SRI LANKA: Brutal torture by officers at the Galewela Police Station 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the case of Vidhanelage Ajith Wickramage, who was arbitrarily arrested by police officers from the Galewela Police Station, and his mother, who was verbally assaulted and threatened by the police officers.  Mr. Wickramage claims that he was brutally tortured by the police, who attacked his head and ears throughout the arrest and detention period. After his release on bail, the victim complained of severe pain in his ear and deafness and so was taken to a private doctor, who informed the family that the victim’s ear was badly damaged.  He was subsequently admitted to a hospital on 29 October 2005 and has been receiving treatment there ever since.

We request your urgent action in asking the Inspector General of the Police to order the Special Investigations Unit to immediately commence an investigation into the alleged conduct of the police.  If it is found that the alleged perpetrators committed crimes against both Ajith Wickramage and his mother, they must be made accountable and if found guilty of torture, indicted under the CAT Act No. 22 of 1994.  Protection must also be afforded to the victim and his family during the investigation of the police officers and compensation needs to be offered to Mr. Wickramage for medical treatment.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
——————————————————-
DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victims: Vidhanelage Gedera Ravindra Ajith Wickramage, and his mother
Alleged perpetrators: Sarath and others from the Galewela Police Station
Place of incident: Siyambalashena, Puwakpitiya, Galewela
Date of incident: 29 October 2005

Case details:

At around 8pm on 29 October 2005, the mother of Ajith Wickramage received news that her son and three others were drunk near a boutique at Puwakpitiya village.  She went with two nephews, Wasantha and Priyantha to bring her son home.  When they arrived at the boutique, only her son was present.  During this time, four police officers arrived at the scene and began scolding the mother, the nephews and Ajith Wickramage and accusing them all of being drunk.  The police attempted to arrest the two nephews, which they objected to stating that they were only there to escort their drunken cousin home.  At that moment, the police officer, Sarath, allegedly brutally attacked the Ajith Wickramage’s ears and also held the victim’s neck and proceeded to hit him on the back of the head.  The mother begged the police officer to stop, which merely made the police officer even angrier and he began to scold the mother in abusive language. He even broke a branch from a tree on the fence and threatened her; thinking that he was going to hit her she retreated.

Ajith Wickramage was then taken to the Galewela police station. The victim claims that he was tortured both on the way to the police station and then later at the police station itself.  Afterwards, the victim was taken to the hospital for a medical certificate where his mother, sister and brother-in-law waited for him until 11.30 at night during which time they noticed that all the police officers were drunk.   The family members were asked to come back the following morning to bail the victim out.

The next morning, after the victim was released from the police station, inquiries were made from the offending police officer about when the hearing would be heard. The family was informed that Ajith Wickramage would be produced before the courts the next day.  However, since it was difficult to find money to fund the case, the case was not heard until November 2.  After going home, the victim slept for the whole day and because of the complaints of severe pain and deafness, he was taken to a private doctor at about five in the evening.  The doctor said that the ear was badly injured and he was admitted to the hospital in Kurunegala at about 10.30pm.  The victim was warded to the Emergency section of the hospital and the doctor there said that since the inner part of the ear was badly damaged, he would need immediate treatment.  To this day, the victim is still in hospital receiving treatment.

The next day, two police officers arrived at the victim’s house and demanded the mother pay Rs. 134 to the shop where the police bought the meals for the victim on the night of the brutal attack.

The government and the law enforcement agencies cannot condone such conduct by the police.  Although the police allege that Ajith Wickramage was publicly drunk this cannot be justification for arbitrarily arresting, detaining and torturing him.  The police must follow correct procedures that adhere to human rights principles, and refrain from all forms of torture.

This case of torture is not unique in Sri Lanka and further highlights the severe discrimination that exists against the poorer sections of the community.  In this case the victim and his mother were rural farmers.  The police regularly target such people as they are seen as the most vulnerable in society.  It is very important that the government of Sri Lanka recognises this dire problem and begins to implement legislation that can change such an oppressive environment.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write to the Inspector General of Police voicing the need to properly and independently investigate the misconduct of the police against Ajith Wickramage and his mother.

 

 

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