SRI LANKA: Police arbitrarily detained three children overnight and a Christian priest for 11 days for challenging the detention of children

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION-URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME-June 26, 2013

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-091-2013



26 June 2013
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SRI LANKA: Police arbitrarily detained three children overnight and a Christian priest for 11 days for challenging the detention of children

ISSUES: Child rights; arbitrary detention; abuse of police power; discrimination; impunity; rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the police officers of the Kandy Headquarters Police Station detained three underage children in a police cell overnight without the attendance of either a woman police officer or a matron as prescribed by the Police Standing Orders. When Bro Anton Joe, who was in charge of the Home in which the children were living pointed this out to the officers they arrested him on a false charge and forced him to use the services of an attorney who charged exorbitant rates. This case is yet another illustration of the exceptional collapse of the rule of law in the country.

SRI LANKA Police Arbitrarily Detained Three Children Overnight and a Christian Priest for 11 Days for Chall... by nelvely