Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO457
2009-04-23 11:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: BROTHER OF TAMIL MP SURVIVES ABDUCTION
how-toVZCZCXRO7185 PP RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0457/01 1131109 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231109Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9862 INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0209 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 8591 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 6827 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4916 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2955 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4877 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3982 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 9233 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6543 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO 1084 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3456 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000457
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BROTHER OF TAMIL MP SURVIVES ABDUCTION
BUT STILL UNDER THREAT
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT O. BLAKE, JR. REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000457
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BROTHER OF TAMIL MP SURVIVES ABDUCTION
BUT STILL UNDER THREAT
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT O. BLAKE, JR. REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Urban planner Selvarajah Raveendran,
brother of a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of
Parliament, was abducted in front of eyewitnesses at a
checkpoint in a high-security zone by unformed policemen and
others in civilian clothes on March 24. At the request of
the victim's brother, Ambassador intervened with Presidential
Advisor Basil Rajapaksa on March 30 requesting assistance in
getting Raveendran released. On April 8, Raveendran was
released and returned to his brother's house. He met with
Ambassador on April 21 and described beatings, torture and
forced medication at the hands of his captors, who he said
were with military intelligence. On April 23, Raveendran
contacted Embassy and reported he was being followed and had
received phone threats. End summary.
2. (C) Sri Lankan media reported that Jaffna University
Lecturer Selvarajah Raveendran, brother of Jaffna MP S.
Kajendren of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was abducted
in front of eyewitnesses at a checkpoint in a high-security
zone by uniformed policemen and others in civilian clothes on
March 24. Ambassador raised the case with Senior Advisor
(and brother) to President Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa,
following a request by Kajendran. On April 8, media reported
Raveendran's release. His brother called Ambassador to thank
him and confirm the release.
3. (C) Raveendran visited the Embassy to speak to the
Ambassador and Pol Chief on April 21. Raveendran recounted
the circumstances of his abduction, and said that he was then
blindfolded and taken to an isolated location about 1 1/2
hours' drive from Colombo. There he was awakened at about
2:30 am and beaten by several men while still blindfolded.
Later he was hung upside down and beaten. Raveendran
reported that the captors verbally abused him. They told him
that his brother Kajendran, who has sought refuge in Norway,
was to blame for disclosing information about civilian deaths
and casualties in the current military campaign and making
statements to the media against the government. They told
Raveendran that his brother should resign as an MP, or he,
his brother and the entire family would be killed.
Raveendran reported being held naked for several days in an
extremely hot room and being forced to take medication.
4. (C) According to Raveendran, his captors spoke to each
other in Sinhala and referred to each other by military
ranks. He believes that they were all members of military
intelligence, he said. A few days before his release, he
said Minister of Foreign Employment (and government defense
spokesman) Keheliya Rambukwella visited the house where he
was being kept. (Note: there have been previous reports that
this minister's security detail was involved in other
abductions. Raveendran was still blindfolded during
Rambukwella's visit but said that his captors identified him
by name in discussions he overheard.) When his captors
released him in a Tamil neighborhood in south Colombo, they
warned him strictly against filing any complaints with the
police, the Red Cross, the Sri Lankan Human Rights
Commission, or going to a hospital for treatment. They also
said that his brother should stop speaking out on conflict
issues or they would "destroy the whole family."
5. (C) On April 23, Raveendran contacted the Embassy to
report that he was being surveilled and followed by men on
motorcycles. Further, he received a phone call on the
evening of April 22 demanding to know why he had visited the
U.S. Embassy and the Red Cross. He was warned that he had
not been observing the conditions laid down for his release.
Further, his brother should be silent about the conflict, or
he (Raveendran) would pay the price.
6. (C) COMMENT: The incident is one of the fuller accounts
we have received from the survivor of an abduction. It is
COLOMBO 00000457 002 OF 002
likely that the international notoriety of the case helped
save the victim's life. Embassy assesses that the risk to
Raveendran is extreme and is attempting to assist in
relocating him temporarily abroad.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BROTHER OF TAMIL MP SURVIVES ABDUCTION
BUT STILL UNDER THREAT
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT O. BLAKE, JR. REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Urban planner Selvarajah Raveendran,
brother of a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of
Parliament, was abducted in front of eyewitnesses at a
checkpoint in a high-security zone by unformed policemen and
others in civilian clothes on March 24. At the request of
the victim's brother, Ambassador intervened with Presidential
Advisor Basil Rajapaksa on March 30 requesting assistance in
getting Raveendran released. On April 8, Raveendran was
released and returned to his brother's house. He met with
Ambassador on April 21 and described beatings, torture and
forced medication at the hands of his captors, who he said
were with military intelligence. On April 23, Raveendran
contacted Embassy and reported he was being followed and had
received phone threats. End summary.
2. (C) Sri Lankan media reported that Jaffna University
Lecturer Selvarajah Raveendran, brother of Jaffna MP S.
Kajendren of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was abducted
in front of eyewitnesses at a checkpoint in a high-security
zone by uniformed policemen and others in civilian clothes on
March 24. Ambassador raised the case with Senior Advisor
(and brother) to President Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa,
following a request by Kajendran. On April 8, media reported
Raveendran's release. His brother called Ambassador to thank
him and confirm the release.
3. (C) Raveendran visited the Embassy to speak to the
Ambassador and Pol Chief on April 21. Raveendran recounted
the circumstances of his abduction, and said that he was then
blindfolded and taken to an isolated location about 1 1/2
hours' drive from Colombo. There he was awakened at about
2:30 am and beaten by several men while still blindfolded.
Later he was hung upside down and beaten. Raveendran
reported that the captors verbally abused him. They told him
that his brother Kajendran, who has sought refuge in Norway,
was to blame for disclosing information about civilian deaths
and casualties in the current military campaign and making
statements to the media against the government. They told
Raveendran that his brother should resign as an MP, or he,
his brother and the entire family would be killed.
Raveendran reported being held naked for several days in an
extremely hot room and being forced to take medication.
4. (C) According to Raveendran, his captors spoke to each
other in Sinhala and referred to each other by military
ranks. He believes that they were all members of military
intelligence, he said. A few days before his release, he
said Minister of Foreign Employment (and government defense
spokesman) Keheliya Rambukwella visited the house where he
was being kept. (Note: there have been previous reports that
this minister's security detail was involved in other
abductions. Raveendran was still blindfolded during
Rambukwella's visit but said that his captors identified him
by name in discussions he overheard.) When his captors
released him in a Tamil neighborhood in south Colombo, they
warned him strictly against filing any complaints with the
police, the Red Cross, the Sri Lankan Human Rights
Commission, or going to a hospital for treatment. They also
said that his brother should stop speaking out on conflict
issues or they would "destroy the whole family."
5. (C) On April 23, Raveendran contacted the Embassy to
report that he was being surveilled and followed by men on
motorcycles. Further, he received a phone call on the
evening of April 22 demanding to know why he had visited the
U.S. Embassy and the Red Cross. He was warned that he had
not been observing the conditions laid down for his release.
Further, his brother should be silent about the conflict, or
he (Raveendran) would pay the price.
6. (C) COMMENT: The incident is one of the fuller accounts
we have received from the survivor of an abduction. It is
COLOMBO 00000457 002 OF 002
likely that the international notoriety of the case helped
save the victim's life. Embassy assesses that the risk to
Raveendran is extreme and is attempting to assist in
relocating him temporarily abroad.
BLAKE