Sri Lanka: Rape and killing of woman

                       VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
                           LKA 050100.VAW

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT 
intervention in the following situation in Sri Lanka.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by 
reliable sources of the alleged rape and killing of Sarathambal 
Saravanbavananthakurukal on the evening of Tuesday 28th 
December 1999.

According to the information received, Sarathambal 
Saravanbavananthakurukal, of a Hindu Brahmin family, was 
forcibly dragged from her home, in Pungudutivu, near Jaffna 
Peninsula, by Sri Lankan Navy soldiers. They then gang-raped 
and murdered her. The body of the 29 year-old mother was found 
the following morning, under leaves, not far from her home near 
Kannaki Amman Temple.

It is further reported that on 30th December 1999, President 
Chandrika Kumaratunga has ordered an immediate investigation 
into these events.  However, according to the neighbours of 
Sarathambal, the suspects have been transferred from the area 
perhaps as a preventative measure to avoid action being taken 
against them. 

The International Secretariat expresses its grave concern over the 
continued reports of torture, including rape, of both women and 
young girls by Sri Lankan soldiers during the ongoing conflict in 
Sri Lanka. Previous cases suggest that many rapes often go 
unpunished and without any remedies. (See case LKA 
100899.VAW) 

Action requested

Please write to the authorities of Sri Lanka urging them to

i.  guarantee an impartial and exhaustive inquiry into the rape 
    and killing of Sarathambal Saravanbavananthakurukal, bring 
    those responsible before a competent and impartial tribunal 
    and apply the penal, civil and administrative sanctions 
    provided by law;

ii. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the 
    family of Sarathambal Saravanbavananthakurukal and 
    ensure them the right to adequate reparation; 

  iii.	adopt immediate measures to put an end to these acts of 
torture and killings; 

  iv. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and 
    fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws 
    and international human rights standards.

Addresses

Her Excellency President Chandrika B. Kumaratunga, 
Presidential Residence, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
Fax94 - 1 - 333 - 703 

Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Posts, 
Telecommunications and Media, Old CTO Building
Lotus Rd, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka 

Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, New 
Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka

Hon. Ambassador, Permanent Mission and Consulate General of 
Sri Lanka, 56, Rue De Moillebeau, 
5th Floor, 1 209, Geneva 19, Switzerland, Fax(41-22) 734 9084, 
E-mailmission.srilanka@itu.ch

Hon. High-Commissioner, The High Commission of the 
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 13 Hyde Park 
Gardens London W2 2LU United Kingdom Fax(0171) 262-7970, 
E-maillancom@easynet.co.uk

Geneva, 05 December 2000

The Human Rights Action Network, a project of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.