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SRI LANKA: An immediate independent inquiry is imperative into the attack on the Human Rights Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka 

Urgent Appeal Case |Sri Lanka | October 13, 2005

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: UA-174-2005
ISSUES: Human rights defenders,

SRI LANKA: Arson attack against Human Rights Commission headquarters; resistance against those fighting for victims of police crime; threat and intimidation
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to voice its strong condemnation of the attack on the Human Rights Commission’s (HRC) headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka during the early hours of 12 October 2005. According to the information we have received, the HRC’s office was ransacked, files were destroyed and newspapers were set on fire. Kerosene was also poured throughout the office.

This attack is a blatant attempt to resist the HRC’s efforts to investigate into cases involving human rights violations taking place in police stations across the entire country. It also demonstrates the level of resistance against those people who have directly been tortured by police personnel and who now seek justice for the crimes committed against them.

This level of resistance comes as no surprise given a recent statement made by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Chandra Fernando declaring that police personnel who have been charged with torture under the Convention against Torture Act should not be indicted. When such resistance to proper inquiry and legal redress is publicly stated by the highest police authorities within the country, it is inevitable that this mindset will infiltrate other levels of the police force, which may in fact explain the actions of those who attacked the HRC office.

In strongly condemning the actions of those responsible for this act, be it directly or indirectly, the AHRC calls upon the UN Human Rights Commission, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the UN Committee against Torture and all concerned non-governmental organizations to demand the highest level of investigation into this matter. While the police have begun an investigation into the incident, it is the AHRC’s belief that an immediate independent inquiry is imperative if this matter is to be dealt with properly, and in the timely and serious manner that is required. A local independent investigative body must therefore take over the case from the police and ensure that a thorough and impartial investigation is conducted into the attack against the HRC. A panel of international experts must also be dispatched to Sri Lanka without delay so as to investigate the case and make a full report of their findings. Finally, the HRC should also conduct their own inquiry into this matter.

The attack against the HRC represents a serious threat to human rights in Sri Lanka. It is the responsibility of those in authority to ensure that the attack is investigated properly and that those responsible for it are brought to justice for their crimes. Only then can the HRC continue in its work in fighting for and safeguarding the human rights of all citizens in Sri Lanka.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write a letter to the relevant authorities listed below calling for an immediate independent inquiry into the attack on the Human Rights Commission’s office in Colombo.

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To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear _______________,

SRI LANKA: An immediate independent inquiry is imperative into the attack on the Human Rights Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka

I write to you calling for your immediate intervention into the October 12 attack on the Human Rights Commission (HRC) headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Such intervention is required not only to investigate this incident and to bring those responsible for it to justice, but also to address the evident level of resistance amongst the police community in Sri Lanka to those fighting for the rights of victims of police crimes.

I therefore urge you to use your full authority to ensure that an immediate independent inquiry is conducted into the attack on the HRC. I am aware that the police have already commenced investigations, but if this case is to be dealt with in a proper, timely and serious manner, then it is imperative that an independent investigation unit take over the case. Only then can impartiality be ensured and a higher level of professionalism be attained. A panel of international experts should also be dispatched to Sri Lanka without delay so as to investigate the case and make a full report of their findings. Likewise, the HRC should conduct their own inquiry into this incident and report their findings to the public.

The attack against the HRC represents a serious threat to human rights in Sri Lanka. It is the responsibility of those with the authority to do so, to ensure that the attack is investigated properly and that those responsible for it are brought to justice for their crimes. Only then can the HRC continue in its work in fighting for and safeguarding the human rights of all citizens in Sri Lanka.

I look forward to your immediate intervention in this case.

Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND A LETTER TO:

Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse
Prime Minister
Cambridge Place
Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 682905 / 575454
E-mail: secpm@sltnet.lk or bradmanw@slt.lk

PLEASE SEND A COPY TO:

1. Mr. Chandra Fernando
Inspector General of Police (IGP) 
New Secretariat 
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA 
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877

2. Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy
Chairperson 
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 

3. Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC 
Chairperson 
 Police Commission 
69-1 Ward Place
Colombo 7 
SRI LANKA 
Fax: +94 11 2 669 528
Fax HOME: +94 11 2 674148
E-mail: polcom@sltnet.lk 
 
4.Louise Arbour
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9012 / 0213
Email: secrt.hchr@unog.ch (Attn: High Commissioner of Human Rights)

5. Prof. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
Attn: Mr. Safir Syed 
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 917 9016 (general)
E-mail: ssyed@ohchr.org

6. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Ben Majekodunmi or Ms. Chloe Marnay-Baszanger
Room 1-040, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (Attn: Special Representative for human rights defenders)
E-mail: bmajekodunmi@ohchr.org; cmarnay-baszanger@ohchr.org 


Thank you

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

 
 
Document Type : Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID : UA-174-2005
Countries : Sri Lanka,
Issues : Human rights defenders,

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