A petition to the president behalf of torture victims

Jun 24, 2016

Kandy Human rights office pointed out despite 22 years has been elapsed adopting the rights of the torture victims, only one instance of securing rights was reported from the central province. They further pointed out, for the last ten years, not a single instance of enforcing the law has been reported.

Director of Kandy Human Rights Office Rev. Nandana Manathunga said this in a workshop held in Kandy today 24th marking the international day of anti torture which is falling on the 26th of this month.

 

Not enforcing the law

A public awareness campaign was held against the absence of law urging to protect the rights of the torture victims was held today by displaying placards and a petition was signed to the president urging to enforce the law.

 

Rev. Manathunga giving his opinion at the function which held under the patronage of all religious clergies said the then government said that the police and the army were unable to implement the law despite there was a civil war in the country. However since there is no war now the law should be enforced and justice should be met for the people who was unfairly treated.

 

He said there are many cases filed by the torture victims in the Supreme Court and the president and the attorney general’s attention should focus to these in future.

 

The Rev. said there was a only a single instance reported the law was enforced in the central province, that was the Kandy courts prosecuted and imprisoned two police officers attached to the Wattegama police for seven years.

 

Rev Nandana Manathunga said there are many court cases of torture victims pending for a long time against the police and other institutions, therefore government should focus attention to expedite these proceedings.