Under threat of abduction, Christian lawyer will not give up his mission
Colombo (AsiaNews) - "Even if my life is in danger, I shall not give up my mission. My vocation makes me always serve the community, even in difficult situations," said Lakshan Dias, a well-known Christian human rights lawyer as he reacted to threats made against him.
For the past few days, men in motorcycles and a white van have been following him. Another van is permanently parked in front of his home in Moratuwa, a district in Colombo.
On various occasions when he was away from home, people ostensibly from the security services visited his family, asking questions about him and his activity. Yet, the local police station has denied any knowledge of the people involved.
The lawyer recently acquired some notoriety for backing Shirani Bandaranayake, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court justice who was removed from office after a controversial impeachment motion was passed by parliament.
According to Dias's colleagues in Lawyers Collective, he could be abducted or become the victim of physical violence. In fact, people continue to disappear in Sri Lanka and critics of the government are silenced.
Many of those who have disappeared are journalists and human rights activists. After they were taken away in white vans, they were never seen again.
"When I was little, I was involved with the Christian mission," Dias told AsiaNews. "All my activism, speaking out on the ethnic question (between Tamil and Sinhalese), or supporting equality between men and women, has been based on the Bible and faith. Even though I fear for my life, I shall continue."
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24/01/2007
