Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to inform you of our serious concern in relation to a Sri Lankan lawyer who has appeared for the complainants in many well-known human rights cases and who is now facing grave threats to his security. WR Sanjeewa has been receiving telephone calls and other forms of pressure to withdraw from some of these cases. In recent weeks the pressures have increased, giving reasonable grounds to believe that he may be in imminent danger.
This danger is entirely unacceptable for any person working to defend the rights of people and must be stopped without delay. Human rights defenders working in Sri Lanka must be free to engage in their work without fear of reprisal from those they are pursuing. Recent events in Sri Lanka however, indicate that they are not (for further details please see the following statement issued by the AHRC on 23 September 2005: AS-105-2005; and our urgent appeal on 14 October 2005: UA-174-2005).
Intervention has already taken place by some groups in regards to the safety of Sanjeewa. The Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT), based in Denmark has written to Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (NHRC), requesting the NHRC to take all steps in its powers to help to ensure the safety of Rasika Sanjeewa Weerawickrama and other lawyers appearing in important fundamental rights cases. They also stated that the fight against impunity for police torture depends very heavily on the possibility for lawyers in the human rights field to be able to fulfill their duties without facing threats and pressure.
Sanjeewa must be able to represent those who have had their rights violated without living in fear for his life. Currently this is not the case and we therefore call on those in authority to use their full capacity to ensure that this is immediately remedied. A full investigation should be conducted into the threats made against Sanjeewa and legal arrests must be issued against those found responsible. Full protection should also be afforded to Sanjeewa throughout the investigation and up until the time that he can pursue his work without fear.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the relevant authorities listed below seeking their intervention into this very urgent matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
SRI LANKA: Sri Lankan lawyer under grave threats amid growing efforts to intimidate human rights workers and institutions
I have come to learn of the grave threats made against a lawyer who has appeared for the complainants in many well-known human rights cases. WR Sanjeewa has been receiving telephone calls and other forms of pressure to withdraw from some of these cases. In recent weeks the pressures have increased, giving reasonable grounds to believe that he may be in imminent danger.
I am also aware that these threats come at a time of rapidly growing resistance to complaints of torture and extrajudicial killing by police officers. Efforts by the National Police Commission to implement the law and interdict over one hundred police officers who have been charged before the high courts have been fought by all ranks, most recently by the Inspector General of Police himself. Most recently, an attempt was made to burn down the head office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, which in recent times has referred many cases of torture for prosecution.
Persons working to defend the rights of people must be free to engage in their work without fear of reprisal from those they are pursuing. The recent threats against Sanjeewa and the attack on the National Human Rights Commission headquarters clearly demonstrate that this is not the case. I am aware that others have already intervened on behalf of Sanjeewa and therefore I now call upon you to take all measures to immediately remedy this situation, before the matter spirals even further out of control.
A full investigation should be conducted into the threats made against Sanjeewa and legal arrests must be issued against those found responsible. Full protection should also be afforded to Sanjeewa throughout the investigation and up until the time that he can pursue his work without fear.
I look forward to your intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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SEND A LETTER TO:
1. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General's Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436 421
2. Mr. Chandra Fernando
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877
3. Mr. J Thangawelu
DIG Legal
Police Headquarters
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: 94 11 2381 394
Email: legaldiv@police.lk
4. Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC
Chairperson
National 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. Mr. Desmand Fernando
President
Bar Association of Sri Lanka
No. 129
Hulftosdorp Street
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 448 090
8. 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
9. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Ben Majekodunmi or Ms. Chloé Marnay-Baszanger
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
E-mail: bmajekodunmi@ohchr.org (for Ben Majekodunmi) or cmarnay-baszanger@ohchr.org (for Ms. Chloé Marnay-Baszanger)
10. Mr. Leandro Despouy
Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers
Att: Sonia Cronin
Room: 3-060
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9160
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (Attn: Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges & lawyers)
E-mail: scronin@ohchr.org
11. Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9177
Fax: +41 22 917 9003
Email: jderiviero@ohchr.org or urgent-action@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
