Front Line is gravely concerned by reports of the disappearance of human rights defender, Mr Pattani Razeek, managing trustee of the Community Trust Fund (CTF) and member of the Executive Committee of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).

Further Information

The CTF provides emergency relief assistance to those affected by the civil war in Sri Lanka as well as by natural disasters.

On 12 February 2010, Pattani Razeek was reported missing by family members when he failed to return home from a work-related visit. On 11 February 2010, Pattani Razeek was travelling with other staff members of CTF, in Polonnaruwa, North-Central province of Sri Lanka, when their vehicle was intercepted by a white van.

Pattani Razeek disembarked the vehicle he was travelling in and approached the white van. A conversation took place in Arabic between Pattani Razeek and the occupants of the van. Following this discussion Pattani Razeek returned to his colleagues and informed them that he would be travelling in the white van as far as the Eastern provincial town of Valaichchenai and would meet up with them there.

On 16 February 2010 the mobile phone company released some of Pattani Razeek's phone records which revealed that a number of short phone calls had been made on the evening of the 11 February. There were no calls made from that time until an unanswered call was made to a CTF driver on 15 February. When the driver attempted to return the call there was no answer. On the same day a text message was received by a family member from Pattani Razeek's phone in which it was said that he was in Polonnaruwa and would be home soon. There has been no contact since then.

Family members have reported Pattani Razeek's disappearance to the local police in their hometown of Puttalam and also to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. They have not received any reference number for this complaint, nor have they been contacted by representatives of the Commission or the police authorities in relation to Pattani Razeek's disappearance.

Front Line believes that the disappearance of Pattani Razeek is directly related to his activities in defence of human rights in Sri Lanka. Front Line is deeply concerned for the physical and psychological security of Pattani Razeek.