Special Task Force (Sri Lanka)

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Revision as of 17:15, 17 October 2006 by Snowolfd4 (talk | contribs) (rv POV/ blanking)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) This article is about the Sri Lankan Counter-Terrorist force. For the Indian Special Task Force, see Special Task Force (India).

Special Task Force
Active	1983 - present
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lankan Police
Type	Special Forces
Role	Counter Terrorism Counter insurgency
Size	approx. 6000 personal
Nickname(s)	STF
Engagements	Sri Lankan civil war

Military unit

The Special Task Force (STF) was formed in 1983 to operate as a Counter-Terrorist force in Sri Lanka, not as a military force but rather a highly-specialised police unit. It heads the Counter-Terrorist missions and – as the most highly trained police organisation in Sri Lanka– The STF would be the lead unit whenever law enforcement forces engaged the Tamil Tigers. The STF has been stationed in the Eastern Province in Sri Lanka where the LTTE organisation is active. Other units are based in Colombo and they are used as VIP security. They have received training from former British SAS as well as the security forces of Pakistan. The Special Task force has come under critisism for the tactics it employs to counter the LTTE and has been attributed to incidents of abusing human rights and the "arbitary or unlawful depreivation of life".

History

Following the insurrection in Sri Lanka in 1971, in which many Police Stations were targeted by the insurgents, there were suggestions to train and equip the Police for duties above normal Police functions. However nothing was done until 1983 when the outbreak of violence convinced the government to form a special Counter Terrorist and Counter Insurgency police force called the Special Task Force.

Formation

When the Special Task Force (STF) was formed in 1983, it comprised mainly of existing policemen. Trained by the Sri Lankan Army in the handling of Infantry weapons and were given basic training in Jungle warfare, They deeply resemble a para-military organisation. The first platoons formed were deployed in the North of Sri Lanka to provide additional support for Police Stations and to stem the LTTE sepratists.

The STF was enhanced considerably in 1983 when crack former British Special Air Service (SAS) teams were brought in to provide specialized training in all aspects of counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations.

Operations

By 1987, heavily involved in the civil war, the STF was in control of the area from Kiran to Potuvil in the Batticaloa Division. The STF was deployed in Company formation into 15 separate camps. When the Indian Peace Keeping Force was moved into the Batticaloa in 1987 as part of the ongoing peace process, the STF was in complete control of Batticoloa, and had restored a level of normalcy to the area. From 1983 to 1987 when the STF was in control over Batticoloa not a single STF camp had come under attack from the LTTE .

Each year, thousands of Tamil people, including scores of possible prisoners of conscience, have been arrested particularly in the north and east of the country and in the capital, Colombo, on suspicion of being members or sympathizers of the LTTE, the main armed opposition group fighting for an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Amnesty International has cited a pattern of torture, rape and murder of prisoners and civilians alike cumilating in a widespread abuse of human rights, crimes being commited and instigated by the Sri Lankan Army and the Special Task Force

The Batticaloa massacre, also known as Sathurukondan massacre, was an infamous massacre of 180-4 refugees, including infants, from 3 villages close to Batticaloa by the Sri Lankan Army inclusing Special Task Force personnel operating in the area on September 9, 1990.

On Monday, 18 September 2006, members of the Special Task Force allgedly murdered 10 unarmed Muslim civilians in the Eastern town of Pottuvil. All the men were aged between 19-35 and were in the area to repair a broken irrigation system, three of the men were decapitated and the others shot or hacked to death. Though the STF has accused the LTTE of the murders, observers and locals have accused the STF. Reports have also indicated that there has been friction between the STF and the Muslim community leading to the attack and the comunity has requested that the division be transferrer pending investigation .The accusation that the LTTE was responsible for the murders has also been deemed implausable due to the area in which it occurered, as one local state "We don't blame anyone else,The LTTE can't come into this area. It is completely controlled by the STF. Without the STF's knowledge, no one can come into this area." + In late 2003, Special Task Forces of Oorani of the Poththuvil Division, were found to be using intimidation to force native Tamils off their land so that it could be utilised by the STF. The matter was taken up in court and in parliament but remains open ended.

However in an interview, the sole survivor of the attack, F.I. Meera Mohideen, blamed the LTTE for the attack. He said "...a group of persons in black trousers talking in Tamil came to us and in a rough tone told that we were wanted by their Chief and we would be produced before the Chief. We were blind folded two at a time and taken away... This group of persons were wearing T shirts similar to the ones worn by Tiger terrorists. They spoke fluent Tamil. I can definitely say that they were Tiger terrorists". Link to Video

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