Dear friends,
Further to our recent update on the list of extrajudicial killings, another list of disappearances of 53 persons for the month of October 2007 has been reported in Sri Lanka. Despite reported cases of killings and disappearances, the government has failed to take genuine action to stop them. Due to a lack of investigation, the phenomenon of killings and disappearances has now extended to ordinary individuals.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
It is reported that on 23 October 2007 the dead bodies of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members killed in Anuradhapura have been put on display by the Sri Lankan Military and their bodies were disposed of without any judicial order. It is also reported that due to the lack of protection of citizens in Jaffna, 38 persons (including family members) have sought asylum from the Jaffna branch of the Human Rights Commission in October.
Any person may be easily targeted not only by both parties (the government, LTTE and other paramilitary groups) on the pretext of conflict but also by anyone with his or her own motives, due to the lack of investigation and punishment against those responsible. (AHRC-PL-050-2007)
Please also refer to earlier appeals of extrajudicial killings and disappearances; UP-151-2007, UA-318-2007, UP-123-2007, UP-117-2007, UP-061-2007 and UA-113-2007.
The AHRC is gravely concerned by the ongoing extrajudicial killings and disappearances in Sri Lanka. The government must immediately order thorough and impartial investigations into these cases and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice without delay. The families of the victims should be protected from any obstacles and special care must be provided to them.?The family members must be informed of progress in the case.
The AHRC is of the view that the strategies adopted by all parties to the conflict reveal the stark reality of unabated disappearances and extra-judicial killings in the country, which has lead to the denial of the right to life, security and speedy justice. Given this rate of destruction of livelihoods, property, peace, development, denial of rights and displacement of civilians the AHRC urgently demands that the parties involved in the conflict positively consider the offer made by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to allow the establishment of a field office that can contribute to the creation of a democratic space for a constructive dialogue, thus paving the way for justice.
THE LIST OF VICTIMS OF DISAPPEARANCES OF 53 PERSONS:
Name (gender) and address of the victim/age/date of incident/district/brief detail of the case
1. Aapathsakayam Sugan (M) – Meesalai East Meesalai, Jaffna / na / 1 October 2007 / Jaffna / He was missing after having gone out from his home.
2. Kanapathipillai (M) – Tharumasenan, Navali, North Jaffna / 34 / 1 October 2007 /Jaffna / He, a father of four children was kidnapped at about 2:40am by the para military who came in a white van at Navaly North in Jaffna.
3. Murugaiah Ashokkumar (M) / 32 / 1 October 2007 / Trincomalee / He and his wife were on the road at Uppuveli in Trincomalee when a group of gunmen in a white van kidnapped the man.
4.?A woman (F) – Vavunatheevu Batticaloa / 26 / 1 October 2007 / Batticaloa / She was kidnapped by an unknown armed group of seven persons at Vavunatheevu in Batticalo.
5. A boy (M) – Mavadivempu, Batticaloa / 15 / 1 October 2007 / Batticaloa / He was allegedly kidnapped by members of the Karuna group.
6. Muththuthamby (M) – Jeyakanthan – Kondavil, North Jaffna / 31 / 2 October 2007 / Jaffna / He was taken by an unknown gun group.
7. A civilian (M) – Jaffna / na / 2 October 2007 / Jaffna / His disappearance was reported to Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch.
8. A civilian (M) – Savukkady, Eravur Batticaloa / 62 / 2 October 2007 / Batticaloa
9. A civilian (M) – Batticaloa / na / 2 October 2007 / Batticaloa
[They (No. 8 and 9) were kidnapped by an unknown armed group]
10. Poopalasingam Mahinthan (M) – Vadaliyadaippu, Pandaththarippu, Jaffna / 25 / 3 October 2007 / Jaffna / He was missing after he visited his relatives in Jaffna. No further information.
11. Paramasivam Nanthakumar (M) – Ayili, Karainagar Jaffna / 26 / 3 October 2007 / Jaffna / He is mentally handicapped. He has no identity card. While he was going to Jaffna, he was stopped by the Army at Siththankerny Junction and went missing.
12. A civilian (M) – Valikamam, Jaffna / 26 / 3 October 2007 / Jaffna / It was reported to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch that a civilian was missing in Valikamam.
