Arrest of HRDs in Sri Lanka:Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) ; Charge or release all others

HC Navi Pillay is being welcomed by Vibhushika Palendran (13), (right) who was arressed withher mother H ! "ayakumari 19th March, 2014 Statement condemning the arbitrary arrest and detention of Human Rights Defenders, Ruki Fernando, Father Praveen Mahesan, victims and their families #e, the undersigned welcome the release o$ %rominent &ri 'ankan Human ights !e$enders (H !s) uki (ernando and (r) Praveen *ahesan on 1+th *arch ,-1.) #e however strongly condemn their arbitrary arrest and detention by the /errorism 0nvestigation !ivision (/0!) in 1ilinochchi (Northern Province) on 12th *arch ,-1.) #e also note, that this release was an e3ce%tion to the general %attern, and was only made %ossible by sustained %ressure and e$$orts by a wide range o$ individuals, organi4ations and 5overnments advocating with the &ri 'ankan 5overnment to secure their release) #e view with grave concern the arrest and detention o$ Nitharshana o$ Visuwamadu on 1,th *arch, 6alendran "eyakumari o$ !harma%uram 1illinochchi and 1) &harmila o$ Paalai 7otru, /rincomalee both on 13th *arch, and call $or them to be charged or released under ordinary law and to ensure their %hysical sa$ety) #e condemn all such acts o$ arrest and intimidation against activists, victims and their $amilies, %articularly in the North and 8ast, coinciding with the 9N Human ights Council sessions in 5eneva)

uki (ernando is an activist a$$iliated with a number o$ institutions including the ights Now: Collective $or !emocracy and 0n$orm Human ights !ocumentation Center) (r) Praveen *ahesan, is a Catholic %riest based in the North o$ &ri 'anka) 6oth H !s have worked closely with victims o$ human rights violations including $amilies o$ the disa%%eared in $ormer war a$$ected areas in the North and 8ast o$ &ri 'anka) /heir work has $ocused on su%%orting the $amilies o$ victims o$ human rights abuses; to listen to their stories, to $ind ways o$ su%%orting the $amilies o$ the missing and to $ind redress and hel% them $ile com%laints) /heir accessibility and their %ersonal commitment to the victims o$ human rights in the North and 8ast in %articular, earned the res%ect o$ con$lict a$$ected communities and activists within and outside &ri 'anka) <t around 1- %m on 12th *arch, uki in$ormed several colleagues that he and (r) Praveen were being =uestioned at the 1ilinochchi Police &tation) !es%ite a%%eals by their lawyers $or in$ormation on their whereabouts, the %olice and the /0! %rovided deliberate misin$ormation as to where the H !s were being held and no reasons were %rovided $or their arrest) #e are now in$ormed that $ollowing their arrest, the H !s were harshly interrogated by the /0! at the 1illinochchi Police &tation $or around three hours and taken to the o$$ice o$ the &u%erintendant o$ Police in Vavuniya where they were held $or around two hours be$ore being brought to Colombo) /he H !s were brought to the /0! o$$ice in Colombo at around 11)3- am on 1>th *arch and held and =uestioned until their release at around 1)3- am on 1+th *arch ,-1.) uki (ernando was e3tensively =uestioned on his human rights work, s%eci$ically his involvement in sending in$ormation to be used at the Human ights Council &ession in 5eneva) #e view with concern that $or the entire %eriod o$ their detention, both H !s were denied access to their lawyers des%ite re%eated re=uests by uki (ernando initially at the %oint o$ arrest in 1illinochchi and later at the /0! in Colombo, to the 7$$icer in Charge /0! and the !e%uty 0ns%ector 5eneral /0!) uki (ernando in his statement to the National Human ights Commission (NH C) o$$icers at the /0! in Colombo, among other re=uests, asked that he be allowed access to his lawyers) &everal lawyers %ersonally visited the /0! in Colombo and also made a written re=uest on 1>th *arch based on instructions and assurances given by the /0!) 7n 1?th *arch, the lawyers $iled a com%laint No H C 1,@.A1. with the National Human ights Commission (NH C) regarding the denial o$ access) !es%ite these e$$orts and assurances by the /0!, the lawyers were never %ermitted access to visit uki (ernando or (r) Praveen during their detention) uki (ernandoBs %arents were delivered a notice o$ arrest at around 11)-- am on 1>th *arch) 6oth H !s immediate $amily was %ermitted to meet them $or a $ew minutes in the %resence o$ /0! o$$icer) (r) Praveen was also %ermitted a visit by two Catholic Priests on 1?th *arch) uki (ernandoBs %arents $iled a com%laint under No) H CA1,@@A1. with the NH C on 1?th *arch ,-1. regarding his arbitrary arrest and detention) /he arrest o$ the two H !s takes %lace against the backdro% o$ several arrests and acts o$ intimidation against H !s and $amilies o$ victims and a marked increase in military %resence and surveillance in the North) 7n 1,th *arch, a $amily o$ three $rom Visuwamadu, were arrested by the /0! and the daughter Nitharshana (,? years) is currently detained at an undisclosed location) 7n 13th *arch, 6alendran "eyakumari was arrested by the /0! $rom

