* Human trafficking rings targeting war veterans:
* False promises given to lure ex-Forces members:
* Russian, Sri Lankan authorities in the dark :
MP Dayasiri Jayasekara recently revealed in Parliament about a human trafficking scam that targeted war veterans of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces for recruitment to mercenary forces fighting in the Russia-Ukraine War. MP Jayasekara and MP Gamini Waleboda, who has also made revelations on this issue, were also invited by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to brief the National Security Council (NSC). In an interview with the Sunday Observer, he shed more light on the issue which has created ripples in society.
Q: It has been reported that our citizens, especially war veterans, have been illegally sent to the Russian-Ukrainian war front as mercenaries. What is the latest situation there?
A: We have reports that more than 600 Sri Lankans have travelled to join the Russia-Ukraine war. There has been no contact with Sri Lankan or Russian Governments from this group. The trafficking is done by a group of middlemen. They were not sent to official Russian army units, but to mercenary groups. It is reported that they have spent about Rs.1.8 million to be sent abroad. They have been promised that they will be given Rs.2 million as the salary when they go to the related service and after that they will receive Rs.800,000 per month. Apart from this, they have promised that they will be given land in St. Petersburg and granted Russian citizenship. This is a clear case of human trafficking and there are strict laws and regulations against human traffickers.
Q: On what pretences have these people been deceived?
A: These people were promised that they will be working in Russian military barracks. Instead, they have been sent directly to the war front. So far, many people have been injured. Their lives are at risk. Many are in serious debt with no salary paid.
Q: We heard that a large number of military veterans have been duped by these smugglers?
A: Yes. Army veterans are the ones who have been caught in this. Several veterans said that their monthly salary is just Rs. 50,000. Since there is no way to live from this, you can go and work for a few months and collect a few lakhs of rupees. Also, these people are sent without any consideration for age.
Q: Have you identified the smugglers?
A: A retired Major General and some others have carried out this fraudulent business. It has also been reported that a group of Sri Lankans living in Russia have also been involved in this.
Q: What is the latest status of the people who have gone to the war front?
A: It is not just Sri Lankans; many have joined from different countries. The unit is called the Wagner Mercenary Group. It is said that their tour will last five months. But there is no such situation. The solution to this problem should be found through negotiations with the Russian Government. The Russian Ambassador has called on Sri Lanka for this purpose. The President has ordered to appoint someone who can take responsibility and start talks immediately.
Q: It has been reported that one person had been killed and another injured?
A: So far more than 15 of our citizens have died. Five bodies have been sent back to Sri Lanka. Nothing that happened to the rest has even been reported. At the same time, we have no whereabouts of a large number of people. Among them there are those who unknowingly crossed Russian lines into Ukrainian lines. These people do not even know where they are. It is difficult to provide compensation because they have travelled illegally. Even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not know that these people have gone and how they had gone.
Q: How will the law work for these people?
A: I thank the President for his intervention. I talked about this in Parliament for two straight weeks. These people had continuously contacted me and MP Gamini Waleboda. I gave the information I had to the President and the Defence Secretary. Accordingly, a special Security Council meeting was called last Tuesday where all the information was provided. MP Waleboda and I went too. Now a long investigation is being conducted under a Superintendent of Police of the CID. I specifically request anyone who knows about this to provide him with all relevant information. A special unit has been established for this purpose. The phone number is 011-2441146 and Assistant Superintendent of Police Janakantha’s phone number is 071-8592832. This is a national issue and families are worried.
Q: What is the best way to bring these people back home?
A: Even now, their locations are still untraceable. Maybe they are in Russia or on the Ukrainian border. The people we talked to said that these people went on military operations at night. They could not leave during the day because missiles are being fired. At night they get lost. Some may even have been arrested by now. And now we are receiving huge number of complaints.
Q: What measures are being taken or can be taken for the safety of those who cannot be brought home?
A: Necessary work is still being done in this regard. We are in a situation where we cannot even find out how many people have gone. It is clear that a lot of people are involved.
Q: How can laws be amended so things like this won’t be repeated?
A: An investigation is being launched in connection with those leaving for Russia, with the assistance of the Department of Immigration and Emigration. These people obtained tourist visas and sneaked away. Also, strict measures will be taken in future against Sri Lankans who are involved in human trafficking activities abroad. Human trafficking is a crime against humanity that the civilised world should not tolerate.
Translated by Jonathan Frank
