Dear friends
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has grave concerns that the family of torture victim, Dawundage Pushpakumara (14 years old), is being threatened by the police and a local politician after they made a complaint to the human rights organization. On 17 September 2003, the AHRC issued a previous Urgent Appeal regarding the case of Dawundage Pushpakumara, who was tortured by the Officer In Charge and other officers of the Saliyawewa Police Post in Putlam. Your urgent action is required to pressure the local authorities to immediately intervene in this case in order to ensure the security of victim’s family.
To see our previous Urgent Appeal regarding this case, please visit: http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2003/539/
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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UPDATED INFORMATION:
Police officers of the Saliyawewa Polist Post, as well as prominent politicians, are threatening to burn the family’s house of torture victim, Dawundage Pushpakumara if they pursue their complaints on this matter. Dawundage Pushpakumara, aged 14, was arbitrarily arrested and tortured by Officer In Charge and other officers of Saliyawewa Police Post in Putlam from 1 September to 2 September 2003. After he was released, the victim’s family asked a human rights organization to investigate their son’s case.
The victim’s family is very poor, and so Pushpakumara had to stop his studies when he was 12 years old and support his family working as a quarry worker. When he was released from the police station, the police impeded the victims’ obtaining medical treatment because they were afraid that the medical record of the victim’s injuries could be used against them in courts. With the help of the Child Rights Authority, the victim later left the area and was hospitalized. Even though he has been discharged from hospital, he is still undergoing treatment. The victim has gone into hiding, and a human rights NGO is taking care of him now. The officer in charge of the police station, who allegedly engaged torture, is still working there. This prominent police station, which has well known record for using violence, has also sent threats to the victim’s family.
If the family’s house is burned down, they will lose everything that they have. Strong action is required to stop this intimidation and ensure the security of the victim’s family.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Write a letter to:
1 Hon. Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe
Prime Minister
Cambridge Place, Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 2 682905
E-mail: secpm@sltnet.lk or bradmanw@slt.lk
2. Hon. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 2 436 421
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net or counsel@sri.lanka.net
3. Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC
Chairman National Police Commission
69-1 Ward Place, Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 2 691 926
Fax HOME: +941 2 674148
4. National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 1 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 1 2 694 924
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
5. Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur 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
and at:
International Relations
Maastricht University
The Netherlands
Tel: 31-43-3883233 (Assistant: Chantal Kuipers)
E-mail: th.vanboven@ir.unimaas.nl
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear
Re: The family of 14-year-old torture victim threatened by the police and a local politician after making a complaint and they need protection
I am writing to bring to your attention to a severe threat made by the police to the family of 14-year-old torture victim.
Police officers of the Saliyawewa Polist Post, as well as a prominent politician are threatening to burn the family's house of torture victim, Dawundage Pushpakumara if they pursue their complaints on this matter. Dawundage Pushpakumara, aged 14, was arbitrarily arrested and tortured by Officer In Charge and other officers of Saliyawewa Police Post in Putlam from 1 September to 2 September 2003. After he was released, the victim's family asked a human rights organization to investigate their son's case.
When he was released from the police station, the police impeded the victim's obtaining medical treatment because they were afraid that the medical record of the victim's injuries would be used against them in court. The officer in charge of the police station, who allegedly took part in the torture, is still working there. This prominent police station, which has well known record for use of violence, has also sent threats to the victim's family. The victim has gone into hiding.
I urge you to take appropriate action to protect the victim's family and the victim. I also urge you to transfer the OIC and the other police officers away from the police station until disciplinary action is taken against them.
Sincerely,
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Thank you.
Kim Soo A
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