/harma%uram, 1ilinochchi and her 13 year old daughter was %laced under &tate %robation) "eyakumari is currently detained at the 6oosa !etention Centre) 7n 13th *arch, 1) &harmila, a %regnant woman $rom Paalai 7otru, /rincomalee was arrested by the /0! and is also now being held at the 6oosa detention centre) /he human rights community has been closely monitoring similar incidents o$ arrests and intimidation o$ victims and their $amilies and activists) uki and (r) Praveen have been among those who were keenly $ollowing these incidents in the North) #e condemn the arbitrary arrest and detention o$ uki (ernando, (r) Praveen *ahesan and call $or the immediate release o$ all those mentioned above) #e are shocked at the treatment o$ these individuals as they have worked towards reconciliation and creating a culture o$ %eace and res%ect $or human rights) #e are e3tremely concerned about the increased incidents o$ arbitrary arrest and detention %articularly the lack o$ in$ormation regarding reasons $or arrest, %lace o$ detention and the lack o$ access to legal re%resentation) #e also reiterate our call to re%eal the re%ressive Prevention o$ /errorism <ct (P/<), which $acilitates the &tate to carry out such arbitrary and illegal arrests and detentions) &uch treatment o$ H !s and victims, only serve to %er%etuate the climate o$ $ear and insecurity o$ con$lict a$$ected communities) #e see these as systematic attem%ts o$ intimidation aimed at %reventing %ersons $rom coming $orward to volunteer in$ormation, veri$y acts o$ human rights violations and advocate on behal$ o$ those a$$ected in &ri 'anka) #e there$ore call on the &ri 'ankan 5overnment to; - Charge or release with immediate effect all those who are arbitrarily arrested and detained - Ensure their right to equality before the law, freedom from arbitrary arrest and right to due process, which includes the right to legal representation and visits by their family members - Ensure the safety, and physical and mental wellbeing of those currently held in detention including access to medical care - Provide an enabling environment for reconciliation and protection and not criminalize legitimate acts of support for survivors of human rights abuses - Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism ct !PT " Signatures; 1. 2. ). 4. .. 0. Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph - Catho ic !ishop o" Mannar Rt. Rev. #u$ara % angasinghe & 'ng ican !ishop ($eritus o" #urunega a '. De Si va '.M. *aai+ - 'ttorney-at-,a'.S.M Rayees - /u$an Rights 'ctivist 'hi a

