[Re: UP-043-2006: SRI LANKA: Young man who was brutally tortured by the Horana police now threatened to withdraw his Supreme Court Case; UP-031-2006: SRI LANKA: Supreme Court granted to leave to proceed in a torture case for the compensation filed by S.A. Akila Chaturanga; UA-006-2006: SRI LANKA: Arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of a man by the Horana police]
———————————
SRI LANKA: Harassment and intimidation; torture; inaction of the authorities; collapse of rule of law
——————————————————
Dear friends,
In January 2006 the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) reported an incident regarding the arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of a man by police personnel from the Horana Police Station (UA-006-2006). As mentioned in the original appeal and the subsequent updates (UP-031-2006 and UP-043-2006) Akila Chaturanga complained of being severely tortured by Sergeant Caldera and others of the Horana police on 22 December 2005. According to the victim he had been arrested and tortured at the instigation of an area lawyer who accused him of stealing cattle.
Thereafter, on 20 January 2006, Mr. Chaturanga filed fundamental rights case No. 29/06 before the Supreme Court and subsequently the Court granted leave to proceed in the said case. However, Mr. Chaturanga now complains that Sergeant Caldera and his colleagues are repeatedly harassing and intimidating him to withdraw the said case. He says that these policemen have on several occasions visited his home as well as his relatives homes and pressured them to have the case withdrawn. He also complains that he is harassed in a similar manner when he attends the police disciplinary inquiry against the alleged perpetrators. In fact, he now strongly believes that rather than inquiring into the conduct of the alleged perpetrators, these inquiries are actually utilised by the police to intimidate, threaten and/or coerce torture victims into withdrawing their complaints against the police.
Although the police department, including the Inspector General of Police, has on several instances been notified in writing about these threats, little or no action has been taken to prevent them or to provide protection to the victim. Exacerbating the situation is the fact that the alleged perpetrators of this crime continue to hold their post at the same police station and are thus afforded a free-hand at intimidation and harassment of Mr. Chaturanga and his family.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write a letter of concern to the relevant authorities below. Of paramount importance is the victim and his familys safety. Action must be taken against those police officers who are responsible for harassing and intimidating the victim.
To support this appeal, please click: 
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
SRI LANKA: Intimidation of torture victim by Horana police
I am writing in regards to the current treatment of torture victim Mr. Akila Chaturanga who, it is claimed, was severely tortured by Sergeant Caldera and others of the Horana police on 22 December 2005. According to the victim he had been arrested and tortured at the instigation of an area lawyer who accused him of stealing cattle.
A fundamental rights case (No. 29/06) was filed before the Supreme Court and the Court granted leave to proceed in the said case. However, Mr. Chaturanga now complains that Sergeant Caldera and his colleagues are repeatedly harassing and intimidating him to withdraw the said case. He says that these policemen have on several occasions visited his home as well as his relatives homes and pressured them to have the case withdrawn. He also complains that he is harassed in a similar manner when he attends the police disciplinary inquiry against the alleged perpetrators. In fact, he now strongly believes that rather than inquiring into the conduct of the alleged perpetrators, these inquiries are actually utilised by the police to intimidate, threaten and/or coerce torture victims into withdrawing their complaints against the police.
Although the police department, including the Inspector General of Police, has on several instances been notified in writing about these threats, little or no action has been taken to prevent them or to provide protection to the victim. Exacerbating the situation is the fact that the alleged perpetrators of this crime continue to hold their post at the same police station and are thus afforded a free-hand at intimidation and harassment of Mr. Chaturanga and his family.
I therefore seek your intervention in ensuring the safety of the victim and his family. Protection should be provided to him and action taken against those threatening and intimidating him. Unless such action is taken, not only will Mr. Chaturangas security be in question, but the pursuit of justice in his fundamental rights case will also be jeopardised.
Yours sincerely,
——————————————-
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 contact for Secretary to 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
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net
3. 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
4. Mr. Chandra Fernando
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877
Email: chandralaw@police.lk
5. Secretary
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. Prof. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 9179016 (general)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