13. A civilian (M) – Amparai / 30 / 3 October 2007 / Amparai / He was kidnapped by an unknown armed group.
14. Vinayagamoorthy Anurajah (M) – Arumukanavalar Veethy, Chundukkuli Jaffna / 20 / 4 October 2007 / Jaffna / He was taken by an army intelligence group at 3:30am.
15. Thadsanamoorthy Ahilaraja (M) – Thehivalai / 22 / 4 October 2007 / Colombo / He was born in Dehiwala and is working the Lanka Expo Company at Wellawatte Colombo. On the day he went missing he was on his way back from an official visit to Pettah.
16. Ponnaiya Thangavel (M) – Mullaitheevu / 49 / 4 October 2007 / Colombo / He went to Colombo and was staying in a lodge at Vevekanantha Street. He was taken by unknown men and disappeared.
17. A civilian (M) – Trincomalee / 44 / 5 October 2007 / Trincomalee / He was kidnapped by an armed group in a white van at Puliyankulam Trincomalee.
18. Kantharaja Sooriyaraja (M) – Uppuveli,Trincomalee / 25 / 6 October 2007 / Trincomalee / He was taken by an armed group in a white van at Uppuveli, Trincomalee. This incident was reported by his parents to the Human Rights Commission Trincomalee branch and Sri Lankan Police Trincomalee.
19. Fradman (M) – Palaiyoottu Trincomalee / 33 / 6 October 2007 / Trincomalee / He was the father of three children, was taken away from his home by an armed group.
20. Sinnaththurai Sriskantharasa (M) – Karaveddy Puthu Veethy Jaffna / 35 / 6 October 2007 / Jaffna / He was the father of three children. On that day he went to Jaffna on duty but did not return. This incident was reported to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch.
21. A civilian (M) – Vellaveli Batticaloa / na / 6 October 2007 / Batticaloa / He was kidnapped by an unknown armed group at Vellaveli Batticaloa.
22. Selvanayakam Ramesh (M) – Karaveddy Karanavai West Anthiran Jaffna / 25 / 7 October 2007 / Jaffna / The incident was reported to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch.
23. Sinnaththamby Inthirakumar (M) – Mandan Karanavi West Karaveddy Jaffna / 24 / 7 October 2007 / Jaffna / At 7:30am he disappeared in Jaffna.
24. A civilian (M) – Trincomalee / na / 7 October 2007 / Trincomalee / He was kidnapped by an unknown armed group at Vellaveli Batticaloa.
25. Sivalingam Sunenthiran (M) – Puthukkudiyiruppu Batticaloa / 33 / 8 October 2007 / Batticaloa / The father of three children, was kidnapped by a group in white van at about 3:30pm.
26. Sivakadadsam Kamaleswaran (M) – Wellawattai / 29 / 9 October 2007 / Colombo / He is an auto driver from Wellawatte Colombo. On that day he went to a video shop at Pamankadai. He did not return home.
27. Nadaraja Santhalinkam (M) – No 320 Manippai Veethy Five Junction Jaffna / 44 / 10 October 2007 / Jaffna / The complaint was made to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch.
28. A civilian (M) – Velvettithurai Jaffna / na / 10 October 2007 / Jaffna / The complaint was made to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch.
29. Two brothers (M) – Vavuniya / aged 11 and 14 / 10 October 2007 / They were kidnapped by unknown persons in the town of Vavuniya.
30. A civilian (M) – Batticaloa / 26 / 10 October 2007 / Batticaloa / He was kidnapped by unknown armed men from his working place in Batticaloa.
31. Sinnaththamby Inthirakumar (M) – Mandan Karanavai West, Karaveddy, Jaffna / na / 11 October 2007 / Jaffna / He was kidnapped. It was reported to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna office on the following day.
32. Suppaiya Sureshkumar (M) – Kaithady Central, Kaithady, Jaffna / na / 12 October 2007 / Jaffna / He was kidnapped and it was reported to the Human Rights Commissions Jaffna branch.
33. Pathmalinkam Thulashika (F) – 3rd Part Pungudutheevu Jaffna / 21 / 14 October 2007 / Jaffna / She was a student and was studying in a Private Tuition center. She was last seen close to the Sri Lankan Navy Camp. It was reported to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch.
34. S. Vamathevan (M) – Kallappadu Mullaitheevu / 60 / 14 October 2007 / Mullaitheevu / He went fishing from Kallappadu Mullaitheevu, but he did not return.
