Enforced disappearances have scarred communities across South Asia, where in some countries this heinous crime is still persistent while others have failed to deliver on promises of truth, justice and reparations for the thousands who were wrenched away from their loved ones.
On Jan. 24, 2010, Prageeth Eknaligoda, a Sri Lankan journalist, went missing shortly after leaving work. Two days earlier, he had published an article critical of then President Rajapaksa. Local residents reported having seen a white van without numbered plates close to his house around the time of his disappearance.
Sri Lanka has experienced as many as 100,000 enforced disappearances in the past 30 years of internal conflict in the country. Virtually none of the disappeared ...has been accounted for, nor have those responsible been brought to justice. Sandya Eknaligoda, Prageeth’s wife, has been a key figure in raising the profile of these grievous crimes. Last year, the State Department recognized her as an “International Woman of Courage”.
August 30 is observed as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. In this blog post, we’ll join Sandya in highlighting the crime of enforced disappearance in several countries around the world and provide ways you can take action for the disappeared and their families.
Our campaign reached its last destination in Sri Lanka’s Northern town of Vavuniya today, but our demand for truth and justice is long from over.
#stillnoanswers #insolidarity #SriLanka
"
30 August 2018
Anynomous
"
We know the North of #SriLanka is only too familiar with the phenomenon of disappearances, but we’re sharing info from across the island as well as from South Asia with the help of activists from #Nepal. #insolidarity #stillnoanswers
#Pakistan #Maldives #Bangladesh #Afghanistan
"
30 August 2018
Anynomous
"
We briefly visited one of the two mass grave sites in Mannar in the North of Sri Lanka. #stillnoanswers about who was buried here.
#insolidarity #Manthai
"
30 August 2018
Anynomous
"
Our campaign in Mannar today. Tamils suspected of links to LTTE, were disappeared by police, military and paramilitary operatives during the conflict in Sri Lanka from 1983-2009.
#stillnoanswers #insolidarity
"
30 August 2018
Anynomous
"
In Mannar in the North of Sri Lanka, families of the disappeared are marching to commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared today.
#stillnoanswers
"
30 August 2018
Anynomous
"
As the world marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, we call on governments across South Asia to deliver long overdue truth, justice & reparations to the families of thousands of people who have been forcibly disappeared, some of them decades ago.
#stillnoanswers
"
30 August 2018
Anynomous
"
Today is the International Day of the Disappeared.
The #stillnoanswers campaign is traveling to the North of Sri Lanka in solidarity with all victims of disappearances in South Asia.
Back to Colombo today before heading to the North tomorrow for the International Day of the Disappeared.
#stillnoanswers #insolidarity #lka
"
29 August 2018
Anynomous
"
The campaign on the road today in #SriLanka raising awareness about disappearances in the region, one person at a time because... knowledge is power 💪🏻💪🏼💪🏽💪🏾💪🏿 #stillnoanswers
Our campaign is on the road en route to the South today, where thousands of families have not received truth or justice for their loved ones who disappeared. #stillnoanswers #insolidarity #lka
"
29 August 2018
Anynomous
"
A few of many messages of solidarity we received yesterday. Please DM us any more messages you would like us to display on the solidarity banner. #stillnoanswers #insolidarity
"
29 August 2018
Anynomous
"
Some moments captured at the solidarity event for the disappeared of South Asia at the Galle Face Green yesterday. Thanks to all those who came!
"
29 August 2018
Anynomous
"
Activists from #Pakistan, #SriLanka, #Nepal #Maldives and #Bangladesh standing in solidarity with the disappeared in South Asia #StillNoAnswers
"
28 August 2018
Anynomous
"
Happening Now: Start of Solidarity event about disappearances in South Asia
"
28 August 2018
Anynomous
"
Starting soon at Galle Face to hear about disappearances in South Asia. Come and join if in Colombo. #StillNoAnswers
"
28 August 2018
Anynomous
"
Starting on the 28th of August, Amnesty International with the support of civil society, is kicking off a campaign to raise awareness, build solidarity and demand answers + action for the disappeared in South Asia. The campaign will run till the 30th of August, the International Day of the Disappeared.
Since the 1980s, Amnesty International estimates there have been at least 60,000 and as many as 100,000 cases of enforced disappearance in Sri Lanka. The victims include Sinha...lese young people who were killed or forcibly disappeared by government death squads on suspicion of leftist links in 1989 and 1990. They include Tamils suspected of links to the LTTE, disappeared by police, military and paramilitary operatives during the conflict from 1983 to 2009. And they include human rights defenders, aid workers, journalists, government critics, and prominent community leaders.
On the 28th, starting from 6.30am, 3 containers bearing banners reading "More than 60,000 Disappeared. Still No Answers. Why, Mr. President?," will make their way around Colombo and it's suburbs. At 4.30pm there will be an informal solidarity event at the Galle Face Green with members of families of the disappeared from the region. Participants will be able to sign on messages of solidarity on the banner.
On the 29th, the containers will make their way to Galle and Matara.
On the 30th, the containers will make their way to the North.
Please join us to spread the message of solidarity from the 28th-30th of August.
Anynomous
"
Enforced disappearances have scarred communities across South Asia, where in some countries this heinous crime is still persistent while others have failed to deliver on promises of truth, justice and reparations for the thousands who were wrenched away from their loved ones.
