SRI LANKA: Three policemen searching for a child abuse suspect detained by the LTTE 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that three policemen from the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women in Colombo were taken by the Tamil rebel group (LTTE) in Arippu on 10 September 2005 and have been detained since then, after they had gone to a LTTE controlled area in Arippu to seek a British suspect of child abuse, who was believed to be hiding in the area. It is reported that the three policemen were accompanied by two female officers from the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), two Catholic priests and a NCPA civil coordinator, who were released by the LTTE on the same day.

The media report said that the policemen were armed and wore civilian clothes at the time of the incident. According to the ceasefire agreement, it does not permit armed policemen or LTTE cadres to enter opposite territories. While it is said that the three policemen violated the ceasefire agreement, obviously their intention was not to break any peace, but to look for an alleged criminal suspect of child abuse.

We call for your urgent intervention in this case. Please request the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to take all possible measures to secure the unconditional and immediate release of the detained policemen.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the policemen detained:
1. Sub Inspector Bopitigama
2. Police Constable Hemantha
3. Police Constable Sarath
The three men are attached to the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women in Colombo
Place detained: Allegedly detained at Murunthan, Arippu LTTE Camp, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka
Date of the incident: From 10 September 2005 up to now

Three policemen from the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women in Colombo were detained by the Tamil rebel group (LTTE) at Murunthan, Arippu LTTE Camp, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka on 10 September 2005 and remain in their detention. They were identified as Sub Inspector Bopitigama, Police Constable (PC) Hemantha and PC Sarath. They reportedly had gone to a LTTE controlled area in Arippu to seek a British suspect of child abuse, who was believed to be hiding in the area.

According to the local media reports, the three policemen were accompanied by two female officers from the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), two Catholic priests and a NCPA civil coordinator. These persons were all released by the LTTE on the same day (September 10). Fr. Dixon, one of two Catholic priests, said that the policemen from Colombo had said that they had been investigating a complaint of child abuse and requested him and another priest Fr. Marcus to guide them to the LTTE controlled area in Murunthan to arrest a British suspect.

It is alleged that the three policemen were armed and wore civilian clothes at the time of the incident. According to the ceasefire agreement, it does not permit armed policemen or LTTE cadres to enter opposite territories.

The local media also reported that the three policemen were remanded by an LTTE court in Kilinochchi until September 27. Up until now the LTTE have refused to release the detainees and are intending to have the detainees go through the LTTE’s court procedures. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), ceasefire monitors, has demanded the detained policemen’s unconditional release to the LTTE’s political wing leader S.P Thamilselvan, but to no avail.

The AHRC is deeply concerned by this serious case. While it is said that the three policemen violated the ceasefire agreement, obviously their intention was not to break any peace, but to look for an alleged criminal suspect of child abuse. In fact on such matters, the LTTE should extend their cooperation to bring such crimes to court.

The AHRC urges the SLMM and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to take all possible measures to secure the unconditional and immediate release of the detained policemen. Meanwhile, the SLMM should negotiate with the LTTE and find a way to visit the detainees to check their conditions. We also urge Unicef Sri Lanka to intervene into this matter as it is related to child abuse. The British High Commission should also pay attention to this case as its citizen is at the centre of this case.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send an appeal letter to the Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and express your concern about this case.

 

 

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