Urgent medical help needed for torture victim
SRI LANKA – Torture by police, impunity, denial of proper rehabilitation
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Latest update available: Court orders Release Of Lalith Rajapakse
A young torture victim from a poor family is fighting for his life in Sri Lanka. We are asking you to write today to the Sri Lankan authorities to request urgent medical attention that may save this man’s life and help him return to full physical and mental health. Details of the case, a sample letter and contact details follow.
CASE DETAILS
Name of victim: Lalith Rajapakse
Age: 19
Address: No.328-C, Batagama North, Jaela, Sri Lanka
Currently at: Ward No. 55, Colombo Central Hospital, Sri Lanka
Rajapakse was taken into police custody by Police Officer Wijeratne (Badge No. 31125) and two others, of Kabdana police station on suspicion of theft on the 19th of April while he was sleeping at a friend’s house. He was assaulted by the police and taken to the police station. His family was not informed of the arrest, and only learnt of his arrest the following day (April 20th). When the grandfather of the victim visited the Kandana police station, he found Rajapakse lying on the floor of the police cell. Fearing the boy was dead, the grandfather began to cry out, “they have killed him”. Some police officers arrived at the scene hearing the cries and dragged the boy out of the cell, claiming that Rajapakse had suffered a ‘fit’. Rajapakse was later admitted to the Ragama hospital and then immediately sent to the Central hospital due to his serious condition.
Rajapakse was in an unconscious state until approximately the 7th of May, when he regained a degree of consciousness. To date, the doctors are still unable to give an assurance that the critical stage is over. In addition to his physical malaise, he appears to be completely broken down psychologically and shows tremendous fear at the sight of persons in uniform. Rajapakse’s family is very poor and unable to provide any special medical attention for him. Rapid intervention by State authorities is vital at this stage.
No inquiry has been initiated thus far regarding this brutal act of toture, though compaints have been made by the family.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Write quickly to the Sri Lankan authorities, requesting urgent medical assistance for Rajapakse and also asking for an investigation into his torture at the hands of Officer Wijeratne and others at the Kabdana police station. Please send copies to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and also the Chair of the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Hon. Prime Minister
19 year old Lalith Rajapakse of Jaela is currently in a critical contidion in Ward 55 of Colombo Central Hospital due to a brutal assult by police officers. Your rapid intervention to provide urgent medical assistance for Mr. Rajapakse may save his life.
Mr. Rajapakse suffered the torture on 19th April at the hands of Police Officer Wijeratne (No. 31125) and two others, of Kabdana police station. The victim remained completely unconscious until the 7th of May and remains in a critical condition. The complaint of torture brings a heavy moral and legal responsibility on the government to ensure the victim’s safety, and to ensure an independent assessment of his physical and psychological health. We seek your intervention to save this young man’s life and also to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.
Yours sincerely
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CC: UN Special Rapportuer on Torture
Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission
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SEND LETTERS TO
Honourable Prime Minister
Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe
Cambridge Place
Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
Tel/Fax: +94 1 682905
Email: secpm@sltnet.lk
SALUTATION: Hon. Prime Minister
Mr. B.L.V. Kodituwakku
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1,
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 446174
SALUTATION:
Mr. B.M. Liyanage
Deputy Inspector General of Police
DIG’s Office
Colombo, SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 328874
SALUTATION: Dear Deputy Inspector General
SSP Jayalath Abesiri Gunawardene
Superintendent of Police
Area Police Headquarters
Paliyagoda
Kelaniya, SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 911374
SALUTATION: Dear Superintendent
Hon. Mr. K.C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney – General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 436 421
SALUTATION: Dear Attorney General
SEND A COPY TO
Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917-9016
E-mail: secrt.hchr@unog.ch
Please mark “URGENT ATTENTION: MR. VAN BOVEN”
Mr. Fais Musthapa
Chairperson
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
No. 50, Dr. N. m. Perera Mawatha
Borella, Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
FAX: +941 694 924
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
SALUTATION: Dear Mr. Musthapa
*** Please send a copy of your letter to AHRC Urgent Appeals:
Email: <ua@ahrchk.org>
Fax: +(852) – 26986367
Please contact the Urgent Appeals coordinator if you require more
information or wish to report human rights violations.
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AHRC Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
Unit D, 7th Floor, Mongkok Commercial Centre,
16 – 16B Argyle Street, Kowloon, HONGKONG
Tel: +(852) – 2698-6339
Fax: +(852) – 2698-6367
E-mail: ua@ahrchk.org
Please contact the AHRC Urgent Appeals Coordinator if you require
further information or to make requests for further appeals.
