Sri Lanka
18.06.02
Urgent Interventions
Sri Lanka: Sexual Violence by Police Officers
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
LKA 180602.VAW
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
The International Secretariat of 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 the Asian Human Rights Commission of the alleged arbitrary detention and sexual abuse of a 39 year old Sri Lankan woman, Ms. Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat by several Wariapola police officers on March 8, 2002.
According to the information received, Ms. Herat, who is not married and is a virgin, was arrested by several police officers from Wariapola in civilian clothes. She was arrested at her home in the presence of her family and was kept for two days in the Wariapola police station during which she was severely tortured. The forms of torture included stripping her naked and inserting a pipe-like object in her vagina, which made her bleed and caused immense pain. Once produced in court, she complained to the magistrate who ordered an inquiry. This inquiry, however, has not taken place yet.
According to a translation of her own hand-written statement, Ms. Herat states that on the night of March 8th while taking a bath, two officers, Warnakulasuriya and Rathnatileke took her from her home and brought her to a place where she was given no food or drink. After that, the officer Ananda arrived. Later Warnakulasuriya beat her with a pole and then Ananda removed her clothes and put something like a tube into her vagina while Warnakulasuriya kept her mouth shut with his hand. Later that night she was given a towel to clean up the blood and was denied any medical attention and was hit when she asked for medicine. The next morning she was beaten again by the officer in charge of crimes. The next morning, Warnakulasuriya took Ms. Herat to the Crimes Section and asked her to sign a statement. Ms Herat says that a recorded statement was never taken from her but after being kicked in the back, she signed the statement. Later that day she was forced into a vehicle with Warnakulasuriya, who was dressed in civilian clothes, and Rathnatileke who was dressed in uniform. She was driven to the Wariapola courts where Warnakulasuriya went inside and came out with a paper. Ms. Herat was then taken to the Kurunegala prison where she was given food for the first time. On March 10th she was taken to the hospital and then again for visits on March 13, 14, 15. On March 17th she was examined in the orthopedic section of the hospital. During this time none of her family was allowed to see her, and she only learned of the charge against her when she got to the Wariapola court.
According to the information received, Ms. Herat’s father has also been severely threatened by the local police and higher officers not to pursue a complaint.
OMCT is gravely concerned by the Sri Lankan authorities arbitrary arrests and the subsequent sexual abuse and torture by the police used on Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat. Previous similar cases in Sri Lanka have often gone unpunished.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities of Sri Lanka urging them to :
i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat and her family, and ensure that she be granted adequate medical assistance;
ii. guarantee an impartial and exhaustive inquiry into the arbitrary detention, sexual abuse and torture of Ms. Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat and bring those responsible before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii. ensure Ms. Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat the right to adequate reparation;
iv adopt immediate measures to put an end to these acts of violence against women;
v. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses:
Her Excellency President Chandrika B. Kumaratunga, Presidential Residence, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka Fax: 94 - 1 - 333 - 703
Prime Minister Honorable Ranil Wickremasinghe, 58 Sir Earnest de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 7. Sri Lanka. Fax No. 0094 1575454
Honorable Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, 37, Kirula Place, Colombo 5. Sri Lanka. Fax No. 00 94 1 437680
Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Media, Old CTO Building Lotus Rd, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, New Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
Hon. Ambassador, Permanent Mission and Consulate General of Sri Lanka, 56, Rue De Moillebeau, 5th Floor, 1 209, Geneva 19, Switzerland, Fax: (41-22) 734 9084, E-mail: mission.srilanka@itu.ch
Hon. High-Commissioner, The High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 13 Hyde Park Gardens London W2 2LU United Kingdom Fax: (0171) 262-7970, E-mail: lancom@easynet.co.uk
Geneva, June 18, 2002
Kindly inform the International Secretariat of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
LKA 180602.VAW
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
The International Secretariat of 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 the Asian Human Rights Commission of the alleged arbitrary detention and sexual abuse of a 39 year old Sri Lankan woman, Ms. Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat by several Wariapola police officers on March 8, 2002.
According to the information received, Ms. Herat, who is not married and is a virgin, was arrested by several police officers from Wariapola in civilian clothes. She was arrested at her home in the presence of her family and was kept for two days in the Wariapola police station during which she was severely tortured. The forms of torture included stripping her naked and inserting a pipe-like object in her vagina, which made her bleed and caused immense pain. Once produced in court, she complained to the magistrate who ordered an inquiry. This inquiry, however, has not taken place yet.
According to a translation of her own hand-written statement, Ms. Herat states that on the night of March 8th while taking a bath, two officers, Warnakulasuriya and Rathnatileke took her from her home and brought her to a place where she was given no food or drink. After that, the officer Ananda arrived. Later Warnakulasuriya beat her with a pole and then Ananda removed her clothes and put something like a tube into her vagina while Warnakulasuriya kept her mouth shut with his hand. Later that night she was given a towel to clean up the blood and was denied any medical attention and was hit when she asked for medicine. The next morning she was beaten again by the officer in charge of crimes. The next morning, Warnakulasuriya took Ms. Herat to the Crimes Section and asked her to sign a statement. Ms Herat says that a recorded statement was never taken from her but after being kicked in the back, she signed the statement. Later that day she was forced into a vehicle with Warnakulasuriya, who was dressed in civilian clothes, and Rathnatileke who was dressed in uniform. She was driven to the Wariapola courts where Warnakulasuriya went inside and came out with a paper. Ms. Herat was then taken to the Kurunegala prison where she was given food for the first time. On March 10th she was taken to the hospital and then again for visits on March 13, 14, 15. On March 17th she was examined in the orthopedic section of the hospital. During this time none of her family was allowed to see her, and she only learned of the charge against her when she got to the Wariapola court.
According to the information received, Ms. Herat’s father has also been severely threatened by the local police and higher officers not to pursue a complaint.
OMCT is gravely concerned by the Sri Lankan authorities arbitrary arrests and the subsequent sexual abuse and torture by the police used on Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat. Previous similar cases in Sri Lanka have often gone unpunished.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities of Sri Lanka urging them to :
i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat and her family, and ensure that she be granted adequate medical assistance;
ii. guarantee an impartial and exhaustive inquiry into the arbitrary detention, sexual abuse and torture of Ms. Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat and bring those responsible before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii. ensure Ms. Herat Pathirannehelage Nandani Sriyalatha Herat the right to adequate reparation;
iv adopt immediate measures to put an end to these acts of violence against women;
v. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses:
Her Excellency President Chandrika B. Kumaratunga, Presidential Residence, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka Fax: 94 - 1 - 333 - 703
Prime Minister Honorable Ranil Wickremasinghe, 58 Sir Earnest de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 7. Sri Lanka. Fax No. 0094 1575454
Honorable Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, 37, Kirula Place, Colombo 5. Sri Lanka. Fax No. 00 94 1 437680
Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Media, Old CTO Building Lotus Rd, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, New Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
Hon. Ambassador, Permanent Mission and Consulate General of Sri Lanka, 56, Rue De Moillebeau, 5th Floor, 1 209, Geneva 19, Switzerland, Fax: (41-22) 734 9084, E-mail: mission.srilanka@itu.ch
Hon. High-Commissioner, The High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 13 Hyde Park Gardens London W2 2LU United Kingdom Fax: (0171) 262-7970, E-mail: lancom@easynet.co.uk
Geneva, June 18, 2002
Kindly inform the International Secretariat of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.