[RE: UP-39-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Three Sri Lankans face imminent execution in Saudi Arabia; UP-38-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Please send a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia urging his intervention to commute the death sentence of three Sri Lankans; 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; UA-49-2005: Death sentence to migrant workers requires urgent intervention by the Sri Lankan government]
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to update you on the current situation of the three Sri Lankan migrant workers currently facing imminent execution in Saudi Arabia. The AHRC has this week contacted the Foreign Ministry in Sri Lanka in an attempt to gain any updated information on this matter, but to little avail. We have spoken to Mr Ansar, of the Foreign Ministry, who refused to provide us any concrete information as to the men’s plight. Instead, Mr Ansar responded arrogantly and refused to comment on whether the Sri Lankan President has intervened in the matter. When asked if the President had forwarded a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia, Mr Ansar replied, “how can I answer that”? He further said that everything is being handled at the highest levels and therefore he has nothing further to add.
The families of the three men are terribly worried for their welfare. They have not been informed of any new developments concerning the men, and are thus completely unaware as to what is happening. Not surprisingly, they are very fearful of what this means for the men facing execution.
We therefore again call for your urgent action to save the lives of these three Sri Lankan men. Please send a letter to the His Excellency the King of Saudi Arabia seeking his intervention to commute the death sentence passed on the three Sri Lankan persons.
Please also send a letter to the President of Sri Lanka to make a plea to His Excellency the King of Saudi Arabia regarding the death sentences of these men. We believe that His Excellency the King of Saudi Arabia might be inclined to accept a plea from the President of Sri Lanka.
Finally, please also send a letter to the Foreign Ministry to state your disapproval as to their handling of this situation. At the very least they must keep the family members of the men up to date with any new developments and they should be ensuring that they are doing all possible to avoid the execution of these men.
Sample letters are attached below.
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SAMPLE LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER 1: (To His Excellency the King of Saudi Ariabia)
Your Royal Highness,
Re: Imminent death for the three Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia
I am writing 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. According to the information I have received, there was no lawyer representing them and no witnesses were called to the stand during the court proceedings. The family claims that after the trial ended, the three Sri Lankan men were asked to sign a document in Arabic which they do not understand at all but in fact stated their acceptance to the death sentence.
I plead for Your Excellency's 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 truly,
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Send a letter to:
King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Royal Court, Riyadh
SAUDI ARABIA
Tel: + 966 1 401 1944 (for Ministry of interior)
Fax: + 966 1 403 1185 (for Ministry of interior)
Salutation: Your Royal Highness
SAMPLE LETTER 2: (To the President of Sri Lanka)
Dear Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga,
Re: Imminent death for the three Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia
I seek your urgent intervention in relation to the lives of three migrant workers from Sri Lanka facing imminent death in Saudi Arabia. Mr E. J. V. Corea, D.D. Ranjith de Silva and Sanath Pushpakumara, are all facing death sentences in Saudi Arabia for the charge of theft. They are all currently being detained at Al Nayad Prison, in Riyadh.
The men were allegedly involved in a robbery and arrested by the Riyadh police on 10 March 2004. They were sentenced to death on the charges of possession of illegal firearms and attempted robbery by the Saudi Arabia High Court.
However, it is reported that the three men did not get a fair trial. There was no lawyer representing them during the court proceedings. During two court hearings, no witnesses were called to the stand. Their families only received this news from the Foreign Employment Bureau several months later. In addition, 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.
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. I strongly believe that the King of Saudi Arabia might be inclined to accept a plea from Your Excellency regarding the death sentences of these men. I therefore kindly request you to contact the King of Saudi Arabia and plea for the mercy of these three men.
Yours truly,
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Send a letter to:
Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo-1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 333 703
SAMPLE LETTER 3: (To the Foreign Minister Mr. Lakshman Kadirgarmar)
Dear Mr. Lakshman Kadirgarmar.
Re: Imminent death for the three Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia
I am writing to express my disapproval regarding your Ministry's handling of the case involving the three Sri Lankan migrant workers currently facing imminent death in Saudi Arabia.
According to the information I have received, your Ministry has dismissed questions raised to it regarding these men and has in no way kept the families of the men informed as to any new developments in the case. Indeed a Mr Ansar, when called to answer such questions, refused to do so and rudely told the caller that he had no further comment to make on the matter. As a member of the Foreign Ministry, I would have thought Mr Ansar would be only to happy to advise the public, and more importantly the family, about the matters regarding this case. It would appear, however, that this is not so.
I urge you to make contact with the men's families and advise them on the latest news and developments regarding this case. I also ask that you continue to pressure the President of Sri Lanka to intervene in this matter by writing to or speaking with the King of Saudi Arabia.
Yours truly,
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Send a letter to:
Mr. Lakshman Kadirgarmar
Foreign Minister
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
Republic Building,Colombo-01
Tel:(+94+1)325371 Fax:(+94+1)446091,94+1+446091
Email:cypher@formin.gov.lk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
