Pakyasothi Sarawanamuttu English

Statement Condemning Death Threats against Dr. P. Saravanamuttu As concerned citizens and members of civil society organisations committed to the protection and defence of human rights and democracy in Sri Lanka, we are gravely disturbed at the most recent attempt to intimidate Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives through a death threat by letter posted to his home. We condemn it unreservedly. On August 20th 2009 Dr Saravanamuttu received a letter threatening him with death for allegedly passing information to the European Union which the letter claims will result in the GSP + plus facility being denied to Sri Lanka. Dr Saravanamuttu, and the organizations he heads, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, is involved in contributing to public policy making and implementation processes to ensure good governance, proposing constructive policy alternatives aimed at strengthening and safeguarding democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, human rights and social justice, and drawing attention to the social and political consequences of development. At a time when space for dissent has been restricted he has been one of the outspoken critics showing exemplary courage in speaking out. He is a well respected scholar and is invited to speak and write not only on Sri Lanka but on broader issues of democracy, governance and social justice issues at a global level, by many institutions and organizations around the world. In the past years, Dr. Saravanamuttu and the CPA have engaged in a range of actions aimed at ensuring that the Sri Lankan government honours its obligations under Sri Lankan law and international conventions that it has ratified. This work has often been in collaboration with other Sri Lankan organizations concerned with the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the right of association and expression guaranteed in the Constitution. The campaign to call for the Government of Sri Lanka to comply with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and a host of other international agreements that Sri Lanka has ratified has been an ongoing one by CPA and other organizations working to ensure human rights accountability in Sri Lanka. The engagement of these groups with the discussions on the extension of the GSP+ facility to Sri Lanka is part of this wider process. As reiterated by the CPA, its position is that GSP Plus benefits MUST be renewed, and that Sri Lanka should use the opportunity to also strengthen its human rights protection framework by complying with international and national law. We deplore the intimidation levelled at Dr. Saravanamuttu and call upon the state to take all necessary measures to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for making these threats. We also extend our solidarity and support to Dr. Saravanamuttu and to all at the Centre for Policy Alternatives at this time, and call on the authorities to ensure that all steps necessary are taken to guarantee the safety and security of Dr. Saravanamuttu, his family and his staff. 8 September 2009 Signed by Ahilan Kadirgamar Ameena Hussain Anberiya Haniffa Angelica Chandrasekeran Anita Nesiah Ann Jabbar Anoma Wijewardene Ashoka Thevarapperuma B. Skanthakumar Bhavani Loganathan Cedric de Silva Chameera Perera Chaminda Weerawardhana Chandra Hewagallage Chandra Jayaratne Chandraguptha Thenuwara Chulani Kodikara D. D. N. C. Wimalarathne D.B.S. Jeyaraj Damaris Wickremesekere Damayanthi Mutukumarage Dr. Deepika Udagama Dilan Kumara Evelyn Buell Faizun Zackariya Freddy Gamage G.V.D Tilakasiri Dr.Gananath Obeyesekera Gameela Samarasinghe Gamini Viyangoda Godfrey Yogarajah Hilmy Ahamed Inas Jinnah Indrani Kusumalatha J. C. Weliamuna Dr. Jagath Weerasinghe Jayantha Dhanapala Javid Yusuf Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda Jayanthi Gunewardena Jeanne Samuel Dr. Jehan Perera

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