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Urgent campaigns / Urgent Interventions / Sri Lanka / 2012 / February

Sri Lanka: Abduction of Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan who filed a case against the police for torture

Case LKA 160212

Abduction/ Fear for the safety and the physical and psychological integrity

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Sri Lanka.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by a reliable source about the abduction and disappearance since 11 February 2012 of Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan, a 42-year-old Tamil businessman, who filed a case against the police for torture, unlawful arrest and detention. OMCT fears for his safety.

According to the information received, on 11 February 2012 at around 3.30 pm, Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan was abducted outside his home, in Colombo, by seven armed men in plain clothes, who had hidden in the compound of his residence. He was reportedly grabbed by his neck and forced into a white van with the registration n° 254-2106. The van then took the direction of the suburban town of Dehiwela.

According to the same information received, Mrs. Prabaharan went on the same day to the Wallewathe Police station to file a complaint on the abduction of her husband (recorded under the number 224/222/GCIB). Later that day, she received a call from her husband’s mobile number. The caller, who was speaking in Tamil, reportedly asked for money. Mrs. Prabaharan immediately informed the police. At the time of issuing this urgent appeal, the whereabouts and fate of Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan were unknown.

OMCT has been informed that, at the time of the abduction, Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan had filed a fundamental rights application with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka against senior police officers, the Attorney General and eight others, alleging torture, unlawful arrest and detention. Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan had been detained on suspicion of being a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) from May 2009 to September 2011, when he was released due to lack of evidence. He had reportedly been extensively tortured during his detention.

The Supreme Court had granted leave to proceed and the hearing was to begin on 13 February 2012. Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan was abducted two days before the fundamental rights petition was to be supported in the courts.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned about the safety of Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan, as his whereabouts and fate remain unknown. OMCT fears that his adduction is linked to the fundamental rights petition he filed. OMCT urges the competent authorities to immediately locate and disclose his whereabouts, as well as guarantee his physical and psychological integrity at all times, in accordance with international human rights law, in particular the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Sri Lanka urging them to:

i.               Immediately locate and disclose the whereabouts of Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan;

ii.             Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan as well as of his family;

iii.            Carry out a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the abduction and disappearance of Mr. Ramasamy Prabaharan, the results of which must be made public, in order to bring those responsible before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;

iv.           Ensure that an effective remedy, including the right to full redress with compensation and rehabilitation be granted to the victim concerned;

v.             Ensure the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses

Ø      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 472100 / +94 11 2446657, Email: secretary@presidentsoffice.lk

Ø      Mr. N.K. Illangakoon, Inspector General of Police (IGP), New Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka, Fax: +94 11 2 440440, E-mail: igp@police.lk

Ø      Shanthi Eva Wanasundara, Attorney General, Attorney General's Department, Colombo 12, Sri Lanka, Fax: +94 11 2 436421

Ø      Secretary, National Police Commission, 3rd Floor Rotunda Towers, 109 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka,Tel/Fax: +94 11 2 395960, E-mail: polcom@sltnet.lk

Ø      Secretary, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, No 108 Barnes Place, Colombo 07
Sri Lanka,Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806, Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470, E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk

Ø      Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Rue de Moillebeau 56, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 734 90 84, Email: mission.srilanka@ties.itu.int

Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Sri Lanka in your respective countries.

***

Geneva, 16 February 2012

Kindly inform OMCT of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply

Properties

Date: February 16, 2012
Activity: Urgent campaigns
Type: Urgent Interventions
Country: Sri Lanka

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