[RE: UP-43-2005: Questions remain in Sri Lanka’s willingness to save three of its citizens; UP-39-2005: Three Sri Lankans face imminent execution in Saudi Arabia; UP-38-2005: 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; UP-90-2005: Amnesty International appeals Saudi king to commute death sentences of the three Sri Lankan men; UP-142-2005: Renewed plea for commuting the death sentence of Sri Lankan men to the new King of Saudi Arabia]
———————————————————————
UP-154-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Three Sri Lankans facing imminent execution suffer severe depression, with one having attempted suicide
SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Death penalty; Right to fair trial; Rule of law
———————————————————————
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of the desperate condition of three Sri Lankans, namely Mr. E. J. V. Corea, D.D. Ranjith de Silva and Sanath Pushpakumara, who are currently detained at Al Nayad Prison in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia facing imminent execution for alleged armed robbery. One of them, Sanath, has already tried to commit suicide due to depression. The other two are also suffering from depression and all have lost hope that their lives will be spared.
While the three men have had to endure their desperate condition, it was reported that the officials of the Sri Lankan Embassy and the Foreign Employment Bureau have reportedly done little to intervene, and have apparently lost interest in pursuing clemency for the three men. It was also reported that the fate of the three Sri Lankans is soon to be decided by the Saudi king, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
Under the Saudi Law, the King has the power to grant clemency or to ratify the death sentence of death convicts. Therefore, there is a need for strong and persistent intervention to ask and appeal for clemency to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud to spare the lives of the three men. The AHRC is deeply concerned that if the sentences are ratified by the King, they could be executed within a short time.
It can be recalled that the parents, relatives and friends of the three men have sought the immediate intervention of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapakse, the former Prime Minister who is now the president of Sri Lanka. However, according to the three men, the Sri Lankan authorities have completely ignored them of late. Even the regular visit of a Sri Lankan official has been stopped.
The AHRC believes that through the strong intervention by President Rajapakse and concerned government agencies in requesting King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud for clemency, the lives of the three men may be spared (see our previous statement on this: AS-36-2005; UP-38-2005; UA-49-2005).
Your urgent intervention is required to pressure the Government of Sri Lanka, in particular President Mahinda Rajapakse to appeal for pardon and clemency of its three Sri Lankan citizens. Please also appeal to the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, to spare the lives of the three men.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER 1: (To His Excellency the King of Saudi Arabia)
Abdullah 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)
Your Royal Highness,
SRI LANKA: Three Sri Lankans facing imminent execution suffer severe depression, with one having attempted suicide
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 aware that all three men are suffering severe depression as a result of their predicament, and believe that one of them attempted suicide just recently.
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, which 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 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,
--------------------------------
SAMPLE LETTER 2: (To the President of Sri Lanka)
Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo-1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 333 703
Dear Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse,
SRI LANKA: Three Sri Lankans facing imminent execution suffer severe depression, with one having attempted suicide
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. I am aware that all three men are suffering severe depression as a result of their predicament, and believe that one of them attempted suicide just recently.
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. 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,
---------------
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