1. 'hi an #a2irga$ar 3. 'ins ie Joseph 9. '4ith Ra4apa5sha 10. '$a 2e Chic5era 11. 'n4ani Ranasinghe 12. 'no$a 2e ' -is 1). 'nthony Jesu2asan 14. 'nton Marcus - Joint Secretary, *ree 6ra2e 7ones an2 8enera Services 9or5ers :nion 1.. 'nushaya Co ure 10. 'r4ini ;a-a 11. 'shi a ;iroshine Mapa aga$a - Stan2:p Move$ent 13. 'siri Jayati a5e - 'ttorney-at-,a19. 'sitha De Si va 20. 'yeshea <erera 21. !. S5antha5u$ar 22. !ery <erera 2). !hagya <erera 24. !havani *onse5a 2.. !ra2$an 9eera5oon 20. !rito *ernan2o 21. !u22hi$a <a2$asiri 23. C. Dissanaya5e 29. Cayathri D. - *e$inist 'ctivist )0. Cha$i a /a$ee2 )1. Cha$i a 6hushari )2. Cha$in2ry Sapara$a2u - 'ttorney-at-,a)). Cha$ith *onse5a - /arvar2 :niversity )4. Chan2ana #u$ara ).. Chan2raguptha 6henu-ara - 'rtist = Senior ,ecturer )0. Chan2ri5a De Si va )1. Char es Sarvan )3. Chu ani #o2i5ara )9. D.!.S Jeyara4 - Journa ist 40. Da$aris 9ic5re$ese5era 41. Danush5a Cooray 42. Daya /erath 4). Deanne :yango2a 44. De icia *ernan2o 4.. Dha$$i5a 2e Si va - :nite2 Socia ist <arty >:S<? 40. Dhar$asiri ,an5ape i - 8enera Secretary, *e2eration o" Me2ia ($p oyees@ 6ra2e :nion 41. Dharsha Jegathees-aran 43. Di eni 8une-ar2ena <h.D. - :niversity o" <era2eniya 49. Di hara <athirana - ,a- = Society 6rust

.0. Di shy !anu .1. Dini2u 2e ' -is - (2itor, 6he RepuA ic SBuare .2. Dishani Jaya-eera - 'ttorney-at-,a.). Dr. 'nita ;esiah .4. Dr. D. S. Ra4asingha$ ... Dr. Devanesan ;esiah .0. Dr. Dhar$asena <athira4a .1. Dr. ,a5siri *ernan2o .3. Dr. <ai5iasothy Saravana$uttu & (Cecutive Director, Centre "or <o icy ' ternatives >C<'? .9. Dr. Se vy 6hiruchan2ran - 9o$en@s (2ucation an2 Research Centre >9(RC? 00. Dr. Sona i <erera - City :niversity o" ;e- Dor5 01. Dr. Su$athy Siva$ohan - <era2eniya 02. Dr. Suni 9i4esiri-ar2ena 0). Dr. Einoth Ra$achan2ra 04. Dr. 7u "i5a %s$ai 0.. Dushiyanthini #anagasaAapathipi ai 00. Dy an <erera 01. ($i van 2er <oorten - F' Ae iever in hu$an rightsG 03. (r$i+a 6ega - 'ttorney-at-,a09. *ai+un 7ac5ariya 10. *ar+ana /ani""a 11. *re22y C. 8a$age 12. 8.'. <raAath #u$ara - Senior Civi 'ctivist, !a2u a 1). 8.C. '$Aego2a 14. 8a$ini Eiyango2a 1.. 8ayathri 8a$age 10. 8ehan 8unati a5e 11. 8ithan4a i '$arasingha$ ' ga$a 13. /ans !i i$oria 19. /arean /ettiarachchi 30. /e$a atha 31. /er$an #u$ara 32. /i $y 'ha$e2 3). %an *er2inan2s 34. %n2i5a Ru-an 3.. %n2ra5anthi <erera 30. %n2uni #an5ana$ghe 31. %ro$i <erera 33. %suru <erera 39. %thayarani Sithrave 90. J. Easu5i - *e$inist 'ctivist, !attica oa 91. J.S ;i es 92. J.S. 6issainayaga$ 9). Jagath ,iyana 'rachchi - 'ttorney-at-,a-

