Sri Lanka: Abduction Murder Of Mohamed Sali Mohamed Niyas

AHRC-STM-202-2011
December 15, 2011

A Statement from the Asian Human Rights Commission

The family of Mohamed Sali Mohamed Niyas has written to human rights organisations complaining that there are no genuine investigations into his abduction and murder and also complaining that the family members are constantly receiving death threats over the telephone.

Mohamed Niyas, a well known astrologer was abducted on October 27 by seven or eight persons carrying weapons and thereafter for several days his whereabouts were unknown. As he was a well known person the local media gave wide publicity to this abduction and disappearance. Three weeks later the family received news about a body which resembled Mohamed Sali Mohamed Niyas, lying at Akkarai Paththu hospital and the family later identified the body as his.

His wife describes the manner in which his body was disposed of in the sea as follows:

According to the post mortem, he was strangled and his throat slit. He had also been pounded in the head and stabbed a number of times. He was also administered 3 injections of unknown chemicals. I am still an unable to imagine how brutal that had been. The body had over 100 kgs of weight strapped on to it which was wrapped with barb wire. The body was then covered with polythene and secured further with chiclan fencing. It also had something like an anchor attached to the body. In spite of all that it had washed ashore to Akkarai Paththu. The body was flown back home and the funeral proceedings conducted.

The family complains that this gruesome murder has not been genuinely investigated and that the family members are receiving death threats.

The full text of his wife's letter is as follows:

I bring you this incident in great desperation and hope. My husband Mohamed Sali Mohamed Niya whose is born in the 20 th November 1954 has always been the focus of my life as he was a loving partner and a devoted father to our four wonderful children. Not only that, he was a well respected and admired figure in the society. He was renowned Astrologer and has also received national award for his service. Even the president himself His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksha and the other high ranked ministers well known of my husband's service. Here with I have attached recent photographs for your confirmation. Many noble people all over the island consulted with him regards to horoscope, auspicious times, blessings, charms and removing curses. He conducted a spiritual temple where the devotees come for offering and blessing.

My husband has also devoted a considerable amount of his hard earned money and time to help the less fortunate. He has built and refurbished houses for many deserving families in the locality. Regardless of his own religion, my husband has provided financial aid in the construction of many establishments such as temple, mosques, churches etc. He is sole organizer and sponsor for the annual spiritual parade and provided dry rations and meals over 25,000 poor and deserving people. These are just few of my husband's charitable actions. I am able to provide you with all the necessary documents to prove the above actions mentioned. As you have can see my husband provided to the society and in return he was revered by many.

On 27th of Oct 2011 my husband was abducted in a white van by 7-8 individuals using weapons such as T56. We reported this incident to the local police station at Mahabage under the case no GCIB 9/29. In the mean time we notified as many high ranked officials as possible and even the president begging the safe and unharmed return of my husband. Yet we were all granted false promises and empty words. 28 days later on 24th of Nov 2011 we received a message from Akkarai Paththu (Near to 600 km) stating that they found similar to that of my husband. We immediately made our 8 hours journey there to identify the body , and to all of our horror and shock we did find my husband's body and confirmed that it was Mohamed Sali Mohamed Niyas.

I would like to bring to you notice that the body was washed ashore on the 6th of November and was in the mortuary at Akkarai Paththu till 24th of November. We received a message for the local independent sources. There we discovered that the body was to be buried under a government court order. Had we run an hour late we would have missed it and still be searching.

According t the post-mortem, he was strangled and his throat slit. He had also been pounded in the head and stabbed a number of times. He was also administered 3 injections of unknown chemicals. I am still an unable to imagine how brutal that had been. The body had over 100 kgs of weight strapped on to it which was wrapped with barb wire. The body was then covered with polythene and secured further with chiclan fencing. It also had something like an anchor attached to the body. In spite of all that it had washed ashore to Akkarai Paththu. The body was flown back home and the funeral proceedings conducted.

For your kind information Akkarai Paththu happens to be a high security zone under government and military influence that has been rescued from the LTTE. It brings to my notice as how such an act was carried out without capturing the attention of the local forces that apparently was actively searching for my husband. We did the needful in our part and rose a complain to the Human right in Sri Lanka under case no HRC /3769/11

As to date we still have no updates on the kidnappers of the brutal murder. We have no idea as to why or who did this to my husband . We didn't receive any support in this matter and the issue seems to be insignificant to the authorities What happens to my husband is beyond justice and such actions still prevail in our society and system. I cannot stand aside and watch such vicious murders happening and do hope that anyone else to go through what I am experiencing at the moment. This country is filled with so numerous unsolved mysteries that have been covered up.

I and the rest of beloved family are spending each day in terror as we all receive death threats. We have been through so much over the last month and now we are in fear. With all humbleness I and my family request you to provide us protection. And also please help us to discover the group who did , and bring them in front of the law for judgement.

Thanking you
Your faithful

K.G.C Ruika Niyas (Wife)

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