{"id":121393,"date":"2014-03-10T15:45:47","date_gmt":"2014-03-10T10:15:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=121393"},"modified":"2014-03-10T16:26:45","modified_gmt":"2014-03-10T10:56:45","slug":"urgent-appeal-human-rights-defender-wanatamulle-sunil-samaradeeras-life-under-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/urgent-appeal-human-rights-defender-wanatamulle-sunil-samaradeeras-life-under-threat\/","title":{"rendered":"Urgent Appeal: Human Rights Defender Wanatamulle Sunil Samaradeera’s Life Under Threat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wanatamulla Sunil Samaradeera<\/span><\/a>\u00a0appeals for protection for himself and his family members and\u00a0justice for the abuse of his fundamental rights.justice for the abuse of his fundamental rights, says the Asian Human Rights Commission.<\/p>\n

We publish below the urgent appeal of AHRC;<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA: The life of a human rights defender is under threat<\/p>\n

ISSUES: Illegal arrest; arbitrary detention; disappearance;
\nabduction; impunity; rule of law<\/p>\n

———————————————————————————————<\/p>\n

Dear friends,<\/p>\n

Sunil Samaradeera of No: 34\/2, Baseline Mawatha, Borella, a human\u00a0rights activist based in Wanathamulla, in Colombo District\u00a0was\u00a0abducted in broad daylight by persons believed to be connected to the\u00a0Secretary of Defense. On 13 of February Sunil had met with the\u00a0Secretary, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa<\/span><\/a>, regarding issues concerning a\u00a0housing scheme which threatens to put several households out of their\u00a0land and according to reports there had been a heated exchange of\u00a0words. Sunil\u2019s abduction happened shortly after that. Sunil\u2019s neighbours\u00a0and colleagues staged a protest by blocking a road and as a\u00a0result two days later he was released. However, he is concerned for\u00a0his personal security and the authorities have made no effort to\u00a0investigate the abduction and bring the perpetrators to justice.<\/p>\n

This case is yet another illustration of the fact that influential or\u00a0well connected people can use the Sri Lankan police to their benefit
\ndespite the fact that the victims are innocent persons.<\/p>\n

\"wanathamulla_sunil_001\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CASE NARRATIVE:<\/p>\n

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated\u00a0information regarding the abduction of Sunil Samaradeera alias Wanathe\u00a0Sunil of No: 34\/2, Baseline Mawatha, Borella, a human rights\u00a0activist\u00a0based in Wanathamulla, in Colombo District. There is grave concern for\u00a0his safety. Sunil was abducted on 15 of February 2014 close to the\u00a0temple at Dematagoda by unknown men in a Pajero. His hands were tied;\u00a0head covered, he was put into the vehicle by force and then his body\u00a0was covered by a polythene sheet. After a journey of about one and\u00a0half hours the vehicle stopped at a house. He was taken inside, put on\u00a0a mat and chained.<\/p>\n

After the news of his abduction spread his wife went to the\u00a0Dematagoda Police Station and made a complaint. Then the residents of\u00a0his housing scheme came to know of the incident and after some time,\u00a0they came to the adjoining main road, Baseline Road, where they
\nstarted a protest by blocking the road and appealed for his release.They urged the authorities to act immediately to find him and provide\u00a0him with protection.<\/p>\n

Sunil has been the organiser of the \u2018Organisation to Protect Houses
\nat Wanathamulla\u2019, 34 Watte, and worked hard against the proposed
\ndemolishing and taking over of their housing scheme by the Urban
\nDevelopment Authority which is overseen by the Secretary of Defence.
\nHe earns his living by selling the eatables like hoppers & string
\nhoppers in a small boutique and further he is having a family with
\nfive children to maintain. On 13 of February he had met with the
\nSecretary, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse in this particular housing scheme
\nand according to reports there had been a heated exchange of words.<\/p>\n

Due to the vehement protest by Sunil\u2019s neighbours he was released
\ntwo days later. When he was released the adductors threatened him not
\nto tell anyone about what had happened to him. They placed him in a
\nvehicle and released on the road with his wrists still bound. He
\nshouted to attract the attention of a passing motor cyclist who
\nstopped and untied him. The motor cyclist took him some distance
\ntowards his place of residence but was reluctant to take him all the
\nway to Wanathamulla. He somehow managed to reach the scene of the
\nprotest and made his appearance known and it was only then that the
\nprotest ended. His colleagues fear that he will be abducted again and
\ncomplain that his life is now in danger.<\/p>\n

At the time of writing there has not been an inquiry by the police.
\nInstead the Police Spokesman stated that it is a drama organized by
\nsome parties interested to create trouble in the area. Sunil along
\nwith several other persons went to the Human Rights Commission of Sri
\nLanka (HRC) on 5 March to complain that no suspect has been arrested
\nby police regarding the abduction on 15 February. Sunil was able to
\nreturn to his people only due to the protests carried out by the
\npeople at Wanathamulla. However, it is believed that his life is under
\nthreat as was stated in the complaint made to the Human Rights
\nCommission.<\/p>\n

Sunil appeals for protection for himself and his family members and
\njustice for the abuse of his fundamental rights.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

SUGGESTED ACTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please send a letter to the authorities listed below expressing your\u00a0concern about this case and requesting an immediate investigation into\u00a0the allegations of abduction of a person by the police perpetrators,\u00a0and the prosecution of those proven to be responsible under the\u00a0criminal law of the country for misusing the powers of the state. The\u00a0officers involved must also be subjected to internal investigations\u00a0for the breach of the department orders as issued by the police\u00a0department. Further, please also request the NPC and the IGP to have a\u00a0special investigation into the malpractices of the police officers for\u00a0abusing their powers.<\/p>\n

