Fwd: rakwana girl rap

[Andrew Devadason]

Dear All

Greetings from Badulla. This mail may sound like "BREAKING SILENCE"..!!  Its good to be connected after some time. Attached a write up regarding the Rakwana incident. Sorry this is in Tamil only. I am forwarding for your information and possible action. I spoke to the person over the phone (Mr. Thevaseelan a school teacher at Rakwana) However i haven't met him before. 

I am beginning to ponder a new step forward. Perhaps the time has come to form a network of networks (Tea Net). Over to you for your comments..

Andrew D.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Peoples Organization Social Justice <people4soc...@gmail.com>
Date: 25 July 2014 13:15
Subject: rakwana girl rap
To:

please see the attachment

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Rev. Fr. Andrew Devadason, MA
Church of Ceylon (The Anglican Church), Diocese of Colombo.
Resident Priest, St. Marks Church Badulla with 
Christ Church Demodara,

" Be a Partner: Give Hope to the Estate  Community"

CALL : 0552225049 / 0776764251

St. Marks Church, Badulla, Sri Lanka

Button for your Web page

Google Groups
Estate community Solidarity
Visit this group

[Emil van der Poorten]

Andrew:

I really would appreciate more nformation here, perhaps a synopsis of the Rakwana matter since I cannot read Tamil. 

Also, I would appreciate more information about the intent of the proposed coalition.

Regards

Emil van der Poorten

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[Andrew Devadason]

Dear Mr. Emil

This note is from a small group that has sprang out of the incident in Rakwana, they call themselves as the peoples organization of social justice. The contents was forwarded to my mail box.

Let me briefly put it down in point form

1. The article refers to the protest held in Rakwana on the 22nd

2. The incident refers to a estate girl being raped at the "Delvin" division. She has gone to pay the traditional "Seettu", the perpetrator [Muslim - my addition] has followed her and abducted her into a lonely placed and raped her.

3. It was reported to the police by the mother. The police took the dress of the girl which had clear evidence of raping, then she was examined at the Ratnapura hospital and she had to be discharged before 48 hours even though the girl complained about pain etc. due to orders from above, the mother have said so.

4. The police have got the mother to sign documents that was written in Sinhala (the mother can't read and write even Tamil)

5. At the time of the write-up being prepared it was notified that a Sinhala/Muslim protest in favor of the police was held in Rakwana.

The Following questions were raised in the write-up

a) Why did not the police arrest the perpetrator even though he was hiding in the Ukwatte area?

b)  What justice are the trade unions going to mete out for the victim?

c)  There is suspicion that the some doctors attached to the Ratnapura hospital are biased, therefore will they produce a fair report?

d)  Which politician is behind the  narcotic business that has a connection to this incident? How will it make an impact towards justice?

e)  What is the position of the Muslims and the upcountry people who seek justice on this matter?

There is contact no.071 625 825 1

Let me add

The police or the society in Sri Lanka, do not consider the plantation community as a decent and a civilized community that deserves equal justice. We come across such incidents else where as well.  

Therefore we need to make a network of networks, so that such smaller networks will be strengthened.

Andrew

[Emil van der Poorten]

Thank you for that, Andrew.

the initial difficulty I see with this issue is that those who will defend this miscarriage of justice will try to make out that this is "just another effort to besmirch the Muslims."

I see this as yet another part of the overall break down of the rule of law in this country where, while the plantation Tamils are probably victimised more than any other group, they are still only a part of the larger problem in which the powerful can do as they please, no matter what community they belong to, as long as they don't do anything to displease their political patrons.

That said, I think your suggested initiative, like the one you led before, Is one that is really needed and should be encouraged and supported.

Please keep me "in the loop" in this initiative.

Regards

Emil

[Ashok Kumar]

Dear Fr Adrews

Thank you for the copy of the mail. I find through this mail that a biased and discrimination in place on this child's issue. I hope that  we can get support from  human rights to move further. Appreciate your efforts.

Regards
Ashok

[Andrew Devadason]

Dear Ashok 

Tks for this mail. If you have any contacts in this regard, pls put he/she in contact with the author of this write-up.

Tks again

Andrew