- Category: News
On April 27, 2012, victims’ family of enforced disappearance in 1997/1998 with The Commission for the disappeared and victims of violence (KontraS) and The Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI) had complained to The President trough The Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia (ORI) which motivated by the neglect of the President to follow up the recommendations from Parliament (DPR RI) in handling the case of enforced disappearance in 1997/1998. This negligence already happens for more than two (2) years. Justice to the victims still stuck as a hostage in the arm President SBY.
Based on the victims’ report, Ombudsman stated that undue delay has occurred refer to the completion of enforced disappearance’s case in 1997/1998 which clearly as an act of maladministration and denial of good governance principles. Then on 15th May 2012, Ombudsman finally delivered the first clarification letter to the President related to the steps that have been and will be pursued by the government to accomplish the case of enforced disappearance in 1997/1998 for the sake of justice and legal certainty to the victims and victims’ family. The President has not yet replies directly that first clarification letter. On May 29th, 2012, the President trough Sudi Silalahi, the Minister of State Secretary, replied with the letter addressed to the Minister of Law and Human Rights with carbon copy to the Chief of Ombudsman which stated that the clarification letter will be as a study materials and further treatment in accordance with the applicable authorities.
- Category: Open Letters
Office of the President,
Temple Trees, 150, Galle Road,
Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) is a regional federation of human rights organizations working directly on the issue of enforced or involuntary disappearances.
The Federation expresses its extreme concern regarding the reports of harassment and intimidation of woman human rights defender Mrs. Sandya Ekneligoda by Sri Lankan government supporter Mr. Douglas Wickramaratne during the side event organized during the 19th session on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Mrs. Ekneligoda was also allegedly subjected to intimidations by Deputy Solicitor General Mr. Shavinra Fernando during the Homagama Magistrate Courts (Colombo district) hearing.
- Category: News
In a country that has achieved so much in literacy, education and social development, is it not indeed unfortunate that “White Van” has frightened the entire nation? Appearance of a white van assures a disappearance of some one. If you Google or do any other internet search (or any media that is not controlled by the Government) on Sri Lanka, “White Van” resembles the Defence Authorities of our country. Are we not ashamed of it?
“White van operation” is the most used mode of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka at present. Enforced disappearance violates a range of human rights including the right to security and dignity of a person, right to a legal personality, humane conditions of detention, right to fair trial, right to a family life and when killed, the right to life. The disappeared person is often tortured and in constant fear for life, removed from the protection of the law, deprived of all their rights and is at the mercy of the captors. Do you respect these rights seriously? What would you do if you or a family member experiences abduction?
- Category: Press Releases
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) condemns the harassment and intimidation of human rights defender Mrs. Sandya Ekneligoda by Sri Lankan government supporter Mr. Douglas Wickramaratne during the side event organized during the 19th sessions on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the statements by Deputy Solicitor General Mr. Shavinra Fernando during the Homagama Magistrate Courts (Colombo district) hearing.
"The treatment of Mr. Wickramaratne and Deputy Solicitor General Mr. Fernando to Ms. Sandya Eknaligoda’s participation in searching for the truth behind the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda and search for justice in behalf of the other victims of enforced disappearance is an insult not only to the victim Prageeth but also to the cause that Sandya is campaigning for – justice for the victims of enforced disappearance and the complete elimination of the practice of enforced disappearance." said Mary Aileen Bacalso, Secretary General of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD).
- Category: Open Letters
Office of the President,
Temple Trees, 150, Galle Road,
Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) is a regional federation of human rights organizations working directly on the issue of enforced or involuntary disappearances.
The Federation expresses its extreme concern regarding the recent report of another case of disappearance committed on 6 April 2012. The victims, Australian citizen Mr. Premakumar Gunaratnam and Ms. Dimithu Attygalle, are political leaders of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP). Their whereabouts cannot be established to date.
- Category: Statements
The right to the truth or "the right to know the truth" is now widely recognized under international law as an indispensable aspect of justice. In case of enforced disappearance, this means the right of the victims’ families to know the circumstances of the disappearance of their loved ones, the progress and results of any investigations, establishing with certainty the fate and whereabouts of the victims, and the identity of those responsible. Establishing the truth is therefore a necessary step towards ending impunity.
While the search for truth is a requisite for justice, all victims of human rights violations should be treated with humanity and respect for their dignity regardless of whether the perpetrators of such transgressions are identified, apprehended, prosecuted, or convicted. It is the duty of the state to undertake appropriate measures to provide them with adequate, effective and prompt reparation as a humanitarian act of redressing violations committed against them.
- Category: Statements
SOLIDARITY MESSAGE
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) congratulates our colleagues and friends from the Komisi Untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan or The Commission for “the Disappeared” and Victims of Violence (KontraS) on their organization’s fourteenth anniversary.
As one of the most active member-organizations of our federation, KontraS is committed to the work for human rights. Fourteen years in its struggle for human rights, KontraS has withstood the tests of time – overcoming the consequences of the series of raids in 2002 and 2003 and worse still, witnessing the brutality of the assassination of its founder, Munir. Such commitment is one of AFAD’s sources of strength for our regional federation.
- Category: Statements
Although Spain’s Amnesty Law of 1977 seems to be a protective blanket of General Franco’s surviving supporters of his regime, it only provides for an amnesty for political crimes – and the crimes under international law committed in Spain in the past do not amount to political crimes. The Spanish Magistrate Baltasar Garzón did comply with the obligations of Spain under international law when he decided to investigate and prosecute the former Chilean head of state, Augusto Pinochet in October 1998.
The investigation initiated by Judge Garzón on the crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the Civil War by both parties to the conflict and the Franco regime is righteous because this is an attempt to correct a historical blunder. There are no wounds to open as opposed to some claims because the wounds of the families of the victims of human rights violations and enforced disappearances are still open and are in fact, festering- even after 41 years since the death of Francisco Franco. Two years after his death, the Government of Spain passed the Amnesty Law – though it ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights few months before that.