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Asylum lawyer ‘fears for safety’ - report
Mar 01, 201311:12 PM
A prominent Sri Lankan human rights lawyer who has represented dozens of asylum-seekers sent back from Australia says he fears for his safety after the sudden appearance of men in unmarked white vans outside his Colombo home.
Rights activists in Sri Lanka have demanded the government guarantee the safety of Lakshan Dias from extra-judicial abduction, and have circulated a petition after what they claim is a campaign of harassment.
Mr Dias, an outspoken critic of torture and arbitrary arrest in Sri Lanka, told The Weekend Australian the harassment began on Monday with men knocking on his gate, and graduated to questioning of neighbours, colleagues and his wife.
On three nights last week, men in a white van with the doors open and a motorcyclist parked outside his front gate.
Mr Dias said he reported the matter, and the motorcycle licence plate, to the police and within 24 hours received a call from the State Intelligence Services asking him to come in for an interview.
“They were very cordial and said they just wanted information on a Pakistani asylum-seeker but I believe they wanted to give me a signal that I am under surveillance because they had all information about me, they knew all communications,” he said.
“I asked them why they sent officers to my house when they had my phone number and they said there had been a mistake. But SIS don’t make mistakes.”
Mr Dias said he did not believe the intimidation was related to his advocacy for asylum-seekers, notwithstanding his defence of several deportees who claim they were tortured in custody, and that it was more likely a result of his prominent role in the defence of the country’s recently impeached chief justice.
“I do handle sensitive (asylum) cases but I have done so for many years. The only reason I can think of is my involvement in the anti-impeachment campaign. Other lawyers involved in that process have been threatened and harassed,” he said. “I am continuing my work but this is a very strange situation and I don’t know what to do. I am very worried.”
Police spokesman Buddika Siriwardana confirmed a police complaint had been lodged and that an investigation was underway into the suspicious vehicle but said no security was being provided to Mr Dias. – The Australian
