Protect HR Defenders- Commemoration of HR Day at Mannar

Lives of HR Defenders are in danger in Sri Lanka.
When there is no space for dissent, the work of HRD are not respected by the authorities in any country. Because, our role as HRD is to ensure the rights of the people in a peaceful way with the engagement of relevant authorities and structures.
We as NAFSO have been experienced this situation past 4 years as the Center and the Field activities are always monitored, threatened the activists, questioned either by CID or by police, army or military personnel.
The situation became more serious once we began to engage in Land Rights Campaign in the post war development process. It may be Basil Soosai in Mannar, Raheem in Trincomalee, Pathmanatha in Kalpitiya, Somasiri in Paanama, Saman at Polpithigama, Manoj at Polonnaruwa, Sevakumar at Batticoloa, Subashinie in Negombo in the field or Francis Raajan, Antony Jesudasan, Lavina Hasanthi or Herman in the center followed, monitored the work, questioned, attempted to abduct, intimidation and many more.
Recent attack against Basil Soosai in Mannar gave us direct hit and to reflect back how to move forward. So, the importance and urgent need is there to find ways to protect HR of the society while protecting the lives of the HRD.

 It is not only us as NAFSO, but also with the involvement of CHOGM, in November this year, Brito Fernando, Fredie Gamage, Nimalka Fernando, Mahendran  the high profile HRD life is also in danger. So, we wanted to bring the attention to wider society while challenging against the perpetrators who are the HR violators.
Right to Life organized the HR Day celebrations at Mannar in collaboration with NAFSO and PCHR, while focusing attention on the protection of HR Defenders.
The program was organized to meet the District Secretary to hand over a petition to the District Secretary and to Inquire from SSP of Police about the situation of the complain made against the threats to Basil Soosai- Sunesh on 22nd November .

People approached DS office at Mannar by Protest March and also selected team including Sunesh, Herman, Brito and Fr. Sebamalai met the SSP and his high officials at Mannar Police.
SSP and Police officers explained the security measures taken by Police for the protection of Sunesh.

Herman