Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of yet another disappearance. The victim, Eldrin Mathew, was taken by four persons on the pretext of questioning on 14 February 2007. His whereabouts remain unknown since then. The perpetrators were seen putting a placard marked with “Police” in the dashboard of the van they were using, but there has not been effective investigation to identify them.
CASE DETAILS: (According to the victim’s wife, Eldrin Mathew Vasuhi)
Eldrin Mathew (34) was employed at the port Authority in Colombo. He was working as a Winch Operator in the High Pier Bridge with Token No W 1556. He was earlier assigned at Trincomalee prior to his transfer to Colombo in 2001.
On 14 February 2007, at about 6:00pm four persons came to Mathew’s boarding house located at No. 44/33, St. Anthony’s Mawatha, Colombo. The perpetrators reportedly told him that he was needed for questioning. They took him towards their van parked close by. Once they get inside the van, the perpetrators placed a placard marked with “Police” at the van’s dashboard before leaving. That was the last time he was seen.
The victim’s wife, Eldrin Mathew Vasuhi, filed a complaint at the Kotahena police station following the disappearance of her husband. She likewise informed the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in Colombo. Her complaint was registered as HRC 1047/07. She also approached surrounding police stations and security camps but she could not find him. There has not been any progress of the case as well following his disappearance.
At the time the victim’s disappearance, his family was heavily depending on his income for their daily living. His wife had no other means of livelihood. The victim’s disappearance had also seriously affected his 6-year-old son mentally and emotionally.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
The AHRC in recent times has reported an increasing number of cases of disappearance in Sri Lanka. There is also a resurgence of abductions perpetrated by men riding in white vans, which was common in previous years.
On May 8 alone, two persons were forcibly abducted from their place in Colombo within hours of each other by persons on white vans. One victim was taken by persons who introduced themselves are police officer while the other victim was taken at his workplace by force. For further details of the case please read: UA-163-2007. Their whereabouts remained unknown.
The AHRC has also issued several statements regarding these cases of forcible abduction and disappearance which can be read at: AHRC-OL-014-2007; AS-082-2007; AS-027-2007.
You can also read the list of names of victims of disappearance at: UP-061-2006; UA-113-2007; UA-063-2007.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities requesting them to locate the victim, Eldrin Mathew. They must actively his family in locating him and should also consider affording them adequate assistance. His wife and son had been struggling to meet their needs. The victim was the breadwinner of their family and his wife had no other means of livelihood.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _________,
SRI LANKA: Yet another disappearance of a man in Colombo
Name of victim: Eldrin Mathew (34), he was working as a Winch Operator in the High Pier Bridge, Colombo
Alleged perpetrators: Four unidentified persons
Place of incident: No. 44/33, St. Anthony’s Mawatha, Colombo
Date of incident: 14 February 2007 at 6:00pm
I am writing to draw your attention to yet another disappearance of a man, Eldrin Mathew, on 14 February 2007. I have learned that Mathew was taken by four unidentified men on pretext that he would be subjected to questioning at his place but he has disappeared since then.
I am gravely concerned by the victim’s disappearance. His disappearance did not only caused serious emotional and mental agony towards his wife and son, they also are forced to survived with their daily lives without him. I am informed that the victim is the breadwinner of the family and that his wife has no other source of income to support their family on her own.
I urge you to exhaust all means to locate the victim’s whereabouts thoroughly investigated and the circumstances behind his disappearance. The authorities concerned must also actively cooperate and involved the victim’s family in this process. The placing of “Police” placard into the dashboard of the perpetrators’ vehicle where they took the victim should be look into in order to identify his perpetrators effectively. Should there be involvement by the authorities or not, it must be determined by way of effective inquiry.
I also urge you to provide adequate and necessary assistance to the victim’s family. As you are aware, the victim’s disappearance has caused his wife and son tremendous mental and emotional anguish. They also had to survive on their own their daily needs. The authorities must afford them appropriate assistance, particularly to treat the trauma they continually suffer due to victim’s loss. They should also ensure they are afforded assistance for their livelihood.
I am aware of the increasing number of cases of forcible abduction and enforced disappearance in Sri Lanka in recent times. I am gravely concerned that the action of the authorities to address this fell short of what is required. The whereabouts of most disappeared victim remained unknown, and there has not been effective remedies afforded to the victims’ families.
I trust that you will take action in this case.
Yours sincerely,
—————————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Neville Piyadigama
Chairperson
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: npcgen@sltnet.lk
2. Mr. Victor Perera
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk
3. Secretary
Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order
15/5, Baladaksha Mawatha,
Colombo 03,
SRI LANKA
Tel: 94-11 2 430860-9, 430878-9 or 435879 (for the secretary)
Fax: 94 11 2 446300 or 421529
E-mail: secdef@sltnet.lk
4. Secretary
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
5. Mr. C.R. De Silva
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net
6. Mr. Diego Garcia-Sayan
Chairperson
UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
