Asian
Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned
over the news of the release of Nawshaad, one of the key suspects of
the abduction and killing of human rights defender Mr. Pattani Razeek in
Sri Lanka.
“We fear that the release of the
key suspect may lead to interference of the evidence and witnesses,
especially since the police have not made public the investigation
results,” said the Bangkok based regional human rights group. It is
widely speculated that Nawshaad may have been released due to influence
from Minister Rishard Bathiudeen, with whom Nawshaad had admitted to be
closely associated.
P. Razeek was disappeared on 11
February 2010. After much delay in the police investigation, his body
was only found and exhumed on 29 July 2011 by the police in
Kavathamunai, Oddamavadi, Valaichenai. P. Razeek was the Managing
Trustee of the Community Trust Fund (CTF) and represented the CTF in the
executive committee of FORUM-ASIA.
“This development is frustrating
news on the eve of the first anniversary of the discovery of Razeek’s
body,” said Yap Swee Seng, executive director of FORUM-ASIA.”While the
only identified suspects are at large, Razeek’s family and lawyer have
not been given access to the post-mortem report and DNA test report that
have vital information on the truth behind his murder,” he added.
Razeek’s body was sent to
Batticaloa Hospital on 28 July 2011 for post-mortem. The post-mortem was
completed on 2 August 2011 with the body released to the family on the
same day. Samples of Mr. Razeek’s teeth, skin, hair etc were taken by
the Colombo Crimes Division and sent to the Gene Tech Lab for DNA
testing on 4 August 2001. Mr. Razeek’s son, Riskhan supplied blood to
the Gene Tech Lab on 8 August 2011. Stomach samples from Mr. Razeek’s
body were sent to the Government Analyst on 5 August 2011.
“There have been continuous
demands from Razeek’s family and human rights groups inside and outside
Sri Lanka for the arrest and interrogation of others who are linked to
this heinous abduction and killing. Instead, both key suspects have now
been released, which reflects badly on the commitment of the Sri Lankan
authorities to tackle impunity in serious human rights abuses especially
when it is politically-linked,” said Yap.
Human rights groups demand more
to be called in for the investigation in the case. “The police should
also investigate Irshard, the Parliamentary Secretary to Minister
Rishard Bathiudeen, who stated publicly in October 2010 that Razeek was
held by the Defence Ministry, the persons travelling in the vehicle with
another key suspect Musdeen, in which Razeek was abducted, and the
persons travelling with suspect Nowshaadh, who admitted to meeting with
Razeek in Polonnaruwa on the day that he disappeared.”
Human rights groups also urge
the police to investigate the possible involvement of Minister
Bathiudeen as the key suspect Nowshaadh had revealed that on the day
that he met Razeek before his disappearance, he was travelling together
with several others in a vehicle belonging to the Resettlement Ministry,
of which Bathiudeen was the Minister of Resettlement during the time
Razeek was abducted.
A Statement issued by the FORUM ASIA