The two senior representatives of Sri Lanka’s leading organization advocating for prisoners’ rights have received death threats two days before three detainees died in renewed prison violence.
On Friday (7) three detainees had died in what the authorities described as ‘unrest’ in Colombo’s New Magazine and Kuruwita prisons.
A month ago, deadly clashes in the Negombo prison left at least 31 dead including prison officers. Some of the inmates transferred elsewhere had also met with violence.
The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) had complained to the UN and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka that the second round of violence against transferred inmates was in retaliation to deaths of prison officers.
General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union Joseph Stalin on Thursday (6) revealed that the office of the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) had received two letters on 5th August threatening the Chairman and Convener with death and urging them to immediately stop intervening in cases involving violations of prisoners’ human rights.
The letters slammed the CPRP leadership for lodging complaints with the United Nations regarding the deaths of prisoners in custody.
"Both of them have received two threatening letters so far, demanding not to take any action in this regard, and emphasizing that if they do, they will be sent six feet under."
Two separate threatening letters, dated 17th July, were sent to the Chairman of CPRP, Attorney at Law Senaka Perera, and Convener, Sudesh Nandimal Silva, under the name "Patriotic Defense Unit."
"Aren't you ashamed to go to Geneva and gossip about the country? You should immediately stop trying to betray this country by going to Geneva and telling lies about the officials and the country," the two death threat letters seen by us stated.
After the two letters threatening to send them "six feet under" were received by the office of the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners on 5th August, the organization immediately contacted the Inspector General of Police.
A complaint was also lodged with the Borella Police on 6th August.
The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners said it also informed the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka during a discussion held with the Commission on Thursday.
Senior Teachers' Union leader Joseph Stalin emphasized that it is the responsibility of the government to investigate the matter.
"Because this is not something that can be taken lightly. Such acts have started in this country under various governments in this manner."
Joseph Stalin also stated that it is evident that various threats are being made even against journalists who visit the homes of deceased prisoners and investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Stressing that suppressing organizations that raise the concerns of prisoners amounts to silencing the voices of prisoners, the Teachers' Union leader strongly urged the government to immediately investigate the death threats made against the two representatives of the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners.
Emphasizing that the CPRP is not isolated, the Ceylon Teachers' Union leader also stated at the press conference that they would extend their unconditional support to any action taken by the CPRP.
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