A statement from the movement for people’s struggle and the Frontline Socialist party forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

SRI LANKA: Notice of disappearance of Kumar Gunaratnam and Dimuthu Atygalle and appeal for accountability

This is to inform you of the disappearance of two leaders of the movement for people’s struggle and the Frontline Socialist party. This disappearance has occurred just before the launch of the new party formed by the movement for people’s struggle - named the frontline socialist party, which is to be inaugurated on next Monday; 09^th April 2012. clearly, these disappearances are aimed at undermining the establishment of the new party, with a view to abduct its leadership and terrorizing its members, supporters and sympathizers.

Com. Kumar had guided the process of forming the new party. He had been under close surveillance by the state for years. He had been abducted and disappeared after leaving the home of a friend where he had spent the night at Kiribathgoda on 6^th April 2012.

Com. Dimuthu Atygalle is the secretary of the international division of the movement for people’s struggle and a responsible member of the frontline socialist party. She was abducted and disappeared at Godagama on 6^th April 2012 when she was on her way home.

We hold the state and the government responsible for these abductions and disappearances and demand that they be released immediately, or be prosecuted legally. The people’s struggle movement had been under sustained intimidation by the regime, highlighted by the abduction of comrades Lalith Weeraraj and Kugan Murugandan over which we have filed a habeas corpus plea in the appeal court. As with these two comrades, and given the history of violations of human rights of the regime, including extra-judicial killing, we fear for the lives of these comrades who are being detained illegally.

In the context of the decisive struggle to defend democracy and freedom, we urge all social forces and institutions concerned about human rights to appeal for accountability by the government for the disappearance of Com. Kumar Gunaratnam and Dimuthu Atygalle.
Please inform us of your valued response.

G. H. Ajith Kumara, Member of Parliament
The movement for people’s struggle and the Frontline Socialist party

NAVA SAMA SAMAJA PARTY URGENT MESSAGE

Two leaders of the Frontline Socialist Party (JVP dissident group) Kumar Gunarathnam and Dimuthu Attygalle (Women and International Affairs secretary) were separately abducted in the early hours of Saturday 7 April 2012 from Kiribathgoda and Godagama respectively (suburbs of Colombo)

They are prominent representatives of a new Left party that has broken away from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in opposition to coalition politics and in solidarity with the Tamil peoples struggle for justice and equality.

Kumar Gunarathnam, who is of Tamil origin, was a longstanding leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, who has been in hiding from the authorities since the split with the JVP. Dimuthu Attygalle, is also a former member of the JVP politburo and leader of its women’s front and former elected member of an urban council.

The timing of their abduction is directly related to the forthcoming inaugural conference of the Frontline Socialist Party on 9 April 2012. It is a clear attempt to intimidate and discourage the members and sympathisers of this new socialist party. This heinous act follows the disappearance of two Tamil-origin activists of the party, Lalith and Kugan, in Jaffna in December 2011 whose whereabouts and safety is still unknown.

The Nava Sama Samaja Party demands the immediate release of the comrades of the Frontline Socialist Party; and for all acts of intimidation and harassment of their political activities to end forthwith. We call upon Left parties across the world to organise solidarity actions in front of Sri Lankan embassies and missions and to send messages of protest to the Sri Lankan authorities.

7 APRIL 2012

Write to:
Hon President of Sri Lanka
Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha
 presidents.org>

Defence Secretary
Mr.Gotabhaya Rajapakse
secdef sltnet.lk

copies
Frontline Socialist Party
“pubudu jayagoda”  gmail.com>,