Dear friends
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by the torture and inhuman treatment of a prisoner, Kalpeliyanege Priyantha Anuruddha Shammi, by prison officer Rajive at the Kalutara Remand Prison.
According to the information we have received, Rajive has tortured Shammi physically and mentally since he refused to give Rajive the money that he demanded. In particular, it is reported that Rajive badly assaulted Shammi on 18 May 2004 and Shammi is in need of urgent medical attention.
AHRC calls for you to urge the local authorities to provide immediate medical treatment and protection to Shammi. Please also demand their inquiry into this matter and to give administrative sanction/punishment to the perpetrator.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:
Name of the victim: Kalpeliyanage Priyantha Anuruddha Shammi (G-33680), a remand prisoner at Kalutara Prison
Address of the victim: Singharupa Gama, Bentota
Alleged perpetrator: Prison officer Rajive, Kalutara Remand Prison
Case details: (Based on the testimony of the victim’s brother)
Kalpeliyanege Priyantha Anuruddha Shammi is a remand prisoner at Kautara Prison. One day, a prison officer named Rajive asked Shammi to give him Rs.5000, saying that he needed the money for a cricket training program in India, which Shammi refused to give. After that, Rajive subjected Shammi to various forms of mental and physical torture.
On 18 May 2004, when Shammi’s brother Chandika went to see him at the prison, Rajive did not allow him to see Shammi. Rajive also forcibly took provisions including a toothpaste tube from Chandika, which he had brought for his brother, and he did not give them to Shammi. On 24 May 2004, when Chandika went to see his brother again at the prison, Shammi told him that Rajive inhumanly assaulted him on 18 May 2004. Accoding to the statement of Chandika, Shammi’s life is in danger and he is injured due to the torture and needs immediate medical treatment.
AHRC is concerned by this case and we urge the local authorities to give immediate medical attention and protection to Shammi. Also, a speedy inquiry regarding this matter should be conducted.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or email to the addresses below and express your concern of this matter.
1. Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo-1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 2 333 703
2. Hon. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436 421
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 11 2 669 128 / 691 926
Fax HOME: +94 11 2 674148
E-mail: polcom@sltnet.lk
4. Inspector General of Police (IGP)
New Secretariat
Colombo 1,
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 381394/ 446174
5. Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy
Chairperson
National 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
6. Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
OHCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9016
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear
Re: Case of Kalpeliyanage Priyantha Anuruddha Shammi (G-33680); Torture and inhuman treatment of a prisoner by a prison officer at Kalutara Prison
I am writing to bring to your attention the torture and inhuman treatment of a prisoner, Kalpeliyanege Priyantha Anuruddha Shammi, by the prison officer named Rajive at the Kalutara Remand Prison.
According to the information I have received, Rajive has tortured Shammi physically and mentally ever since he refused to give Rajive the money that he demanded. In particular, Rajive badly assaulted Shammi on 18 May 2004. According to the victim's brother, Shammi needs immediate medical attention.
I strongly urge you to provide immediate medical treatment and protection to Shammi. I also request you to inquire into this matter thoroughly and give administrative sanction/punishment to the perpetrator.
Sincerely yours,
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
