AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

Balasingham Sugumar, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Culture at Eastern University, Batticaloa Town, Sri Lanka, was reportedly abducted on September 30 by two unidentified armed men. The abductors arrived at his house and said that they wished to take him away for questioning. They threatened the family not to inform anyone of their visit, and said they would release Balasingham Sugumar after they had finished their inquiry. His whereabouts remain unknown.

According to Amnesty International, since Balasingham Sugumar was abducted in a government-controlled area, he may have been taken by an armed group with the knowledge, or at least tacit support, of security forces.

In recent months there have been reports of ongoing “disappearances” and abductions by security forces and armed groups in the Batticaloa District and other areas in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Such persons are often called or taken in “for inquiry” and are then held without access to their families or legal assistance. No records of detention are made available and mechanisms for reporting such evens are often unable to clarify the whereabouts of the missing persons.

(Sources of information for this case: Amnesty International )

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

American Convention on Human Rights

• Article 04: Everyone has the right to life.
• Article 07: Everyone has the right to personal liberty and security. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or imprisonment.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 6: Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his [or her] life.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 09: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Urging the authorities to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the fate and whereabouts of Balasingham Sugumar and to make the findings public;
• In appeals to the President, urging the President to make public the actions undertaken to investigate the reported abduction of make the findings public;
• If Balasingham Sugumar is found to be in custody, calling on the authorities to allow him access to his relatives, a lawyer and any medical treatment he may require;
• expressing concern at reports that a pattern of “disappearances” appears to be emerging again in northern Sri Lanka, and calling on the authorities to put a halt to this practice immediately.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Mahinda Rajapakse
President
Presidential Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
Fax: Fax: + 94 11 2446657/ 2472100
Salutation: Dear President Rajapakse

Sarath Fonseka
Lt Gen
Army Commander, Army Headquarters, Flagstaff Street, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
Fax: Fax: + 94 11 2855 018/ 2434 862/ 2338 653/ 2421 37
Salutation: Dear Lt General

Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Secretary, Ministry of Defence
Secretary, Ministry of Defence, 15/5 Baladaksha Mawatha, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
Fax: Fax: + 94 11 2446 300/ 2541 529
Salutation: Dear Secretary of Defence

Mahinda Samarasinghe
Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights
383, Department of Meteorology, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Fax: Fax: + 94 11 2681978/2881982
Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES SENT TO:

Bernard A.B. Goonetilleke
Ambassador
Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
2148 Wyoming Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008

Fax: (202) 232-7184
slembassy@slembassyusa.org
Salutation: Dear Ambassador

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Josh Robbins, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email jrobbins@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

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