A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Saturday, September 24, 2016
Call to Indian Govt. to Release Parvez
Call to Indian government to release detained human rights defender Khurram Parvez
The following statement issued by the Sri Lankan Human Rights groups and civil society members
( September 23, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) We,
the under mentioned Sri Lankan citizens and organizations express our
serious concern over the arrest and detention of the Mr. Khurram Parvez,
Chairperson of the Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearances
(AFAD) and Program Coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil
Society (JKCCS).
Mr. Parvez was barred by immigration authorities in Delhi airport from
boarding his flight to Geneva to attend the UN Human Rights Council’s
33rd Session on 14th September. No official written reason has been
given. Mr. Parvez was verbally informed that the Intelligence Bureau of
India had ordered that he was not allowed to travel outside the country.
Mr. Parvez was to lead the AFAD delegation and to attend various
meetings with UN officials and representatives of Permanent Missions of
UN Member States in Geneva.
Two days later, around 12.30am on 16 September Mr. Parvez had been
arrested from his home in Srinagar and brought to the Kothibagh Police
station. No justification was given for the arrest, and no arrest
warrant was shown. Mr. Parvez was later hen taken to the Kupwara
sub-jail, which made it difficult for him to communicate with his
lawyers and isolated him from his family, both based in Srinagar. Even
after a sub-jail authorities were served with the Sessions Court order
quashing his detention, he was taken back to the Kothi Bagh Police
station and later, Police have stated that Mr. Parvez is being taken to
Jammu to be detained at the Kot Bhalwal jail. Seven days after being
first detained in Srinagar, Mr. Parvez will now be lodged close to 300
kilometers away from his family and legal counsel, making access to both
very difficult.
His legal team has been informed by the Police that that was being
detained under the Public Safety Act, but they have not been provided
any orders, warrants or grounds for detention. His lawyers had moved the
acting Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, questioning his continued
detention despite the Sessions Court order. The Police have been ordered
to submit a report the next day.
We note that article 9(1) of the ICCPR, to which India is a state party,
provides that “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or
detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such
grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.
Article 9(2) states that anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at
the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest. Article 14(3)(b) of
the ICCPR is very clear in stating that everyone shall be entitled to
communicate with a counsel of his own choosing.
The above provisions aim at ensuring that every deprivation of liberty
will be in accordance with the law, in order to make sure the rights and
safety of a person arrested are protected at all times, and that he /
she will be entitled to due process not subjected to enforced
disappearance, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment etc. The actions
taken by the Indian authorities against Khurram Parvez are in blatant
violation of the above articles of the ICCPR and endangers the safety
and rights of Mr. Parvez.
This appears to be a reprisal for his long years of human rights
activism. The timing of the denial to travel and arrest appears to
indicate the Indian authorities aimed to stop him from participating in
the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
We demand the immediate release of Mr. Parvez. And in the meantime, to
ensure his physical and mental well-being and to grant him free access
to his lawyers and to allow him to freely communicate with his family.
Organizations
- Education Renaissance Programme
- Free Media Movement
- Human Rights Office, Kandy
- INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre
- International Centre for Ethnic Studies
- Women Development Innovators
Individuals
- Ananda Jayasekara
- Angelica Chandrasekeran
- Anushaya Collure
- Balasingham Skanthakumar, Social Scientists Association
- C. Dodawatte, Free Media Movement
- Chameera Perera, Left Center
- Damith Chandimal
- Deekshya Illangasinghe
- Dharshanie Alles
- Fr. Nandana Manatunga
- Godfrey Yogarajah, Executive Director, World Evangelical Alliance – Religious Liberty Commission
- Hans Billimoria, The Grassrooted Trust, Sri Lanka
- K. Aingkaran, Attorney-at-Law
- K.J. Brito Fernando – President Families of the Disappeared
- Marisa De Silva
- Nalini Ratnarajah
- Philip Dissanayake – Secretary – Right to Life Human Rights Center
- Dr. Philip Settunga
- Ruki Fernando
- Samal Hemachandra
- Sudantha Madawa Fernando, Aluth Parapura
- Srinath Chathuranga, Aluth Parapura
- Thiyagaraja Waradas
- Udaya Kalupathirana
- Upul Wicramasinghe
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Thavam