Last night's arrest of Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen in Kilinochchi on terrorism charges, soon after the arrest of Jeyakumari Balendran and her young daughter on suspicion of harbouring a criminal, is extremely disturbing and an urgent call to action. In stark contrast to what the Government says in Geneva is what it does in Sri Lanka. Human rights activists are being arrested under draconian laws which permit the authorities to interrogate them in isolation for extended periods of time. It is clear the government wants to go after those who flag human rights abuses. This is happening when deliberations at the Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka are taking place, demonstrating the regime's scant regard for international opinion and scrutiny. It is an urgent call to hold the government accountable and use all means necessary, in Geneva and elsewhere, to secure the safety of Ruki, Fr. Praveen, Jeyakumari, her daughter and others similarly under arrest and detained. Failure to do suggests that words aside, the international community accepts the democratic deficit in Sri Lanka. We received the following updates last night: At around 10.05 pm tonight, several of us received a text message from Ruki Fernando, on his mobile number 0773874xxx stating that Ruki and Father Praveen have been detained at the killnochchi police station, apparently on suspicion of a shooting. Later, Ruki informed a colleague also via text, that he and father Praveen were being questioned separately. A lawyer who called the Killinochchi police station, was informed that no such persons were arrested by the Killinochchi police or being held at the police station. However the police said that two persons had been arrested by a specially appointed unit of the TID and were being held at a separate location in Killinochchi. Another lawyer who spoke to the OIC Killinochchi was informed that Ruki and Praveen were being questioned and a decision regarding their continued detention would be made in the morning. This directly contradicts the version in the para above. We don't know the details of arrest or the facts leading up to it. We are very concerned for their safety and urgently need a lawyer who can visit the police station tonight and find out where they are being held on for what reasons etc. We published two more updates to the situation: Update 1: A lawyer who called the Killinochchi police, was informed that ruki and fr. praveen were being questioned by around 15 TID officers at the Killinochchi Police station. The HRC has also been informed that both persons are being held at the police station. Still no clear reasons for this treatment and we have also not been able to find a lawyer in Jaffna/Vavuniya/Killi who can visit the police station. Update 2: there is a possibility that ruki and father praveen ay be moved to colombo or vavuniya, but we have not been able to verify where they are at present.As journalist Dinouk Colomboge notes on Twitter, Ruki has been a prolific author on Groundviews, covering over the years issues and incidents mainstream media has often glossed over and the Government claims simply don't exist, are fabricated or over-hyped. A number of videos featuring Ruki's take on the human rights conditions in Sri Lanka can be viewed here. UPDATE : 21 March 2015 Statement to mark one year since the issuing of the gag order, travel restrictions and TID investigation against Sri Lankan human rights defender Ruki Fernando. The 21st March 2015 will mark one year since a court order restricting the freedom of expression on leading Sri Lankan human rights defender and writer, Ruki Fernando was obtained by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID). Such restriction on freedom of expression of a prolific writer and commentator on human rights issues such as Ruki, is unprecedented in recent Sri Lankan history. Ruki and another colleague were arrested on 16th March 2014 during a fact finding mission to the war ravaged Northern part of the country. Both were released on 19th March 2014 after massive national and international outrage. Immediately after his release, Ruki gave interviews to local and international media. As a result of this, he faced intimidation after his release and a fresh investigation was launched against him by the TID. The TID also obtained Court Orders restriction Ruki's overseas travels and freedom of expression, and also confiscated communication equipment , all of which are effective till today. Ruki's arrest had resulted in him being branded a traitor and terrorist supporter by some media and Sinhalese nationalist groups, and the restriction on freedom of expression had made it difficult for him to respond to such accusations and defamation and defend himself. His human rights work locally and internationally