Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you about the disappearance of a 49 year-old welder named Weligoda Ananda from his home at ‘Sevana’ (house) Induragara, at Dunagaha in the District of Gampaha, Western Province on 8 November 2006. Mr. Ananda was arrested by police without knowing the charges filed against him and has since been held in secret detention, with his whereabouts remaining unknown.
CASE DETAILS:
At 11:30am on 8 November 2006, Mr. Ananda’s home was raided by 10 plain cloths police officers from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Peliyagoda and Divulapitiya detachments. The victim was immediately handcuffed, while his wife Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Indra Kanthi, his child and his mother-in-law were forced to leave the room and go upstairs. Mr. Ananda’s family then heard him being tortured by the police over information regarding a telephone number.
When the police removed Mr. Ananda from his house for questioning, Indra Kanthi pleaded with the officers as for the reason of arrest and where her husband was being taken. Since the police did not reply, Indra Kanthi went to all the local police stations as to inquire about her husband’s whereabouts including Divulapitiya, Negombo, Peliyagoda, Police Headquarters and the CID offices. She has yet to receive any information on her husbands abduction.
Indra Kanthi eventually received a telephone call from her husband saying that he was safe and that the police were treating him well and that he would be home soon. On November 15, she received another message from her husband via an unknown messenger. While on November 16, the Divulapitiya Police finally agreed to enter a complaint and went to Indra Kanthis residence to take a statement the following day.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
This is the second time Mr. Ananda has been arrested by the police since 2005. The earlier arrest came after it was believed Mr. Ananda was involved in the murder of provincial council member Mr. Sunil Mendis of Ragama, Western Province. Mr. Anandas mobile phone was found at the scene of the crime. Although not charged with the murder, Mr. Ananda is accused of being an accomplice and was awarded bail on 2 September 2005.
The AHRC condemns this illegal arrest and demands that Mr. Ananda is immediately released since he has been held at an unknown location for over two weeks without being brought before a magistrate. We also urge the Sri Lankan government to investigate the police officers involved in this abduction. This is another example of the Sri Lankan police abusing their powers and violating the laws of the country. Secret detention is illegal and those responsible must be held accountable.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant authorities listed below calling for the immediate release of Mr. Ananda. The AHRC also urges you to express your concern over the Sri Lankan police’s continued use of illegal detention and abuse of power.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ________,
SRI LANKA: Man illegally arrested and held in secret detention by police
Name of the victim: Weligoda Ananda, 49 year-old welder
Alleged perpetrators: Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Peliyagoda and Divulapitiya police detachments
Place of illegal arrest: The victim’s house at ‘Sevana’ (house) Induragara, at Dunagaha in the District of Gampaha, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Period of illegal arrest and detention: from 8 November 2006 to date
I am writing to express my concern over the disappearance of a 49 year-old welder named Weligoda Ananda from his home at ‘Sevana’ (house) Induragara, at Dunagaha in the District of Gampaha, Western Province on 8 November 2006. I have learned that Mr. Ananda was arrested by police without knowing the charges filed against him and has since been held in secret detention, with his whereabouts remaining unknown.
According to the information I have received, at 11:30am on 8 November 2006, Mr. Ananda’s home was raided by 10 plain cloths police officers from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Peliyagoda and Divulapitiya detachments. The victim was immediately handcuffed, while his wife Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Indra Kanthi, his child and his mother-in-law were forced to leave the room and go upstairs. Mr. Anandas family then heard him being tortured by the police over information regarding a telephone number.
When the police removed Mr. Ananda from his house for questioning, Indra Kanthi pleaded with the officers as for the reason of arrest and where her husband was being taken. Since the police did not reply, Indra Kanthi went to all the local police stations as to inquire about her husbands whereabouts including Divulapitiya, Negombo, Peliyagoda, Police Headquarters and the CID offices. She has yet to receive any information on her husbands abduction.
I have learned that Indra Kanthi eventually did received a telephone call from her husband saying that he was safe and that the police were treating him well and that he would be home soon. Also on November 15, she received another message from her husband via an unknown messenger. While on November 16, the Divulapitiya Police finally agreed to enter a complaint and went to Indra Kanthis residence to take a statement the following day.
I strongly condemn this illegal arrest and demand that Mr. Ananda is immediately released since he has been held at an unknown location for over two weeks without being brought before a magistrate. I also urge you to investigate the police officers involved in this abduction. This is another example of the Sri Lankan police abusing their powers and violating the laws of the country. Secret detention is illegal and those responsible must be held accountable.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Victor Perera
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk
2. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net
3. Secretary
National Police Commission
3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers,
109 Galle Road
Colombo 03
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 395310
Fax: +94 11 2 395867
E-mail: npcgen@sltnet.lk
4. Secretary
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
No. 36, Kynsey Road
Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
5. Ms Leila Zerrougui
Chairperson
Working Group on arbitrary detention
Attn: Mr Miguel de la Lama
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTENTION: WORKING GROUP ARBITRARY DETENTION)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
