8/6/2019 AFAD Open Letter to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa

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Asian Federation Against Involuntary DisappearancesRms. 310-311 Philippine Social Science Center BuildingCommonwealth Avenue, Diliman, 1103 Quezon City PhilippinesTelefax: 00-632-4546759 Telephone Number 00-632-4907862 Mobile 00-63-9177924058Email afad@surfshop.net.ph website www.afad-online.org

8 August 2011

OPEN LETTER

HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSAOffice of the President,Temple Trees, 150, Galle Road,Colombo 3, Sri Lanka

His Excellency President Rajapaksa,

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) is a regional federation of humanrights organizations working directly on the issue of enforced or involuntary disappearances.

We are writing to appeal to your office the case of Mr. Pattani Razeek.

Mr. Razeek, a Managing Trustee of the Community Trust Fund (CTF) in Puttalam and ExecutiveCommittee Member of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)disappeared on February 11, 2010 while he was travelling to Polonnaruwa. He was last seen gettinginside a van near the Jumma Mosque in Kaduruwela. After the incident, his family received phonecalls from his mobile phone with attempts to produce huge amounts of money in exchange for Mr.Razeeks release.

We have received reports that the remains of the internationally recognized human rightsdisappeared defender Mr. Pattani Razeek were exhumed in Kavathamunai, Oddamavadi,Valaichenai province on July 28, 2011 and the post mortem held on August 2, 2011 in Batticaloa.We have also heard from our partners that shops in the Puttalam town and nearby towns were shut down on August 3, 2011, with banners displayed in public places condemning the murder andcalling to bring perpetrators to justice. This indicates the massive public outrage in the area against the killing of Mr. Razeek.

The Federation is saddened by the tragic end to the search for Mr. Razeek. Individuals responsiblefor the disappearance and killing of Mr. Razeek must be brought before the judiciary immediately.

In this light, the Federation appeals for the following urgent interventions on the case to expeditethe transparent investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of Mr. Razeeksdisappearance by:

Questioning and arresting all persons who were in the vehicle driven by one of the suspects,Mr. Musdeen, which was the vehicle used when Mr. Razeek was abducted.

Questioning and arresting all persons who were in the vehicle with the other suspect, Mr.Nowshaadh, who had admitted to meeting Mr. Razeek in the area on the date he was last seen.

8/6/2019 AFAD Open Letter to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa

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Asian Federation Against Involuntary DisappearancesRms. 310-311 Philippine Social Science Center BuildingCommonwealth Avenue, Diliman, 1103 Quezon City PhilippinesTelefax: 00-632-4546759 Telephone Number 00-632-4907862 Mobile 00-63-9177924058Email afad@surfshop.net.ph website www.afad-online.org

Questioning and arresting Mr. Irshan, senior staff of Minister Rishard Bathiudeen, who hadclaimed that Mr. Razeek was in custody of the Defense Ministry.

Investigating whether Minister Rishard Bathiudeen and former CTF Trustee Mr. MustafaNihmath had any direct or indirect involvement in the killing and abduction of Mr. Razeek,based on public calls for citing their involvement by the family, Mosque leaders and thethousands that gathered for Mr. Razeeks funeral on August 3, 2011.

The development on the case of Mr. Razeek has again brought before the international communitythe issue of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka.

Thus, we are appealing to your office to issue an official invitation to the United Nations WorkingGroup on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to visit the country again and to reinstate thestate obligations by signing and ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of AllPersons form Enforced Disappearance.

Such actions are in compliance with Sri Lankas state obligations to ensure that no citizen under anycircumstance shall be subjected to enforced disappearance; no person will be deprived of libertyunless he or she is formally charged with a criminal offense. Every person has the right to truth,reparation and the right to equal protection before the law and should enjoy an environment inwhich he or she can be defended under the rule of law.

It is only through truth and justice that genuine and lasting reconciliation and peace can beattained.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

MARY AILEEN D. BACALSO MUGIYANTOSecretary-General Chairperson

Copy furnished to:

1. Mr. Jeremy J. SarkinChairpersonWorking Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearancesc/o OHCHR-UNOG CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland

2. Committee on Enforced Disappearance (CED) Human Rights Treaties Division (HRTD)Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)Palais Wilson - 52, rue des Pquis, CH-1201 Geneva (Switzerland)