as well as personal life has been constrained by the need to go to courts each time he needs to travel overseas. Even after obtaining court permission, he was compelled to miss a flight when he was travelling overseas for a human rights conference and he had faced delays, humiliation on other occasions he was travelling overseas for human rights work, due to being stopped and questioned by the Immigration and State Intelligence Service officers. It is now more than 4 months since Ruki's lawyers had made verbal and written submissions to the Attorney General's Department about the closure of the case and lifting of the restrictions . There has been an indication of readiness to lift the travel restriction. But the Attorney General's Department and the TID has refused to close the investigation, return the confiscated equipment and lift of the gag order. This clearly indicates the continuing anti -human rights and media freedom mind-set of the security establishment and the insensitivity of the new political leadership towards same. It shows that HRDs released from detention can be subjected to continued harassments and restrictions, despite the new political leadership in Sri Lanka. The conditions imposed on Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari, a woman HRD released on bail on 10th March 2015 after 362 days in detention, reaffirms this. We the undersigned fully endorse and look forward to "...the day when all human rights defenders and dissenters can be free from accusations of supporting terrorism and are able enjoy their rights to express themselves and travel freely" (as said by Ruki ). Signatures: Individuals 1. Ainslie Joseph - Convener/Chief Animator, Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA) 2. Amal de Chickera 3. Anberiya Hanifa 4. Anthony Jesudasan 5. B. Gowthaman 6. Balasingham Skanthakumar 7. Brito Fernando 8. Budi Tjahjono 9. Chamila Thushari 10. Damaris Wickremesekera 11. Deanne Uyangoda 12. Dr. Cheran Rudhramoorthy 13. Dr. Leonie Solomons - Executive Director, Language Matters 14. Dr. Muhammad Muzzammil Cader - Convener, People's Movement for Non-Violence 15. Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu - Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) 16. Dr. Richard Perera 17. Dulan de Silva 18. E.M. Bandara Menike 19. Emil van der Poorten - Community Activist seeking to uphold basic human rights 20. Faizun Zackariya - Citizens' Voice for Justice and Peace 21. Freddy Gamage - Editor, Meepura Newspaper 22. Godfrey Yogarajah - Executive Director, World Evangelical Alliance - Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) 23. Herman Kumara - Convener, NAFSO 24. Ian Ferdinands 25. Indika Udugampola 26. Jake Oorloff 27. Jayampathi Bulathsinhala 28. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala 29. Joanne Senn 30. Joe William 31. Jovita Arulanantham 32. K. Guruparan - Attorney-at-Law 33. Kalani Subasinghe 34. Kelly Senanayaka 35. Krishan Rajapakshe 36. Kusal Perera - Journalist 37. Laaurence KWARK 38. Lesley Sirimane 39. M. Nilashani 40. M.M. Rahman - Journalist, Mannar 41. Manjula Wediwardana 42. Marianne Johnpillai 43. Marisa de Silva 44. Melani Manel Perera - Journalist 45. Melisha Yapa 46. Menaha Kandasamy - Red Flag Women's Movement 47. Monica Alfred 48. Nalini Ratnarajah - Women Human Rights Defender 49. Nicola Perera 50. Nilantha Ilangamuwa - Journalist & Editor of Sri Lanka Guardian 51. Nilshan Fonseka 52. Nimal Perera - CSM 53. Nimalka Fernando 54. Nirmala Rajasingam 55. P. Selvaratnam 56. P. Vijayashanthan - Theatre Activist 57. P.N. Singham 58. Paba Deshapriya 59. Philip Setunga 60. Poddala Jayantha 61. Prof. Ajit Abeysekera 62. Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda - University of Colombo 63. Prof. Jayantha Seneviratne - University of Kelaniya 64. R.M.B Senanayake - Retired C.C.S 65. Rajany Chandrasegaram 66. Ranjith Henayakaarachchi 67. Rasika Manobuddhi 68. Ravindra Chandralal 69. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph - Bishop of Mannar 70. Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos 71. Rev. Fr. Sherard Jayawardane 72. Rev. Fr. T. L. R. Dominic 73. Rev. Jason J. Selvaraja - Assembly of God, Chavakachcheri 74. Rev. Sr. Anne Perera- HF - CSM 75. Rev. Sr. Deepa Fernando - HF 76. Rev. Sr. Noel Christine Fernando - SCJM, Sri Lanka 77. Rohini Hensman - Writer and Independent Scholar 78. S. R. Perera 79. S.C.C. Elankovan 80. Sampath Samarakoon 81. Senaka Wattegedara 82. Shantha D. Pathirana - Human Rights Defender 83. Shreen Saroor 84. Sunanda Deshapriya 85. Suren D. Perera 86. T. Mathuri - Attorney-at-Law 87. Tanuja Thurairajah - Researcher 88. Tejshree Thapa 89. Udaya R. Tennakoon 90. V. Sanjeev 91. Visaka Dharmadasa Organizations 92. Association of War Affected Women (AWAW) 93. National Peace Council (NPC) 94. Rights Now Collective for Democracy