Sinnavan Stephan Sunthararaj was a child rights activist in Sri Lanka. He was the Project Manager of the Centre for Human Rights and Development and Coordinator for the Child Protection Unit of World Vision.[1] He had reported on the pro government military Eelam People's Democratic Party's child prostitution racket in Malaysia and India with the help of corrupt of Customs and Immigration officials.
Stephan Sunthararaj | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sinnavan Stephan Sunthararaj |
| Status | Missing for 15 years, 6 months and 15 days |
| Occupation | Child rights activist |
| Known for | Mysterious disappearance |
He had provided information to the U.S. embassy in Colombo that: "Children are sold into slavery, usually boys to work camps and girls to prostitution rings, through EPDP's networks in India and Malaysia. Sunthararaj maintained that children are often smuggled out of the country with the help of a corrupt Customs and Immigration official at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo."[2][3][4][5][6]
Background
editStephan did his bachelor's degree in sociology from the Jaffna University. Later he worked as an Assistant Lecturer.Stephen later joined the a position in World Vision (Child Protection). He married Vanitana and had children.[7]
Incident
editStephan was kidnapped just hours after he had been released from Sri Lankan police custody after he was exonerated by the court. He was kidnapped while he was travelling in his lawyer's car on 7 May 2009 and has been missing since.[8][1]
Reaction
editThe U.S. State Department report on Sri Lanka in 2011 said: "There was no progress in solving the 2009 disappearance of Stephen Sunthararaj, project manager at the Center for Human Rights and Development. Sunthararaj was held by police without charges beginning in February of that year and was abducted by four persons in a white van wearing army uniforms shortly after he was released on a court order."[9][10][11][12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Lanka, CHRD Sri (12 Feb 2009). "Disappearance of Stephan Sunthararaj". CHRD Sri Lanka's own experience. Retrieved 22 Apr 2023.
- ^ "Still searching for Stephen Sunthararaj". Tamil Guardan. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "Sri Lanka: Enforced Disappearance: Stephen Sunthararaj (m)". Amnesty International. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Haviland, Charles (8 June 2011). "Prageeth not found for 500 days". BBC Sinhala. Archived from the original on Jun 9, 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "The Person Who Exposed EPDP's Child Prostitution Was Abducted And No Information So Far". Colombo Telegraph. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "Sandeshaya - US slams Lanka rights record". BBCSinhala.com (in Sinhala). 12 Mar 2010. Retrieved 22 Apr 2023.
- ^ "Tamil Human Rights officer abducted in Colombo". Tamilnet. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "Activist seized from lawyer's car in Sri Lanka". Mark Tran. The Guardian. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Report Submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate by the Department of State in Accordance with Sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as Amended. U.S. Government Printing Office. 2011. pp. 2236–. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and House Committee on Foreign Affairs (20 February 2013). Country reports on human rights practices. Government Printing Office. pp. 2606–. GGKEY:NN89UP1JS4T. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "Sri Lanka: Immediately disclose the whereabouts of - and release - Sinnavan Stephen Sunthararaj; put an end to the impunity into the murder of Pattani Razeek!". OMCT. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ ""ONLY JUSTICE CAN HEAL OUR WOUNDS" LISTENING TO THE DEMANDS OF FAMILIES OF THE DISAPPEARED IN SRI LANKA" (PDF). Amnesty International. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 28 May 2020.