35. A civilian (M) – Vantharumoolai Batticaloa / 18 / 15 October 2007 / Batticaloa / He was allegedly kidnapped from his house by members of the Karuna group.
36. A civilian (M) – Amparai / 37 / 15 October 2007 / Amparai / He was kidnapped from his home at Akkaraippattu in Amparai.
37. Rasalinkam Srikanthan (M) – Kochchikadai, Colombo / 35 / / 16 October 2007 / Colombo / While he was traveling from Kochchikadai, Colombo to Wellawatte on a motor bike, he went missing. This incident was reported to the Presidential Commission on Disappearances.
38. A woman (F) – Thirunelveli Jaffna / na / 16 October 2007 / Jaffna / She was living in Vavuniya. From Vavuniya she came to Thirunelvely Jaffna and stayed for a short period. At that time a gang came in a white van and kidnapped her. She came from Vavuniya to see her daughter who was staying in a lodge at Maruthanarmadam and was studying. Before this incident the family was threatened with murder. The husband of the family went to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch and asked if he could stay in the Jaffna Jail for his own safety.
39. Sellaiya Rasalingam (M) – Madduvil, Chavakachcheri, Jaffna / 44 / 16 October 2007 / Jaffna / It was reported to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch. He went for work and did not come back home.
40. Kanapathippillai Kanthasamy (M) – Piranpattu, Pandaththarippu, Jaffna / 58 / 18 October 2007 / Jaffna / He was a father of four children. He went for work and disappeared. It was reported to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch.
41. A woman (F) – Kiran Batticaloa / 24 / 18 October 2007 / Batticaloa / She was allegedly kidnapped from her home by two members of the Karuna group.
42. A civilian (M) – Amparai / na / 19 October 2007 / Amparai / This man went to the office of Karuna party in Amparai to enquire about the whereabouts of his son-in-law who was kidnapped. Then he too disappeared
43. Thankavelu Kirupakaran (M) – Varani Polykandy Jaffna / 23 / 20 October 2007 / Jaffna / While he was going along with the main road in Polykandy, Jaffna. Unknown persons in white van kidnapped him and left.
44. Kanthasamy Kalairuban (M) – Uduppiddy Jaffna / 23 / 20 October 2007 / Jaffna / It is reported that he went from Uduppiddy in Jaffna, but did not return.
45. Piraisoody Suthakaran (M) – Samarapagu Polykandy, Jaffna / 26 / 21 October 2007 / Jaffna / An unknown armed group went to his house and threaten the house owners and then kidnapped the said person from his home in Samarapagu Polykandy in Jaffna.
46. A civilian (M) – Savukkady Batticaloa / 18 / 21 October 2007 / Batticaloa / He was allegedly kidnapped by the Karuna party at Savukkady Batticaloa.
47. Sanmugalingam Thaneshwary (F) – Ariyalai Jaffna / 11 / 23 October 2007 / Jaffna / She went with her friends to see the exhibition in Ramanathan Academy in Maruthanarmadam Jaffna but she went missing. It was reported to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch.
48. Sinnaththurai Siththiravellutham (M) – Iluppaikulam, Sampaltheevu, Trincomalee / 37 / 23 October 2007 / Trincomalee / 8 armed personnel came in a white van to his home and kidnapped him at Sampaltheevu in Trincoamlee.
49. Nadarasa Looganathan (M) – Veerapperiyankulam Panankamam Mannar / 23 / 23 October 2007 / Mannar / He went to hunt at Neddankandal area in Mannar. But he did not return.
50. Somasutharam Santhakumar (M) – Ariyalai Jaffna / 37 / 26 October 2007 / Jaffna / He went to a shop and was reported missing.
51. Thavarasa Thavanesan (M) – Colombothurai Jaffna / 20 / 27 October 2007 / Jaffna / He went out from his house, but he has not returned. It was reported to the Human Rights Commission Jaffna branch.
52. Kulasingam Senthuran (M) – Iyankerny Eravur, Batticaloa / 21 / / 30 October 2007 / Batticaloa / Over 10 personnel of Karuna group came to his house and kidnapped at around 9:30.