94. Ja5e Hor o"" 9.. Jan Ra$esh 2e Sara$ 90. Jana5i Dhar$asena 91. Jayasinga$. 6 93. Jehan <erera 99. Joe 9i ia$ 100. Johann 6ranche 101. Joseph Sta in - Cey on 6eacherIs :nion 102. Jovita 'ru anantha$ 10). Juanita 'ru anantha$ - 'ttorney-at-,a104. Ju iana 'ru anantha$ 10.. Ju-airiya Mohi2een 100. #. 'ing5aran 101. #.S. Ratnava e & 'ttorney-at-,a- & Centre "or /u$an Rights an2 Deve op$ent 103. #a ani SuAasinghe 109. #an2iah Ra4a e2su$i - 9o$en Right 'ctivities 110. #api a De Si va 111. #eshayinie (2$un2 - Journa ist 112. #rishanthi *ernan2o 11). #rishna Ee upi ai 114. #u$ara ' agiya-anna - Journa ist >Secretary - *MM? 11.. #u$aran ;a2esan 110. #u$arava2ive 8uruparan 111. #u$ari *ernan2o 113. #u$u2ini #a uAo-i a 119. #u$u2ini Sa$ue 120. #usa <erera - Journa ist 121. ,a-rence *er2inan2o 122. ,es ey Siri$ane 12). ,inus Jayati a5e - <resi2ent, :nite2 *e2eration o" ,aAour 124. ,ione !opage 12.. ,uci e 'Aey5oon 120. ,u-ie ;iran4an 121. M. 8. Cha5ra$ani - Citi+ens "or a Secure Sri ,an5a 123. M. 8a4en 129. M. Manga es-ary - 'ttorney-at-,a1)0. M. Rah$an - Mannar 1)1. M.'. Su$anthiran - 'ttorney-at-,a1)2. Maha uC$y #. - Mannar 1)). Ma a ,iyanage - (Cecutive Director, ,a- an2 Society 6rust >,S6? 1)4. Ma athi 2e ' -is 1).. Man4u a <athira4a - 'ttorney-at-,a1)0. Manori #a uga$pitiya - Rights ;o- an2 (2itor o" Sa$aAi$a ne-s 1)1. Mareen Srini5a

1)3. 1)9. 140. 141. 142. 14). 144. 14.. 140. 141. 143. 149. 1.0. 1.1. 1.2. 1.). 1.4. 1... 1.0. 1.1. 1.3. 1.9. 100. 101. 102. 10). 104. 10.. 100. 101. 103. 109. 110. 111. 112. 11). 114. 11.. 110. 111. 113. 119. 130. 131. 132.

Mario 8o$e+ Marisa 2e Si va Me ani Mane <erera Me isha Dapa Minari *ernan2o Mino i 2e Soysa Mira5 Rahee$ Miyuru 8unasinghe Moha$e2 Ri"a2h - Ja""na Moha$$e2 Mahuru" Monica ' "re2 ;a a5a 8una-ar2ene - 9riter = Co u$nist ;a ini Sivathasan ;a$a Ra4apa5sha - 'ttorney-at-,a;an2ana (go2apitiya ;avin 9eeraratne ;ei <riyantha *ernan2o ;ian4a a 'riya-ansha ;ico a <erera ;i2u5 Ma2ushi5a ;ige E. ;uga-e a ;iha R. <eris - C.S.R ;i antha % anga$u-a - Journa ist ;i shan *onse5a ;i$a ee *ernan2o ;i$a 5a *ernan2o ;ipuni5a *ernan2o ;ir$anusan !a asun2ara$ - *ree ance Journa ist ;ishan 2e Me ;isho *onse5a ;iyanthini #a2irga$ar ;iyesha Ranasinghe ;u-an !opage - 'ttorney-at-,a<. /e-a$anna <. Ei4ayashanthan - 'rtistic Director, 6heatre <.;. Singha$ <a2$a <ushpa5anthi <anhira a So$asiri <ara5ra$a ;irie a - Dra$a an2 *i $ Director <ear ,uctia <eter Re+e - Concerne2 <ro"essiona <hi ip Setunga <hi ip Dissanaya5e <raAu Deepan <rasa2 <ereira

13). 134. 13.. 130. 131. 133. 139. 190. 191. 192. 19). 194. 19.. 190. 191. 193. 199. 200. 201. 202. 20). 204. 20.. 200. 201. 203. 209. 210. 211. 212. 21). 214. 21.. 210. 211. 213. 219. 220. 221. 222. 22). 224. 22.. 220. 221.

