Appeal For Release of Thivyan

The following is an international appeal for the release of Thivyan, a Sri Lankan Tamil student, who was arrested by the Sri Lankan Army for engaging in non-violent demonstrations for Peace in Sri Lanka. If you agree with this appeal, please send an e-mail endorsement to the sponsor, who will in turn forward it to the list at the bottom of this appeal.

Dear Sir/Madam:

Re: Arrest and Torture of Jaffna University Student Leader

During the first half of this year, hopes were high for a Norwegian facilitated talks between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the government of Sri Lanka. During this period, throughout the Tamil (North-East) regions of Sri Lanka, mass demonstrations took place in support of Tamil rights to self-determination and the peace process. University students, understandably, were at the forefront of these demonstrations. There was ample evidence that the public were also fully behind these mass demonstrations [BBC-1]. Thivyan who was a student leader of the Jaffna University student union was one of the lead figures in these demonstrations.

Sri Lankan army arrested Thivyan in July 2001 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) accusing him of being an LTTE member. When he was later produced in courts he bore marks of torture and the judge ordered a medical report on him [BBC-2], [TN]. The judge has refused to grant bail to Thivyan, because he is barred from granting bail to those arrested under PTA without the support of the Attorney General.

The army accusations that, Thivyan was an LTTE member, that he helped procure weapons for the LTTE, and that he was in possession of weapons, have all been rejected by fellow students and the Jaffna public [SL] [SU]. They have accused the army of planting evidence and making false claims. The students staged a massive protest against Thivyan’s arrest and charges [AP].

In this context, a report by the government information sector [PR] which attempts to cast the Tamil student protests as an LTTE activity is revealing. In this report, written in January 2001, the government was talking about the delicate situation regarding student protests and its LTTE connections. By July 2001, having watched the protests gather huge momentum [BBC-1], all pretense of sensitivity was dropped, when Thivyan was brutally assaulted on the road before being arrested [SL].

Thivyan’s arrest was designed to put a stop to the effective civil demonstrations in support of Tamil self-determination and the peace process [SU]. It is intended as a message to all Tamils who dare to take part in similar demonstrations.

The civil war in Sri Lanka is one of the bloodiest, longest, and least reported wars in the world. Mass non-violent demonstrations in support of the peace negotiations, by Sri Lankan public, ought to be lauded by all peace loving people. Yet, we see the fate of a student who dare to lead such a demonstration.

Sir/Madam, we hope that you agree that Thivyan’s case demands the attention of the international community. We urge you to highlight his case in appropriate forum you have access to, in order to facilitate his release.

Yours Sincerely

References:

BBC-1: BBC report, Feb 20 2001 Tamil protests mount in Sri Lanka

BBC-2: BBC report, 18 July 2001 Student Tamil Tiger suspect in court

TN: TamilNet report, 12 JULY 2001 Arrested student leader said being tortured

PR: Sri Lankan government report, 17 Jan 2001 Jaffna Police brace up against LTTE-driven student protests

AP: Associated Press report, 12 July 2001 50,000 Protesters In Sri Lanka Demand Release Of Student (AP)

SL: Sunday Leader article 15 July 2001 The Krishnasamy Thiviyan affair By D. B. S. Jeyaraj

SU: A Message from Jaffna University Student Union, 5 July 2001

NOTE:

Please send an e-mail to malathy@ihug.co.nz, with the subject: “Endorsing Appeal to Release Thivyan” to. Once e-mail endorsements are collected it will be sent out as follows.

(I) Sponsor will send the appeal to:

1. Foreign ministers of EU countries, USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, and India.
2. Diplomatic missions of the above countries in Colombo.
3. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

(II) Please consider posting the appeal to other worthwhile recipients. If you wish to do this please contact the sponsor, who will send you an MS Word version, which will include: the appeal letter, all references in full, and some endorsements. The appeal letter should be modified to reflect the recipient and the sender’s name. You can then sign it and post it.

Other worthwhile recipients include:

1. Parliamentarians around the world who have an interest in the Sri Lankan civil war.

2. Other NGOs with interest in Sri Lanka.