53. Sivakuru Panchalingam (M) – Kuppilan North Ealai Jaffna / 66 / 31 October 2007 / Jaffna / At around 7am, unknown armed group in a white van came to his house and kidnapped him. His wife and children are living in abroad.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities below, asking them to thoroughly and impartially investigate each of these cases. The victims’ families and relatives must also be actively involved and properly informed in this process. Please also urge them to ensure the extrajudicial killings and disappearances must be stopped.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
SRI LANKA: List of 53 disappearances reported for the month of October
I am writing to express my deep concern over the evidently increasing number of extrajudicial killings and disappearances in Sri Lanka. Although several international human rights organizations and institutions, including the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances have intervened in this matter, it appears that very little has been done by the Sri Lankan government to solve these gross human rights violations.
The Sri Lankan government is primarily responsible for persons who have been extrajudicially killed and disappeared, both to prevent such crimes and to take effective action to investigate, arrest and prosecute the offenders. However the government has failed to use its power to safeguard the security of its citizens. The inept Presidential Commission of Inquiry appears both unable and unwilling to thoroughly investigate the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Thus the lack of adequate investigation mechanisms, compounded by unwillingness by the Sri Lankan government has resulted in inaction against gross abusers of human rights.
The increasing frequency with which the act occurs reflects its use as an instrument of repression, amidst a culture of impunity. Perpetrators who are involved in such serious breaches of the law do so only when they have the assurance that those who hold power will ensure that no investigations and prosecutions will take place. This in turn emboldens the perpetrators to continue to commit these acts.
There has been an exceptional collapse of the rule of law. The existing mechanisms that should protect Sri Lankan citizens are defunct. For instance, the Criminal Procedure Code of Sri Lanka specifies the detailed procedure for the recording of complaints, their investigation and the prosecution of criminal cases. In reality however, individuals are deprived of legal redress. Yet the government declares that international agencies need not interfere as there are local legal mechanisms to deal with such matters. However what the government has shown to the international community was just let it happen and has failed to show its strong will to end this grave violation. Thus the state deprives the individual of access to both local and international systems.?
In light of the above, I urge you to immediately order thorough and impartial investigation into these disappearances and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice without delay. The families of the victim should be protected from any obstacles and special care to those families must be provided. They have right to know all progress of development on the case that they are involved.
I take this opportunity to draw your attention to the fact that the strategies adopted by all parties to the conflict reveal the stark reality of unabated disappearances and extra-judicial killings in the country, which has lead to the denial of the right to life, security and speedy justice. Given this rate of destruction of livelihoods, property, peace, development, denial of rights and displacement of civilians I urgently demand that the parties involved in the conflict positively consider the offer made by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to allow the establishment of a field office that can contribute to the creation of a democratic space for a constructive dialogue, thus paving the way for justice.
I look forward to your prompt intervention in these cases.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse
President
Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka
C/- Office of the President
Temple Trees
150, Galle Road
Colombo 3
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2472100 / +94 11 2446657
E-mail: secretary@presidentsoffice.lk
2. Mr. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
Prime Minister
Temple Trees
Galle Road, Colombo 03
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 575317-8 / 370 737-8
Fax: +94 11 2 575454
3. Hon. Amarasiri Dodangoda, MP
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms
Superior Courts Complex,
Colombo 12
Tel: +94 11 2384837 / 2324681 / 2392932
Fax: +94 11 2325354 / 2445446
4. Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mnistry of Foreign Affairs
Republic Building, Colombo 01,
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 11 2325371 / 5
Fax: +94 11 2446091
E-mail: publicity@formin.gov.lk
5. Secretary
Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order
15/5, Baladaksha Mawatha
Colombo 03,
SRI LANKA
Tel: + 94 11 2 430860-9 / 430878-9 / 435879 (for the secretary)
Fax: +94 11 2 446300 / 421529
E-mail: secdef@sltnet.lk
6. Mr. Victor Perera
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440 / 327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk
7. Mr. Neville Piyadigama
Chairperson
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
8. Mr. C.R. De Silva
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
E-mail: attorney@sri.lanka.net
9. 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
10. Hon. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe
Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights
2, Wijerama Mawatha
Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 269 3282
Fax: +94 11 269 3284 (ATTN: P. Dias Amarasinghe, Secretary)
E-mail: info@dmhr.gov.lk
11. Mr. Santiago Corcuera Cabezut
Chairperson
Working Group on enforced and involuntary disappearances
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9176
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: WORKING GROUP DISAPPEARANCES)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