#stillnoanswers
#Srilanka #Pakistan #Maldives #Nepal #India #Afghanistan #Bangladesh
" 31 August 2018Anynomous
"
On Jan. 24, 2010, Prageeth Eknaligoda, a Sri Lankan journalist, went missing shortly after leaving work. Two days earlier, he had published an article critical of then President Rajapaksa. Local residents reported having seen a white van without numbered plates close to his house around the time of his disappearance.
Sri Lanka has experienced as many as 100,000 enforced disappearances in the past 30 years of internal conflict in the country. Virtually none of the disappeared ...has been accounted for, nor have those responsible been brought to justice. Sandya Eknaligoda, Prageeth’s wife, has been a key figure in raising the profile of these grievous crimes. Last year, the State Department recognized her as an “International Woman of Courage”.
August 30 is observed as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. In this blog post, we’ll join Sandya in highlighting the crime of enforced disappearance in several countries around the world and provide ways you can take action for the disappeared and their families.
See More " 31 August 2018Anynomous
"
Moments from our campaign.
#stillnoanswers #insolidarity
#SriLanka #Nepal #Bangladesh #Afganistan #Maldives #Pakistan
" 31 August 2018Anynomous
"
Our campaign reached its last destination in Sri Lanka’s Northern town of Vavuniya today, but our demand for truth and justice is long from over.
#stillnoanswers #insolidarity #SriLanka
" 30 August 2018Anynomous
"
We know the North of #SriLanka is only too familiar with the phenomenon of disappearances, but we’re sharing info from across the island as well as from South Asia with the help of activists from #Nepal. #insolidarity #stillnoanswers
#Pakistan #Maldives #Bangladesh #Afghanistan
" 30 August 2018Anynomous
"
We briefly visited one of the two mass grave sites in Mannar in the North of Sri Lanka. #stillnoanswers about who was buried here.
#insolidarity #Manthai
" 30 August 2018Anynomous
"
Our campaign in Mannar today. Tamils suspected of links to LTTE, were disappeared by police, military and paramilitary operatives during the conflict in Sri Lanka from 1983-2009.
#stillnoanswers #insolidarity
" 30 August 2018Anynomous
"
In Mannar in the North of Sri Lanka, families of the disappeared are marching to commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared today.
#stillnoanswers
" 30 August 2018Anynomous
"
As the world marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, we call on governments across South Asia to deliver long overdue truth, justice & reparations to the families of thousands of people who have been forcibly disappeared, some of them decades ago.
#stillnoanswers
" 30 August 2018Anynomous
"
Today is the International Day of the Disappeared.
The #stillnoanswers campaign is traveling to the North of Sri Lanka in solidarity with all victims of disappearances in South Asia.
#Pakistan #Afghanistan #Nepal #Maldives #Bangladesh #India #SriLanka #insolidarity
" 30 August 2018Anynomous
"
Back to Colombo today before heading to the North tomorrow for the International Day of the Disappeared.
#stillnoanswers #insolidarity #lka
" 29 August 2018Anynomous
"
The campaign on the road today in #SriLanka raising awareness about disappearances in the region, one person at a time because... knowledge is power 💪🏻💪🏼💪🏽💪🏾💪🏿 #stillnoanswers
#insolidarity #Nepal #Afghanistan #Maldives #Pakistan #Bangladesh
" 29 August 2018Anynomous
"
Our campaign is on the road en route to the South today, where thousands of families have not received truth or justice for their loved ones who disappeared. #stillnoanswers #insolidarity #lka
" 29 August 2018Anynomous
"
A few of many messages of solidarity we received yesterday. Please DM us any more messages you would like us to display on the solidarity banner. #stillnoanswers #insolidarity
" 29 August 2018Anynomous
"
Some moments captured at the solidarity event for the disappeared of South Asia at the Galle Face Green yesterday. Thanks to all those who came!
" 29 August 2018Anynomous
"
Activists from #Pakistan, #SriLanka, #Nepal #Maldives and #Bangladesh standing in solidarity with the disappeared in South Asia #StillNoAnswers
" 28 August 2018Anynomous
"
Happening Now: Start of Solidarity event about disappearances in South Asia
" 28 August 2018Anynomous
"
Starting soon at Galle Face to hear about disappearances in South Asia. Come and join if in Colombo. #StillNoAnswers
" 28 August 2018Anynomous
"
Starting on the 28th of August, Amnesty International with the support of civil society, is kicking off a campaign to raise awareness, build solidarity and demand answers + action for the disappeared in South Asia. The campaign will run till the 30th of August, the International Day of the Disappeared.
Since the 1980s, Amnesty International estimates there have been at least 60,000 and as many as 100,000 cases of enforced disappearance in Sri Lanka. The victims include Sinha...lese young people who were killed or forcibly disappeared by government death squads on suspicion of leftist links in 1989 and 1990. They include Tamils suspected of links to the LTTE, disappeared by police, military and paramilitary operatives during the conflict from 1983 to 2009. And they include human rights defenders, aid workers, journalists, government critics, and prominent community leaders.
On the 28th, starting from 6.30am, 3 containers bearing banners reading "More than 60,000 Disappeared. Still No Answers. Why, Mr. President?," will make their way around Colombo and it's suburbs. At 4.30pm there will be an informal solidarity event at the Galle Face Green with members of families of the disappeared from the region. Participants will be able to sign on messages of solidarity on the banner.
On the 29th, the containers will make their way to Galle and Matara.
On the 30th, the containers will make their way to the North.
Please join us to spread the message of solidarity from the 28th-30th of August.
Watch this space for updates.
See More " 20 August 2018