Sri Lanka: Prominent Muslim politician and government critic arrested

2 May 2013

A prominent Muslim politician and government critic arrested today in Sri Lanka must be immediately released or charged with an internationally recognizable criminal offence, Amnesty International said.

Azad Sally, the leader of Sri Lanka’s newly formed Muslim Tamil National Alliance, was reportedly taken into custody on Thursday morning by the intelligence services for unknown reasons.

Sally has been an outspoken critic of a Buddhist organization, Bodu Bala Sena, which has since February 2013 allegedly attacked Muslim and Christian religious establishments and agitated against certain religious practices.  On 29 April he told journalists he was in hiding because he feared for his safety after receiving threats in state-run media.  

“Azad Sally’s arrest, and the harassment he has faced over the past weeks, is indicative of the climate of fear government critics in Sri Lanka are forced to live under. He must be released immediately or charged with an internationally recognisable criminal offence,” said Polly Truscott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director.

“He has been campaigning to end oppressive practices against minorities in Sri Lanka, in particular Muslims and Tamils, for which he has faced the ire of the Sri Lankan government.

“Sally appears to be the latest victim in the intensifying crackdown on dissenting views we have seen in recent years, motivated by the government’s desire to tighten its grip on power. Journalists, the judiciary, human rights workers and opposition politicians like Sally are among those who have been targeted through threats, harassment and vicious violent attacks.”

The Sri Lankan government remains set to host the Commonwealth Summit in November despite calls by Amnesty International and others for it to be relocated. 

“Commonwealth leaders must take a stronger stand against the government’s violent repression of dissent and its persistent failure to bring to justice those responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said Truscott.

Background

“Sri Lanka’s assault on dissent”, Amnesty International Report, 30 April 2013.

AI Index: PRE01/217/2013

Sritharan MP called for inquiry

Friday , 03 May 2013

Tamil National Alliance parliament member C.Sritharan has been called by Terrorism Prevention unit for an inquiry for catering information to Medias concerning forces land confiscation.

It was said, that the Tamil National Alliance parliament member C.Sritharan has given details of land confiscation in the Kilinochchi district by the forces to the Medias and to hold investigation concerning this, the Terrorism Prevention unit had visited parliament member's residence yesterday.

However,   parliament member was not available in his home, hence he was contacted to his mobile phone, and the Terrorism Prevention unit informed the parliament member that they need to carry out investigations.

 However, parliament member had notified about his inability to attend the inquiry today (yesterday), and the investigation personnel had informed that they would notify another date.  

Meanwhile reports said, Tamil National Alliance parliament member Suresh Piremachandran was under investigation last month of catering information to a Indian media concerning forces.