Please note that the AHRC is also written a separate letter to the\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in this\u00a0regard.<\/p>\n

To support this appeal, please click here:
\n<http:\/\/www.urgentappeals.net\/support.php?ua=AHRC-UAC-029-2014<\/a>><\/p>\n

SAMPLE LETTER:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear ________,<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA: The life of a human rights defender is under threat<\/p>\n

Name of the victim: Sunil Samaradeera alias Wanathe Sunil of No:
\n34\/2, Baseline Mawatha, Borella<\/p>\n

Alleged perpetrator: Police officers attach to the Borella Police
\nStation<\/p>\n

Date of incident: 15 February 2014<\/p>\n

Place of incident: Borella Police Division<\/p>\n

I am writing to express my serious concern over the case of Mr. Sunil\u00a0Samaradeera alias Wanathe Sunil of No: 34\/2, Baseline Mawatha,\u00a0Borella. Sunil is a human rights activist based in Wanathamulla, in\u00a0Colombo District. Sunil was abducted on 15 of February 2014 close to\u00a0the temple at Dematagoda by unknown men in a Pajero. His hands were\u00a0tied; head covered, he was put into the vehicle by force and then his\u00a0body was covered by a polythene sheet. After a journey of about one\u00a0and half hours the vehicle stopped at a house. He was taken inside,\u00a0put on a mat and chained.<\/p>\n

After the news of his abduction spread his wife went to the\u00a0Dematagoda Police Station and made a complaint. Then the residents of\u00a0his housing scheme came to know of the incident and after some time,\u00a0they came to the adjoining main road, Baseline Road, where they\u00a0started a protest by blocking the road and appealed for his release.They urged the authorities to act immediately to find him and provide\u00a0him with protection.<\/p>\n

Sunil has been the organiser of the \u2018Organisation to Protect Houses\u00a0at Wanathamulla\u2019, 34 Watte, and worked hard against the proposed\u00a0demolishing and taking over of their housing scheme by the Urban\u00a0Development Authority which is overseen by the Secretary of Defence.\u00a0He earns his living by selling the eatables like hoppers & string\u00a0hoppers in a small boutique and further he is having a family with\u00a0five children to maintain. On 13 of February he had met with the\u00a0Secretary, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse in this particular housing scheme\u00a0and according to reports there had been a heated exchange of words.<\/p>\n

Due to the vehement protest by Sunil\u2019s neighbours he was released\u00a0two days later. When he was released the adductors threatened him not\u00a0to tell anyone about what had happened to him. They placed him in a\u00a0vehicle and released on the road with his wrists still bound. He\u00a0shouted to attract the attention of a passing motor cyclist who\u00a0stopped and untied him. The motor cyclist took him some distance\u00a0towards his place of residence but was reluctant to take him all the\u00a0way to Wanathamulla. He somehow managed to reach the scene of the\u00a0protest and made his appearance known and it was only then that the\u00a0protest ended. His colleagues fear that he will be abducted again and\u00a0complain that his life is now in danger.<\/p>\n

At the time of writing there has not been an inquiry by the police.\u00a0Instead the Police Spokesman stated that it is a drama organised by\u00a0some parties interested to create trouble in the area. Sunil along\u00a0with several other persons went to the Human Rights Commission of Sri\u00a0Lanka (HRC) on 5 March to complain that no suspect has been arrested\u00a0by police regarding the abduction on 15 February. Sunil was able to\u00a0return to his people only due to the protests carried out by the\u00a0people at Wanathamulla. However, it is believed that his life is under\u00a0threat as was stated in the complaint made to the Human Rights\u00a0Commission.<\/p>\n

I therefore request your urgent intervention to ensure that the\u00a0authorities listed below instigate an immediate investigation into the\u00a0allegations of abduction and the lack of any investigation into this\u00a0case. I urge you to ensure the prosecution of those proven to be\u00a0responsible under the criminal law of the country for illegal\u00a0abduction, misusing powers of state officers and for wrongful\u00a0detention. The officers involved must also be subjected to internal\u00a0investigations for the breach of the department orders as issued by
\nthe department.\u00a0I also urge that protection be provided to the victim and his family<\/p>\n

forthwith.<\/p>\n

Yours sincerely,<\/p>\n

———————————————–<\/p>\n

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:<\/p>\n

1. Mr. N K Illangakoon<\/p>\n

Inspector General of Police<\/p>\n

New Secretariat<\/p>\n

Colombo 1<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA<\/p>\n

Fax: +94 11 2 440440 \/ 327877<\/p>\n

E-mail:\u00a0igp@police.lk<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Mr. Sarath Palith Fernando<\/p>\n

Attorney General<\/p>\n

Attorney General’s Department<\/p>\n

Colombo 12<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0+94 11 2 436421<\/a><\/p>\n

E-mail:\u00a0ag@attorneygeneral.gov.lk<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Secretary<\/p>\n

National Police Commission<\/p>\n

3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers<\/p>\n

109 Galle Road<\/p>\n

Colombo 03<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA<\/p>\n

Tel:\u00a0+94 11 2 395310<\/a><\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0+94 11 2 395867<\/a><\/p>\n

E-mail:\u00a0npcgen@sltnet.lk<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0polcom@sltnet.lk<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Secretary<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission<\/p>\n

No: 165 Kynsey Road,<\/p>\n

Borella, Colombo 8.<\/p>\n

SRI LANKA<\/p>\n

Fax:\u00a0+94 11 2694924<\/a><\/p>\n

Email:\u00a0sechrc@sltnet.lk<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n

Urgent Appeals Programme<\/p>\n

Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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