The three government commissions established to inquire into disappearances, which took place in large scale in Sri Lanka, have established 16,782 cases of such disappearances. (NGOs have estimated much larger number) The commissions have spend almost three years for inquiries and published their report at the end of last year. However no action has been taken on these reports. The reports have revealed that 14.70% of the disappearances are children, that is persons between 10-19 years. This Campaign follows-up the September 1997, Urgent Appeal AHRC UA 970917: 16,742 Disappearances Established: What Next? . We are seeking your special support for an extra-ordinary campaign relating to large-scale disappearances of children in Sri Lanka. We wish to conduct an extra-ordinary Campaign to get redress to the victims of these disappearances. We particularly stress on prosecutions relating to the disappeared children.
We thought that due to your special interest in human rights you would take a special interest on this issue. We call this an extra-ordinary campaign because we are calling upon our partners and friends to do something more than sending a single letter in response to our appeal.
The main objectives are to get the Sri Lankan Government to implement recommendation of the Disappearances Commissions and to take special action related to the disappeared children.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: · circulate the appeal to as many persons as possible, · get it translated to many languages, · give it as much publicity as possible · write letters to the Sri Lanka Government asking for action · write letters to the foreign Ministry of your own government.
We will also send other document at regular intervals to keep the Campaign alive, till the objectives are achieved. We are confident that a massive campaign can achieve these objectives.
It would be very helpful if you can from time to time let us know what progress you have been making on this issue. If you need any particular assistance for this Campaign kindly contact us.
The attached report is a review of a meeting held on this issue in February this year. The attached FILE is a large winword rtf file with graphics – if there are any difficult printing or reading please inform us. Then we may have to send you a text version of the file and the graphics in separte files. Below are \”Sample Letters\” to assist you in writing letters.
We hope you will continue your support!!
Sincerely Yours,
Asian Human Rights Commission
1st Sample Letter
Her Excellency President Chandrika B. Kumaratunga
Presidential Secretariat
Temple Trees
Colombo 3 Sri Lanka
Fax: 94 – 1 – 333 – 703
To the President of Sri Lanka
Your Excellency,
Redress relating to Disappearances- Particularly for Children which constitutes 14.70% of the Disappearances
We understand that though the disappearance commissions appointed by your Excellency have submitted their reports no action has been taken on this matter so far. We are particularly disturbed due to the revelation that over 14.70% of these disappearances are of persons who belonged to 0-19 age group. We urge that action on these taken be taken on an urgent basis and that actions be taken to prevent future occurences.
Yours sincerely,
……………………
2nd Sample Letter
Jusice Sarath Silva
Hon. Attorney General of Sri Lanka
Attorney Generals Department
Hulsdorps
Colombo 12
Sri Lanka
Dear Attorney General Redress relating to Disappearances- Particularly for Children which constitutes 14.70% of the Disappearances We understand that though the disappearances commissions appointed by the President of Sri Lanka have submitted their reports no action has been taken on this matter so far. We are particularly disturbed due to the revelation that over 14.70 % of these disappearances are of persons who belonged to 0-19 age group. We urge that action on these taken be taken on an urgent basis and that actions be taken to prevent future occurrences.
3rd Sample Letter
To The Foreign Minister of your country
Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs .
Dear Sir/ Madam. Redress relating to Disappearances – Particularly for Children which constitutes 14.70 of the Disappearances in Sri Lanka
You may be aware of the large-scale disappearances, which has been taking place in Sri Lanka. We understand that though the disappearances commissions appointed by the President of Sri Lanka have submitted their reports no action has been taken on this matter so far. We are particularly disturbed due to the revelation that over 14.70 of these disappearances are of persons who belonged to 0-19 age group. As matter of grave human rights violation our country as friendly country to Sri Lanka need to take serious note of this issue We urge to raise this matter with Sri Lankan government and let us know our governments concern of the need to take serious action on this issue on an urgent basis .
Kindly note the new e-mail address for AHRC Urgent Appeals: ua@ahrchk.org
