ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-071-2009



03 July 2009
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SRI LANKA: A boy remains missing; no investigation by Batticaloa police

ISSUES: Disappearance; police negligence
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the case of a missing student Joyashan Yogendran has still not been taken up by Batticaloa police. It is alleged that Yogendran disappeared at a time when a number of his school friends were arrested for a high profile crime; three died in police custody, others remain unaccounted for.

CASE DETAILS: (According to the victim's parents and a local NGO)

The AHRC is extremely concerned for the wellbeing of a 20-year-old boy who disappeared on the morning of 3 May in Batticaloa town. Joyashan Yogendran (20) had left his home to visit a friend at around 11:30am and was reported missing shortly after. His father, Yogendran Scnithamby, and his mother Sugrithamalar, looked for him at the Batticaloa police headquarters that day due to concerns that he had been picked up by local police, but the police said that he had not been arrested. On 4 May the parents lodged an official report to say that their son was missing.

Joyashan had just returned home from two years of study in Malaysia. His parents are worried that his son may have been arrested in connection with a high profile case in which seven other boys were arrested, three of which were reported killed in custody. They still have no idea of his whereabouts and have not received word of progress in the investigation.

His parents have lodged complaints with the National Human Rights Commission and the ICRC regarding his possible abduction.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write to the authorities concerned asking them to investigate the whereabouts of the missing boy and, if he has been arrested, to provide full access and information to his family regarding the charges and his welfare in custody.

To support this Urgent Appeal please send your letters to:
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SAMPLE LETTER:


Dear ___________,

SRI LANKA: A boy remains missing; no investigation by Batticaloa police

Name of victim: Joyashan Yogendran (20), son of Scnithamby and Sugrithamalar
Resident of 43 Boundry Road, Batticaloa town
Date of incident: 3 May 2009 at around 11:30am
Place of incident: Batticaloa town

I am writing to report my concern for the welfare of Joyashan Yogendran who disappeared on the morning of 3 May in Batticaloa town, shortly after leaving his home to visit a friend. His father, Scnithamby, and his mother Sugrithamalar looked for him at the Batticaloa police headquarters (Batticaloa Division, Eastern Range (South) that day due to concerns that he had been picked up by local police, but the police said that he had not been arrested. On 4 May the parents lodged an official report to say that their son was missing.

Joyashan had just returned home from two years of study in Malaysia. His parents are worried that his son may have been arrested in connection with a high profile case in which seven other boys were arrested, three of which were reported killed in custody. They still have no idea of his whereabouts and have not received word of progress in the investigation.

They have lodged complaints with the National Human Rights Commission and the ICRC regarding his possible abduction. We urge those at these institutions to do everything within their power to locate the boy and ensure his safety.

Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Mohan Peris
Attorney General
Attorney General's Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421

2. Mr. Jayantha Wickramaratne,
Inspector General of Police (IGP),
New Secretariat, Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk


3. Secretary of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk

4. HQI
Head Quarters Police Station
Batticaloa
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 65 222 4364
Fax: +94 65 2224426


Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)