<rasa2 San4ee-a 8a$age <rasanna '$arasinghe <rathiAha <erera <rincy *ernan2o <riya 6hangara4ah <riya2arshne 'ryarathne <riyantha 8a$age - 'ttorney-at-,a<riyanthi *ernan2o <ro". '4it 'Aeyse5era <ro". Dushyanthi /oo e <ro". Jayantha Seneviratne - :niversity o" #e aniya <ro". <riyan Dias <ro". Ja2ri %s$ai - 'ssociate <ro"essor, :niversity o" Minnesota <ushparani *igura2o - ,a- an2 Society 6rust R. #arunanithy - Socia 9or5er, Ja""na R. <ratheep5u$ar - Mannar R.M.!. Senanaya5e - Retire2 CCS Ra4any Chan2rasegara$ - 9o$en Rights 'ctivist, ;orth Ra ston 9ein$an Rashini Men2is Rathi5a %nnasi$uttu - 6he Socia 'rchitects ReAecca 2e ' -is Renu ' a5enthira$ Rev. !ro. 'nton *ernan2opu e Rev. *r. '. 'ugustine - Ja""na Rev. *r. 'nton Jayanan2a - Christian So i2arity Move$ent >CSM? Rev. *r. 'sho5 Stephen - Centre "or Society an2 Re igion Rev. *r. ( i Ra4en2ra$, SJ - Eavuniya Rev. *r. JeyaAa an Croos Rev. *r. M. Sathive Rev. *r. ;an2ana Devapriya Rev. *r. ;an2ana Manatunga Rev. *r. Rei2 She ton *ernan2o Rev. *r. Rohan Do$inic Rev. *r. S. E.!. Manga ara4ah, Ja""na Rev. *r. Sarath %22a$a go2a - Christian So i2arity Move$ent >CSM? Rev. *r. SeAa$a ai ($$anue - Mannar Rev. *r. Sherar2 Jaya-ar2ane Rev. *r. Stanis aus <hi ips Rev. *r. 6erence *ernan2o Rev. *r. E. Doges-aran, SJ - 6rinco$a ee Rev. Jason J. Se vara4a - Senior <astor, 'sse$A y o" 8o2, Chava5achcheri Rev. Sr. 'nge a *ernan2o - Christian So i2arity Move$ent >CSM? Rev. Sr. Deepa *ernan2o >/*? Rev. Sr. Deepthi5a Si va

