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Appeals by the Amnesty Internatioanal.

PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 37/010/2002

3 May 2002

Further information on UA 131/02 (ASA 37/007/2002, 29 April 2002) - Fear for Safety/Hostage-Taking

SRI LANKA K V Sithamparapillai (m), aged 82

Amid considerable publicity about his abduction for ransom, K V Sithamparapillai was allowed to return home by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at around noon on 1 May.

K V Sithamparapillai had been taken captive by the LTTE on 26 April and held hostage after he had refused to pay a large sum of money demanded from him.

Amnesty International understands that since he returned home, K V Sithamparapillai has received messages urging him to pay. However, under pressure from the police, his bank manager is reportedly refusing to release the money from his account.

On 2 May, the head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, which was set up to monitor a cease-fire between the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka, reportedly met the leader of the political wing of the LTTE in the district of Batticaloa. It is not known whether K V Sithamparapillai's case was raised as a violation of the cease-fire agreement, in which amongst other things, both sides agreed to "...abstain from hostile acts against the civilian population, including...intimidation, abduction, extortion and harassment".

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:
- welcoming the fact that K V Sithamparapillai has been allowed to return home;
- expressing concern that he continues to be harassed and intimated into paying money to the LTTE;
- expressing concern at other reports of hostage-taking by the LTTE;
- urging the LTTE leadership to issue a public statement clarifying its position and urging its cadres to take all necessary steps to bring an immediate halt to the taking of hostages.

APPEALS TO:
Dr Anton Balasingam
c/o Tamil Coordinating Committee - France
341 Rue de Pyrenees
75020 Paris, France
Telegram: Dr Anton Balasingam, Paris, France
Fax: + 33 1 43 58 11 91
Salutation: Dear Dr Balasingam

World Tamil Movement
64 Eaton Avenue
Toronto,
Ontario
M4J 2Z5,
Canada
Telegram: World Tamil Movement, Toronto, Ontario
Salutation: Dear Sir or Madam

Tamil Co-ordinating Committee Norway
Det tamilske Samordningsutvalget
Pb. 1699 Vika
0110 Oslo, Norway
Telegram: Tamil Co-ordinating Committee Norway, Oslo, Norway
Fax: + 47 22 38 10 40
Email: teedor@online.no
Salutation: Dear Sir or Madam

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 14 June 2002.

PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 37/007/2002

UA 131/02 Fear for Safety/ Hostage-taking 29 April 2002

SRI LANKA K V Sithamparapillai (m), aged 82

K V Sithamparapillai was taken captive by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on 26 April. He is being held hostage at Paddiruppu, Batticaloa district. His wife was allowed to visit him on 28 April. He reportedly is in good health, but the stress of being held hostage may affect this adversely.

On 28 April at around 10.30am, K V Sithamparapillai from Bar Road, Thamaraikerny, Batticaloa district, had visited the LTTE office at Paddiruppu in order to hand over 300,000 Rupees (approximately $3,100) of an amount originally demanded from him several weeks ago. His family has reportedly been told that he will continue to be held until they pay a further 2,200,000 Rupees ($22,800).

According to reports the LTTE had for several months put pressure on K V Sithamparapillai to provide them with money or face captivity. He was previously abducted on 16 April after he had refused to pay 5,000,000 ($52,000). He was held overnight and released on condition that the money would be paid. A relative stood surety and negotiated for a reduction in the amount. The LTTE apparently then asked for 2,200,000 Rupees first and another 300,000 later.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
There have been many reports of hostage-taking for ransom and extortion by members of the LTTE in Batticaloa over the last few months. This follows unilaterally declared cease-fires by the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka in late December 2001, which were replaced by a permanent cease-fire on 23 February after negotiations facilitated by the government of Norway.

The abduction of K V Sithamparapillai was brought to the attention of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, a body set up under the cease-fire agreement to monitor its observance. Under Clause 2.1 of the agreement, the Sri Lankan security forces and the LTTE have to "in accordance with international law abstain from hostile acts against the civilian population, including such acts as torture, intimidation, abduction, extortion and harassment".

The taking of hostages, including for ransom, is in violation of international humanitarian standards, including common article 3 of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:
- expressing concern for the safety of 82-year-old K V Sithamparapillai who was taken captive at the LTTE camp at Paddiruppu, Batticaloa district on 26 April 2002, apparently as a hostage for ransom;
- expressing concern that his captivity is in violation of international humanitarian standards prohibiting the taking of hostages and in violation of the cease-fire agreement entered into by the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka in February 2002;
- urging that he be immediately and unconditionally released.

World Tamil Movement
64 Eaton Avenue
Toronto,
Ontario
M4J 2Z5,
Canada
Telegram: World Tamil Movement, Toronto, Ontario
Salutation: Dear Sir or Madam

Tamil Co-ordinating Committee Norway
Det tamilske?Samordningsutvalget
Pb. 1699 Vika
0110 Oslo, Norway
Telegram: Tamil Co-ordinating Committee Norway, Oslo, Norway
Fax: + 47 22 38 10 40
Email: teedor@online.no
Salutation: Dear Sir or Madam

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 10 June. [Top]