Troops filmed gloating over Tamil bodies

Further evidence has emerged of the brutal treatment of Tamils by Sri Lankan soldiers during the closing stages of the country's civil war.

Video footage shows soldiers gloating over a pile of more than 100 Tamil corpses, including dozens of women who have been deliberately stripped of their clothes to expose their breasts and genitals.

The videos are part of a growing body of evidence which has emerged over the past two years - much of which was recorded by Sri Lankan soldiers - revealing how many Tamils were tortured, summarily executed and often humiliated after their deaths for the entertainment of their victors.

The latest footage - which was smuggled out of Sri Lanka by a man who used to work at an internet cafe frequented by soldiers - emerged as thousands of angry Tamil demonstrators massed outside the Commonwealth's headquarters in London in protest at a lunch hosted by the Queen, which was attended by Sri Lanka's controversial President, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Angry chants could be heard as the Queen entered Marlborough House off Pall Mall and organisers were forced to cancel a planned speech by Rajapaksa following security concerns.

Tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and Tamil insurgents were killed in the final stages of Sri Lanka's 30-year civil war, which ended in 2009 with the destruction of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam separatist group.

Human rights groups and the UN have produced evidence that both sides committed war crimes during the final stages of the conflict.

But there has been particular criticism aimed at Rajapaksa's government, which has refused to hold any independent inquiry into Sri Lankan Army atrocities despite compelling evidence.

The latest videos reveal how - even after death - Tamils were often treated with contempt by Sinhalese soldiers.

The grainy mobile phone footage shows more than 100 corpses laid out on tarpaulins. Some of the male victims are clad in the striped camouflage worn by the Tamil Tigers but the majority are dressed in civilian clothes.

What is clear, however, is the treatment reserved for bodies of female Tamils. While the majority of men are clothed, almost all the women have been stripped naked or had their breasts and genitals exposed.

Charu Lata Hogg, an expert on Sri Lanka at Chatham House, says the footage fits into a wider pattern of abuse meted out to Tamils.

"There is credible evidence in the public domain which suggests Sri Lankan troops used degrading and humiliating behaviour towards both male and female Tamils, civilians and combatants alike, during the final stages of the conflict."

nzherald.co.nz