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On March 3, 2010,
an article published in Lanka News Web stated that J. C. Weliamuna, Executive Director of Transparency
International - Sri Lanka (TISL), an organisation involved in revealing
the abuse of public resources in the context of the Sri Lankan
presidential elections of January 26, 2010, heads a list of 35 human rights
defenders and journalists supportive of the opposition. The list was
allegedly produced by the Sri Lankan intelligence services.
During the last
weeks, J. C. Weliamuna has been the target of a
string of defamation articles published in local Sinhalese and English
printed media containing false information about the misuse of TISL's
funds. The articles also portray TISL in the framework of a wider
campaign carried out by the Government against national and international
non-governmental organisations, accusing them of trying to destabilise
the country and announcing that the Act dealing with these organisations
will be amended to take proper action against them whenever it is
necessary.
The attempts of the
government to discredit the work of TISL and other national and
international human rights organisations seem to announce a move to
arrest and detain Mr. Weliamuna on fabricated charges, in connection with
reports Transparency International issued during the presidential
election campaign in December and January, alleging violations of
election laws and misuse of public resources by the ruling party.
Previously, on
September 27, 2008, two grenades were thrown at Mr. Weliamuna's
residence. One grenade exploded on the balcony and damaged the building,
while the other was found unexploded inside the house .
Despite Mr.
Weliamuna's letter to the President of Sri Lanka, there has been no
action taken to provide protection to him.
Recently, the Sri
Lankan Government argued that Mr. Weliamuna was responsible of this
attack in order to get publicity for himself.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW !
Write to
Call
upon the Sri Lankan authorities to
put an immediate end to the harassment against Mr. J. C. Weliamuna, which
seem to merely aims at sanctioning his human rights activities, and to
refrain from arresting him.
[Your name here]
MEMBERS ONLY
[Signature]
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY
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