raised by international human rights groups and the UN Human Rights Council.

Amnesty International has been campaigning for justice for the Tamil students.

The parents of all five boys fled overseas after facing death threats when they pushed for answers over the murders of their children.

Dr. Kasippillai Manoharan, the father of one of the students killed, has been leading a campaign seeking justice.

Last year Amnesty noted that despite police investigations and a Presidential commission of inquiry, no one has been held accountable for these crimes. (Colombo Gazette)

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