Aid to save Wengadasalam Sudeshkar from execution in Qatar

February 15, 2013

WORLD: The final call for assistance in the case Wengadasalam Sudeshkar -- US$ 6,000 is still needed for the payment of blood money

The Asian Human Rights Commission has learned from the mother of Wengadasalam Sudeshkar that so far, the family has been able to raise Rs. 2,800.000-/= (Rs. 2.8 Million) out of the total requested amount of Rs. 3.5 Million. This amount has been raised by the family selling whatever they could from their already extremely meager possessions plus the contributions made through a few local benefactors and the donations received through the Asian Human Rights Commission.

The family is concerned because the total sum has to be ready within one week from today and calls upon everyone to assist them to cover the short fall.

The Asian Human Rights Commission understands from the family that the cost of the lawyer for the further handling of this case will be covered by the government of Sri Lanka.

We are once again reissuing the appeal together with the bank details for transmission of any assistance and urge that as the time available is short any contributions are made on an urgent basis.

Seeking financial aid to save 22-year-old Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar from execution in Qatar

Earlier, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) informed the public in Sri Lanka and abroad about the possibility of yet another person being beheaded in the Middle East like the earlier incident of Ms. Rizana Nafeek. Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar was sentenced to death on December 31, 2012. At the time of the incident that caused an unintentional death, for which Sudeshkar was tried, he was 20 years and six months of age.

After negotiations held by the Sudeshkar's relatives, with the family of the deceased, the deceased's family expressed their willingness to enter into a settlement on the case, given the circumstances of the incident that led to the death of their family member. According to the law prevailing in Qatar, it is permissible to arrive at such a settlement on the basis of the payment of what is known as 'blood money'.

The sum that has been agreed upon is Rs. 3.5 Million, which amounts to US$ 28,000 (QAR 100,000).

The AHRC has earlier published the letters written to His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa and to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. Despite making these urgent requests it has not been possible to get any response from the Sri Lankan authorities guaranteeing assistance to make this payment.

Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar comes from a very poor family living Kala Eliya, Sri Lanka. His mother has appealed for support to rescue her son, stating that the family is not in a position to provide this 'blood money'.

After publication of the appeals made to the Sri Lankan President, the AHRC has received many responses requesting that under these circumstances the only practical course of action available is to make a public appeal for the collection of this sum in order to save the life of this young man who faces the imminent threat of execution.

Under these circumstances, the AHRC is launching this fund raising campaign to raise the necessary sum to support the family of Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar to enable them to take the necessary steps to rescue their son.

We are urging everyone to support this call with the view to avoid another tragedy like that of Ms. Rizana Nafeek. As a gesture of the AHRC's own commitment, it will contribute initially US$ 3,000.00 for this fund. We are calling upon all persons of good will to contribute generously for this purpose. The AHRC undertakes to be responsible for all issues relating to accountability for all monies received.

The following account has been opened for the specific purpose of this fund. The account bearer, the Asian Legal Resource Centre is a sister organisation of the AHRC.

Bank information of Asian Legal Resource Centre Ltd.

Name of the Bank: Hang Seng Bank Ltd.
Address of the Bank:
Hankow Road Branch
4 Hankow Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Swift code: HASEHKHH
Account no.: 295-8-710341 (Multi Currency Saving Account)
Account holder: Asian Legal Resource Centre Ltd.

The Asian Human Rights Commission address is as follows:

Unit 701A, Westley Square
48 Hoi Yuen Road
Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong SAR

Kindly inform us at ahrc@ahrc.asia of any contributions made so that we can keep a track of these and deal with the issue in an expeditious manner as required under these circumstances.

For further information please see the Open Letter written to the President of Sri Lanka here.

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

Visit our new website with more features at www.humanrights.asia.

ENDS

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