We have just released a statement in response to the Government of Sri Lanka’s announcement that they have killed the wanted LTTE revivalist “Gobi”.
As we said in that statement, “There was never any credible evidence produced to link Jeyakumary Balendran or any of the other people arrested to Gobi, and their detention had always appeared to have more to do with maintaining a climate of fear, and preventing communication with the outside world, than it did with security concerns.”
“Now that Gobi is no longer at large there is no longer even the illusion of a reason to continue to detain these people. They must be released without delay.”
Jeyakumary Balendran and at least 60 others remain in Boosa detention centre, a place notorious for torture. No evidence has ever been produced against any of them, and Jeyakumary at least has now been detained for a month. They must be released, and the draconian law that has been used to keep them in jail must be repealed.
If they are not, the international community needs to take strong steps against the Sri Lankan Government. Only this will change their mind. We are suggesting that all members of the TID (Terrorist Investigation Department) – the organisation that is responsible for these detentions – be denied visas to travel abroad until Jeyakumary is released.
Please write to your Government, and make that argument. You can contact the British here, and the Americans here. A sample email is included below.
Sample email
Dear xxxx,
Jeyakumary Balendran, a prominent human rights activist, and at least sixty others remain in detention in Sri Lanka’s notorious Boosa prison. No evidence has ever been produced against any of them, but the Government of Sri Lanka says that it needs to question them in connection with their hunt for Selvanayagam Kajeepan AKA Gobi.
Now that Gobi has been found, these people must be released and the draconian law that has been used to keep them in jail (the PTA) must be repealed. If they are not then the international community needs to take strong steps against the Sri Lankan Government. Only this will change their mind. I suggest that all members of the TID (Terrorist Investigation Department) – the organisation that is responsible for these detentions – be denied visas to travel to our country until Jeyakumary is released.
Kind regards
