Dear Friends
Following is an URGENT update on the case of Mr. Lalith Rajapakse, a torture victim in Sri Lanka. Following letter has been sent by the AHRC to the National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to seek their urgent intervention. We are requesting you to act urgently by sending letters to relevant authorities who could provide due protection to the victim and victim’s grandfather who is the complainant in this case.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
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09June 2002
Secretary
National Human Rights Commission
Sri Lanka
URGENT MESSAGE
This Is Further To AHRC’s Report Made On 8th June 2002 On The Same Case
Case Of Lalith Rajapakse: Torture By Kandana Police — Torture Causing Traumatic Encephalitis
AHRC has received further information on this case;
1. Mr. Bopearachchige Lal Appuhamy – 532/57 Wivekastana Road, Kapuwatte, Ja-ela, a dry fish trader who has been a long acquaintance of Elaris (the grandfather of Lalith Rajapakse) was visited by Madu Madurawala today, with a message from The Officer In Charge (OIC) of Kandana Police Station.
2. The message was this (a). Ask Lal Appuhamy to put poison on the dry fish that will be purchased by Elaris, the grand father of the Lalith Rajapakse, who has refused to withdraw the complaints made on behalf of Lalith Rajapakse of torture by Kandana Police; (b). to inform of any place Elaris may be going to have liquor, so that people of such a place can be asked to put poison on Elaris’s drinks; (d) that gangs will come and destroy Elaris’s house; (d) five a contracts have being given to a person at Hunupitiya to assassinate Lal Appuhamy.
Meanwhile, messages have been send for Lal Appuhamy to come to Kandana Police Station. As mentioned in yesterday’s complaint, Lal Appuhamy was brought to Kandana police station yesterday and was rescued by the intervention of lawyer, Vernon Cooray.
We urge you to kindly act urgently to protect persons who are exposed to all this only due to coming forward to complaint about a human rights abuse.
Thank you.
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To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Hon. Prime Minister
19 year old Lalith Rajapakse of Jaela was tortured by the police at the Kandana Police station on the 19th and 20th April 2002 causing traumatic encephalitis. This case has been brought to the attention of the National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.
Asian Human Rights Commission has today learned that the Kandana Police OIC has sent thugs to intimidate the Elaris, the victim’s grandfather who is the complainant in this case, trough Elaris’s close acquaintances. There have been threats to assassinate Elaris.
I am very concerned of this victim and his family whose rights have been violated by the agency who is supposed to protect their rights which is police. Further, police has gone to the extent of intimidating the family of the victim and even threatening to assassinate victim’s father.
I urge you to use all your authorities to protect the victim and his family and through all possible interventions.
I believe that your intervention could help bring real justice to the victims of this case thus giving a strong message to the society and the international community of the Sri Lankan Government’s commitment to uphold the principles of rule of law and its international treaty obligations.
Thanking you.
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: Dear Inspector General of Police
Mr. B.M. Liyanage
Deputy Inspector General of Police
DIG’s Office
Colombo, SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 328874
SALUTATION: Dear Deputy Inspector General of Police
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
