Sri Lanka: Political investigation into supporters of threatened human rights defender, Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu

One hundred and thirty-three supporters of human rights defender, Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, have come under investigation by the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Division (CID) after they signed a petition that was published in several newspapers on 27 August 2009.

Further Information

Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu is the Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a Colombo-based organisation focused on constructive policy alternatives aimed at strengthening and safeguarding democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, human rights and social justice. The President of Sri Lanka is reported to have instructed the Defence Secretary to verify the facts stated in the petition, which has resulted in the questioning of the signatories of the letter of solidarity. Front Line previously issued an urgent appeal on 21 August 2009 concerning a letter received by Dr Saravanamuttu the day before, which threatened him with death for allegedly passing information to the European Union. The letter claimed that it would result in the EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus benefits being denied to Sri Lanka.

On 27 August 2009, one hundred and thirty-three “concerned citizens and members of civil society organisations committed to the protection and defence of human rights and democracy in Sri Lanka” published a “Statement Condemning Death Threat against Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu” in several Sri Lankan newspapers. The letter stated the following: “We deplore the intimidation levelled at Dr Saravanamuttu and call upon the state to take all necessary measures to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for making these threats. We also extend our solidarity and support to Dr Saravanamuttu and to all at the Centre for Policy Alternatives at this time, and call on the authorities to ensure that all steps necessary are taken to guarantee the safety and security of Dr Saravanamuttu, his family and his staff.”

It is reported that following the publication of this statement, the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksahe, asked the Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, to verify the threat against Dr Saravanamuttu, and stated that he believed this solidarity letter could be part of an international conspiracy against Sri Lanka.

On 28 August 2009, officers from the CID questioned several of the signatories, asking them how they know Dr Saravanamuttu, whether there had been a meeting of all signatories of the advertised petition, whether they had seen the threatening letter, and who had sent the threatening letter. Human rights defenders in Sri Lanka are deeply concerned that these visits by the CID and the questions are without any legal basis and constitute a direct interference into the basic rights of citizens to engage in any kind of solidarity work within the framework of the law.

Front Line believes that the questioning of the signatories of the petition in support of human rights defender Dr Saravanamuttu is directly related to his work in defence of human rights in Sri Lanka. Front Line is deeply concerned that rather than investigating the death threat against Dr Saravanamuttu, the Sri Lankan authorities are intimidating those individuals who expressed solidarity with the human rights defender.

Front Line urges the authorities in Sri Lanka to:

1. Initiate an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the death threats against Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu and all members of the Centre for Policy Alternatives;

3. Conduct an immediate inquiry into how officers of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) are being used to investigate individuals against whom no criminal charges have been made but who have exercised their right to freedom of expression by condemning threats against a human rights defender;

4. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Sri Lanka, carrying out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to operate free of restrictions and reprisals.