223. Rev. Sr. /e en *ernan2o >/*? 229. Rev. Sr. %$$acu ate 2e ' -is 2)0. Rev. Sr. ;icho a 2)1. Rev. Sr. ;oe Christine *ernan2o - Sra$aAi$ani Sansa2aya 2)2. Rev. Sr. <ra2eepi5a <erera 2)). Rev. Sr. Ra$ani *ernan2o 2)4. Rev. Sr. Shri$a i 8onaga a - S.C.J.M 2).. Rohini /ens$an - 9riter an2 'ctivist 2)0. Ronnate D. 'sir-atha$ 2)1. Ronnie Dogara4ah 2)3. Rosannna * a$er-Ca 2era 2)9. Roshani *ernan2opu e 240. S. '$arasinghe - Deputy 8enera Secretary, :nite2 *e2eration o" ,aAour 241. S. Hc5ers+ & 'ttorney-at-,a242. S. R. <erera 24). S. Ratna4eevan /. /oo e - Michigan State :niversity 244. S.'. !e ing 24.. S.8. ;isha - Doung 9o$en Rights 'ctivist, Mannar 240. Sachini <erera 241. Sa$path <ushpa5u$ara 243. Sa$path Sa$ara5oon 249. San4ana /attotu-a - (2itor, 8roun2vie-s 2.0. San4aya Senanaya5e - Docu$entary <ro2ucer 2.1. San4ayan Ra4asingha$ - Stu2ent 2.2. San4en2ra Eignara4a - 'ttorney-at-,a2.). Sara a ($$anue 2.4. Saranapa a Si va 2... Saro4a Sivachan2ran 2.0. Sathy #u asingha$ 2.1. Se vara4ah Ra4asegar 2.3. Shan 9i4etunge - 6ransparency %nternationa Sri ,an5a 2.9. Shanthi Dias 200. Shari5a 6hiranaga$a 201. Shehan Ma2a-e a 202. Shei a Richar2s 20). Sherine Kavier - /u$an Rights 'ctivist 204. Shiro <erera 20.. Shreen 'A2u Saroor - 9o$enIs 'ction ;et-or5 >9';? 200. Siritunga Jayasuriya - :nite2 Socia ist <arty >:S<? 201. SuAa Siva5u$aran 203. SuAha 9i4esiri-ar2ena 209. SuAhashini Sa$araarachchi 210. Su2arshana 8una-ar2ena 211. Su4ith Kavier - 'ssistant <ro"essor o" ,a-, *acu ty o" ,a-, :niversity o" 9in2sor

212. 21). 214. 21.. 210. 211. 213. 219. 230. 231. 232. 23). 234. 23.. 230. 231. 233. 239. 290. 291. 292. 29). 294. 29.. 290. 291. 293. 299. )00. )01. )02. )0). )04. )0.. )00. )01. )03. )09. )10. )11.

Su$ith Chaa$in2a Sunan2a Deshapriya Sun2ra$ Mahen2ran - Director, Co$$ittee o" %nvestigation o" Disappearances Suni a Jayase5ara - *ree Me2ia Move$ent Suren D. <erera - 'ttorney-at-,aSuren *ernan2o - 'ttorney-at-,aSush$itha 6hayanan2an 6. Mathuri - 'ttorney-at-,a6. Savithri 6aanya 6ranche 6anu4a 6huraira4ah - ResearcherL'ctivist 6anya Ra4apa5se 6ehani 'riyaratne 6hiruni #e ega$a 6hushara /e-age - Co u$Aia :niversity 6hushari Ma2ahapo a 6hushya Shah 6hyagi Ru-anpathirana 6isaranee 8unase5ara - Co$$entator 6ony Sene-iratne :2aya #a upathirana :2u <re$arathna - 'ttorney-at-,a:pu 9ic5ra$asinghe :thaya Shan$uga$ E. San4eev E.E. 8aneshananthan Ea2ive Suganthi Easu5i ;esiah - 'ssoc. <ro". o" <ractice, ;e- Dor5 :niversity Eenuri <erera Ei4u a 'ru anantha$ Einoth '2hi5ari Eiresh *ernan2o - !arrister = So icitor Eisa5a Dhar$a2asa Eisa5ha 6i e5erathne 9.'.D.D. <ra2eep 9.*. <riyan5ara Costa Da iniDrea$ Da$ini Ravin2ran - 'ttorney-at-,aDaso2ara 'runi Jaya5o2y 7ainaA %Arahi$

<hotoM :nite2 ;ations /igh Co$$issioner "or /u$an Rights ;avaneetha$ <i ay is Aeing -e co$e2 Ay EiAhushi5a <a en2ran >-hose t-o e 2ers Arothers -ere 5i e2 in the -ar, an2 the thir2 Arother has gone $issing a"ter surren2ering to the security "orces to-ar2s the en2 o" the -ar?, a ong -ith t-o other gir s, to an event to $ar5 the

%nternationa Day o" the Disappeare2