Prisoners rights group rejects Thalatha’s committee

RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY- JAN 18 2019

The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) in a letter written to Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms Thalatha Atukorale yesterday (17) regarding a committee being appointed to probe the assault of prisoners at the Angunakolapelessa Prison on 22 November 2018, said that no justice could be expected for the victims owing to the presence of Prisons Department officers in the said committee's Membership.

The letter was signed by CPRP Chairman, Attorney-At-Law (AAL) Senaka Perera and CPRP Secretary Sudesh Nandimal Silva.

Atukorale on 16 January instructed the Prisons Commissioner General to appoint a three-member committee to provide a report regarding the incident prior to 21 January, adding that further action would be taken based on the report. Prisons Commissioner (Administration/Intelligence and Security Divisions), H.M.T.N. Upuldeniya is heading the committee. The other members of the committee include a Prisons Department officer and a representative of the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms.

The CPRP claimed that the Department was a respondent party in the matter.
"This would only be a waste of money and time. Prisons Media Spokesman Upuldeniya has on several previous occasions told the media that no torture, cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment takes places against detainees within prisons. This is a presumption and if a person holds such a preconceived notion we cannot expect impartiality and independent judgment from him.

Therefore, since it is an accepted principle of natural law that one cannot sit in judgment of one's own case we oppose this appointed committee. Competent persons such as retired High Court Judges should be appointed to mete out justice to the victims and take legal action against the respondents."
Meanwhile, Southern Province Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon also writing to AAL Atukorale and the media requested details regarding the said incident and also called upon the public to assist in identifying those responsible for the said assault.

The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) in a letter written to Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms Thalatha Atukorale yesterday (17) regarding a committee being appointed to probe the assault of prisoners at the Angunakolapelessa Prison on 22 November 2018, said that no justice could be expected for the victims owing to the presence of Prisons Department officers in the said committee's Membership.

The letter was signed by CPRP Chairman, Attorney-At-Law (AAL) Senaka Perera and CPRP Secretary Sudesh Nandimal Silva.

Atukorale on 16 January instructed the Prisons Commissioner General to appoint a three-member committee to provide a report regarding the incident prior to 21 January, adding that further action would be taken based on the report. Prisons Commissioner (Administration/Intelligence and Security Divisions), H.M.T.N. Upuldeniya is heading the committee. The other members of the committee include a Prisons Department officer and a representative of the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms.

The CPRP claimed that the Department was a respondent party in the matter.

"This would only be a waste of money and time. Prisons Media Spokesman Upuldeniya has on several previous occasions told the media that no torture, cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment takes places against detainees within prisons. This is a presumption and if a person holds such a preconceived notion we cannot expect impartiality and independent judgment from him.

Therefore, since it is an accepted principle of natural law that one cannot sit in judgment of one's own case we oppose this appointed committee. Competent persons such as retired High Court Judges should be appointed to mete out justice to the victims and take legal action against the respondents."
Meanwhile, Southern Province Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon also writing to AAL Atukorale and the media requested details regarding the said incident and also called upon the public to assist in identifying those responsible for the said assault.