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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 Jezima Ismail Rukshana Nanayakkara


Ameena Hussain Judy Piertersz S. G. Punchiheva
Anberiya Haniffa K. M. Chitrasena S. Nanthikesan
Angelica Chandrasekeran K.S. Ratnavale Sagarica Delgoda
Anita Nesiah Dr. Kanchana Ruwanpura Sam Perera
Ann Jabbar Dr. Keshini Soysa Saman Sri Liyanage
Anoma Wijewardene Kevin Shimmin Sanjeeva Bandara
Ashoka Thevarapperuma Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Santhush Pararajasingham
B. Skanthakumar Kumaravadivel Guruparan Sarala Emmanuel
Bhavani Loganathan Kumudini Samuel Saroja Sivachandran
Cedric de Silva Kusal Gunasekera Saumaya Liyanage
Chameera Perera Lakshman Gunasekara Seetha Ranjani
Chaminda Weerawardhana Lakshmi Jeganathan Selvi Sachithanandam
Chandra Hewagallage Lionel Bopage Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran
Chandra Jayaratne Luther Uthayakumaran Dr.Sepali Kottegoda
Chandraguptha Thenuwara M. C. M Iqbal Shantha Pathirana
Chulani Kodikara Mahim Mendis Sharmini Boyle
D. D. N. C. Wimalarathne Maithree Wickramasinghe Sherine Xavier
D.B.S. Jeyaraj Dr. Mario Gomez Shreen Saroor
Damaris Wickremesekere Mihiri Weerasinghe Sithie Tiruchelvam
Damayanthi Mutukumarage Dr.Muthukrishna Sarvananthan Sriyani Pathirage
Dr. Deepika Udagama Dr. Nalaka Gunawardana Stella Phillip
Dilan Kumara Dr. Neloufer de Mel Subram Ramaswamy
Evelyn Buell Nigel de Silva Sudarshana Gunawardana
Faizun Zackariya Nilusha Hemasiri Sujeewa Bandara
Freddy Gamage Nimalika Fernando Sulochana Colambage
G.V.D Tilakasiri Nimanthi Rajasingham Dr. Sumathy Sivamohan
Dr.Gananath Obeyesekera Nirmala Rajasingam Sumika Perera
Gameela Samarasinghe Dr. Nishan de Mel Sunanda Deshapriya
Gamini Viyangoda P. Rajanayagam Sunila Abeysekera
Godfrey Yogarajah P.B. Gowthaman Suriya Wickramasinghe
Hilmy Ahamed Priyadharshanie Ariyaratne Suvendrini Kakuchi
Inas Jinnah Dr. Qadri Ismail Tarika Wickeremeratne
Indrani Kusumalatha Raja M.B. Senanayaka Thiru Sampandan
J. C. Weliamuna Rajan Hoole U. D. M. Seelawathi
Dr. Jagath Weerasinghe Rajan Philips Udaya Kalupathirana
Jayantha Dhanapala Ramani Muttettuwegama Upekha Chitrasena
Javid Yusuf Rohini Hensman V. Jeychithra
Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda Rohini Weerasinghe Vanamali Galappaththi
Jayanthi Gunewardena Rosanna Flamer-Caldera Vasuki Nesiah
Jeanne Samuel Roshini Fernando Visaka Dharmadasa
Dr. Jehan Perera Ruki Fernando Dr. Wijaya Jayatileke
Association of Family Members of the Disappeared
Association of War Affected Women
Citizens Committee for Forcibly Evicted Northern Muslims
Mannar Women for Human Rights and Democracy
Mothers and Daughters of Lanka
Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
National Peace Council
Rights Now- Collective for Democracy
Sri Lanka Democracy Forum

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