[RE: UA-49-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Death sentence to migrant workers requires urgent intervention by the Sri Lankan government; UP-34-2005: Death sentence for three migrant workers requires urgent intervention; AS-36-2005: The Government of Sri Lanka must take a more proactive stance to save the lives of three Sri Lankans on death row in Saudi Arabia]
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Sri Lankan government was pushing for a fresh trial in the case of the three Sri Lankans who were sentenced to death by the Saudi Arabian High Court, and trying to get the death sentence commuted into a jail term. The Foreign Ministry has reportedly asked whether the Foreign Employment Bureau can bear the legal costs involved as it decides on policy matters of Sri Lankan employment aboard. Now they are waiting the reply from the Bureau.
It is very clear that these persons would not receive death sentences in Sri Lanka if the same charges were brought in a Sri Lankan court. While the AHRC welcomes that the Sri Lankan government took a positive action different from its initial very passive role in this matter, we still urge the ministry of foreign affairs to use all their influence directly and through other sources to prevent the deaths of these three persons.
We again urge you to support the three Sri Lankan men facing execution and their families. Please send a letter to His Excellency the King of Saudi Arabia seeking his intervention to commute the death sentence passed on the three Sri Lankan persons. Sample letter is attached below.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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UPDATED INFORMATION:
According to an article in the Sunday Times (local English newspaper) issued on 3 April 2005, the Sri Lankan government was pushing for a fresh trial in the case where three Sri Lankans were sentenced to death by the Saudi Arabian High Court after being found guilty of criminal offences. The article reported that according to the Foreign Ministry official of the Consular Division, a lawyer from Riyadh has now been retained and the government is trying to get the death sentence commuted into a jail term. To do so, the Foreign Ministry has written to the Saudi King, the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the Saudi Interior Ministry and the Governor of Riyadh to withdraw the sentence given to the three Lankans namely Ranjith Silva, Sanath Pushpakumara and Victor Corea.
It also reported that the Foreign Ministry has asked whether the Foreign Employment Bureau can bear the legal costs involved as it decides on policy matters of Sri Lankan employment aboard. Now they are waiting the reply from the Bureau. A family member of Ranjith Silva who visited the Foreign Ministry and reportedly met Mr. M. Salim of the Consular Division was told that appeals against the sentences would be made after the Sri Lankan Embassy gets a copy of the case proceedings.
The three Sri Lankan men went to Saudi Arabia to work. It is reported that they were not paid their salaries for nine months. In this situation, they were involved in a robbery and arrested by the Riyadh police on 10 March 2004. They were later charged for possession of illegal firearms and attempted robbery. It is reported that there was no lawyer representing them during the court proceedings. Their families only received this news from the Foreign Employment Bureau several months later.
It is alleged that the three men did not get a fair trial. During two court hearings, no witnesses were called to the stand. The family claimed that after the trial ended, the three men were asked to sign a document in Arabic, stating their acceptance to the death sentence. Only Ranjith Silva reportedly refused to place his signature.
Meanwhile, one of the three men, Victor Corea, stated that another person had been sentenced to fifteen years of imprisonment although he was in no way connected to their arrest. Victor Corea admitted that he and the other two Sri Lankan men were involved in a robbery case but denied their involvement in any other incident. However, the different cases that the people were involved in have been lumped together to form a joint allegation of armed robbery in which all the accused four are co-accused.
It is very clear that these persons would not receive death sentences in Sri Lanka if the same charges were brought in a Sri Lankan court. However, the Sri Lankan government were initially very passive in their involvement in this case. The family members said when they initially went to seek assistance from the Foreign Ministry Consular Division, they were told nothing could be done unless the families retained a lawyer in Saudi Arabia, at their expense, to represent the three. Also, the initial reaction of some senior politicians and diplomats in this particular case reveals that there is embarrassment about the level of publicity that is being received and that it might damage business opportunities that Sri Lanka has in Saudi Arabia.
While the AHRC welcomes the positive action taken by the Sri Lankan government, we urge the ministry of foreign affairs to use all their influence directly and through other sources to prevent the deaths of these three persons. If the Sri Lankan government merely sends appeals for mercy without any other diplomatic efforts in this case, there will be no hope left for the three Sri Lankans and their families.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send write, fax, or email a letter to His Excellency the King of Saudi Arabia seeking his intervention to commute the death sentence passed on the three Sri Lankan persons.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Your Royal Highness,
I write to you pleading for your clemency for the lives of three Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, namely Mr E. J. V. Corea, D.D. Ranjith de Silva and Sanath Pushpakumara, who are currently detained at Al Nayad Prison, in Riyadh, facing death sentences for the alleged charge of armed robbery.
I am most concerned that these three persons have not been able to defend themselves properly in a court of law. I plead for Your Excellencys mercy and ask that you commute these person's death sentences. I have faith in you and in the compassionate nature of Islam.
All three men are married and have children to support. Ranjith Silva is the only son in a family of five and has his one son. Victor Corea and Sanath Pushpakumara both have two children. I most fervently hope that Your Excellency will save the lives of these three persons and thereby the lives of their families by pardoning them from the death sentence.
Yours faithfully,
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SEND A LETTER TO:
King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Royal Court, Riyadh
SAUDI ARABIA
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
