Dear Friends
Torture of two young persons and fabrication of charges by Ankumbura Police; Illegal arrest; Illegal detention for 8 days
Victims: Bandula Padma Kumara (14 years old) and Saman Kumara (17 years old)
Address: c/o M.G. Karunawathie (Mother), Godahena, Dolaphihilla
Dates of incident: from 20 July to 28 July 2003 (Bailed out on 15 August)
Perpetrators: Officer in charge and other officers at the ANKUMBURA Police Station
Details: (based on the statement from the victims)
Bandula Padma Kumara and Saman Kumara are brothers. Their parents are poor and their father works as a natamy (a workman carrying heavy loads for hire).
On 20 July, Bandula (14 years old) was arrested on suspicion of stealing a bunch of bananas. He was assaulted severely and kept in the police station for eight days. His mother went to the police station to see him but was not allowed in to see him.
Bandula’s brother, Saman, was arrested while he was at home at about 7.00 pm on 22 July. He was kept at the police station with his younger brother until 28 July 2003. While at the police station he was hung by his thumbs by the officer in charge of the police and his legs were pulled down by a police officer while he was in that position. Later, he was positioned in the manner known as Dharma Chakkara – tying of hands in a way to cover the knees, putting a poll between the two arms and turning the person while being beaten on the soles.
The boys were forced to admit to offences that they knew nothing about.
Bandula has been implicated in 13 fabricated cases and Saman in 12 charges. On 28 July they were brought to the Magistrate and remanded in custody. They were only released on bail on 15 August.
We urge that the matter be investigated immediately and the perpetrators be brought to justice. Furthermore, we request that the fabrication of charges be investigated also, and the two young boys released from the charges which have been made falsely against them.
The earlier case of Chamila Bandara, who has now lost the use of his left arm after being tortured, happened at the same police station.
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SUGGESTED ACTION – SEND LETTERS/EMAILS/FAXES TO:
1 Chandrika B. Kumaritunga
President
Presidential Residence, Colombo 3,
SRI LANKA
Fax: +941 333 703
2 Hon. Mr. K.C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 436 421
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net or counsel@sri.lanka.net
3 Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC
Chairman National Police Commission
69-1 Ward Place, Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 691 926
Fax HOME: +94-1-674-148
4 National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 1 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 1 694 924
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
5 Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the Question of Torture
OHCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917-9016
E-mail: secrt.hchr@unog.ch
and at:
International Relations
Maastricht University
The Netherlands
Tel. 31-43-3883233 (Assistant: Chantal Kuipers)
Email : th.vanboven@ir.unimaas.nl
6 Mr. Jean Nicolas Beuze
Room 3-052
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Palais Wilson,
Rue des Paquis 52, Geneva
Switzerland
tel: 41 229179174
fax: 41 22 9179 006
email: jnbeuze.hchr@unog.ch
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Sir
Case of Bandula Padma Kumara (14 yrs old) and Saman Kumara (17 yrs old)
Illegal arrest, Illegal detention for 8 days and Torture of two young persons and fabrication of charges by the ANKUMBURA Police
I am writing to protest against this brutal torture of two young boys. More seriously, the earlier case of Chamila Bandara, who has now lost the use of his left arm, happened at the same police station. It clearly shows that a cruel practice of torture is going on, and being allowed, in police stations.
On 20 July, Bandula Padma Kumara (14 yrs old) was arrested on suspicion of stealing a bunch of bananas. He was assaulted severely and kept in the police station for eight days. His brother, Saman Kumara (17 yrs old) was arrested on 22 July and he was kept at the police station until 28 July. While at the police station he was severely tortured and both the boys were forced to admit to offences that they knew nothing about. They have been implicated in 13 fabricated cases for Bandula and 12 charges for Saman. On 28 July they were brought to the Magistrate and remanded in custody. They were only let out on bail 15 August.
We urge you to investigate this case immediately and bring the perpetrators to justice. Please issue special instruction of arrests, particularly of children. We also urge you to investigate the fabrication of charges, and that the two young boys be released from the charges falsely made against them. We further urge you to discipline the police so that they desist from torture; from the fabrication of cases; and from registering false cases.
Torture is an all too common practice, which must be eradicated. Please take some genuine steps and strong action to stop torture.
Yours faithfully
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
