Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of a boy by police personnel from the Thelikada Police Station. Aged only 17, the victim was detained by the police on 12 May 2006 and arrested for suspicion of theft. While in detention the victim was tortured. Upon his release the victim required hospitalisation. His perpetrators are yet to be brought to justice.
On May 12 the victim (whose name we withhold) received a message from the Thelikada police instructing him to attend the police station. Accordingly he visited the station and was ordered by the Officer-In-Charge to stay until 1.30pm. SI Priyantha came and escorted the victim into an interrogation room where he was interrogated about the theft of a mobile telephone. During this process the victim was allegedly shouted at and abused in obscene language.
Soon after, Police Constables Soysa and Premasiri joined in the interrogation and together the officers began assaulting the victim. It was learnt that PC Premasiri twisted one of the victims legs around his neck and whilst in that position severely assaulted him. They continued to mercilessly beat him all the while demanding for the return of the stolen mobile phone. PC Premasiri then proceeded to grab the victim by his neck, force his head between his knees and then press so hard that the victim described the experience as suffocating. The police then removed his clothes and dragged him into the backyard where he was whipped with a piece of wire and sexually molested. After several hours of inhuman and brutal torture, the policemen recorded a statement from the victim before releasing him at approximately 4pm.
Following the incident, the victim returned home but suffered severe pain in his entire body, especially his neck, stomach and spinal cord. Thus the next day on May 13, he visited the Karapitiya hospital and was warded in ward number nine. The victim continues to suffer pain and requires continuous medical attention.
To date, no person has been charged with any offence against the victim.
The Asian Human Rights Commission has been closing monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka. There have been many similar incidences where police officials have abused their powers arbitrarily exercising excessive force in interrogation processes (see further UA-167-2006; UA-147-2006; UA-138-2006). It is concerning that the number of such reported cases have increased significantly in the past year. Such a reality requires the urgent intervention of the appropriate authorities in Sri Lanka to properly address this problem.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the relevant authorities listed below and ask that an impartial investigation be launched into this matter without delay. The alleged perpetrators must be restricted from their duty once the investigation commences and appropriate charges must be filed against them under the Convention against Torture Act No. 22 of 1994 if the allegations are found to be true.
Please also urge the concerned Government agencies to afford medical and rehabilitation assistance to the victim without delay. The victim and his relatives must also be provided with appropriate protection if the situation requires. They must be protected from any harassment and intimidation should they file charges in a court of law against the perpetrators.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ____________,
SRI LANKA: Torture of a boy by the Thelikada Police
Name of victim: Name withheld as the victim is a minor
Names of alleged perpetrators: Officer-in-Charge, Sub-Inspector Priyantha, Police Constables Soysa and Premasiri of the Thelihada police (Galle)
Date of incident: 12 May 2006
Place of incident: Thelikada Police Station
I am concerned to learn of an incident involving the Thelihada Police whereby police personnel from that station arbitrarily arrested, detained and tortured a boy on suspicion of theft of a mobile phone. The boy (whose name is withheld) was summoned by the police on May 12, to which he complied. However, upon arrival at the station the victim was interrogated, assaulted and tortured by several police officers. It was learnt that PC Premasiri twisted one of the victims legs around his neck and whilst in that position severely assaulted him. They continued to mercilessly beat him all the while demanding for the return of the stolen mobile phone. PC Premasiri then proceeded to grab the boy by his neck and forced his head between his knees pressing so hard that the victim described the experience as suffocating. The police then removed his clothes and dragged him into the backyard where they whipped him with a piece of wire and sexually molested him. After several hours of inhuman and brutal torture, the policemen recorded a statement from the victim and released him at approximately 4pm.
On his release the boy was suffering from severe pain to several parts of his body and therefore, on May 13, went to the Karapitiya hospital where he was warded. Though he has since been released the victim continues to suffer from pain and requires constant medical attention.
Despite the severity of his injuries and the crimes committed against him, the victim is yet to receive justice in this case with no person having yet been charged for their actions. I am well aware that this is not an isolated case in Sri Lanka, whereby police personnel have tortured persons under the age of 18. Such conduct by the police is entirely unacceptable and should, under no circumstances, be tolerated.
I therefore call on you to use your authority to ensure that an impartial investigation be launched into this matter without delay. The alleged perpetrators must be restricted from their duty once the investigation commences and appropriate charges must be filed against them under the Convention against Torture Act No. 22 of 1994 if the allegations are found to be true.
I also ask the concerned government agencies to afford medical and rehabilitation assistance to the victim without delay. The victim and his relatives must also be provided with appropriate protection if the situation requires. They must be protected from any harassment and intimidation should they file charges in a court of law against the perpetrators.
I look for your urgent intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse
President
Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka
C/- Office of the President
Temple Trees
150, Galle Road
Colombo 3
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2472100 / +94 11 2446657 (this is the contact for the Secretary to the President)
Email: secretary@presidentsoffice.lk
2. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General's Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
3. National Human Rights Commission
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
4. Mr. Chandra Fernando
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877
5. National Police Commission
3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers,
109 Galle Road
Colombo 03
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 395310
Fax: +94 11 2 395867
E-mail: polcom@sltnet.lk
6. Dr. Hiranthi Wijemanne
National Child Protection Authority
330, Thalawathgoda Road
Madiwella
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 778912/13/14
Fax: +94 11 2 778975
E-mail: ncpa@childprotection.gov.lk
7. Bo Viktor Nylun
Head of Child Protection
UNICEF Sri Lanka
P.O. Box 143, Colombo
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 555 270 (6 lines)
Fax: +94 11 2 551 333
E-mail: colombo@unicef.org
8. Mr. Jacob Egbert Doek
Chairperson
Committee on the Rights of the Child
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9022
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
