Journalist wins FR case
Ruling the detention of journalist Ms. Sivanathan Sivaramya on 1rd May 2006 by police was illegal, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ordered two police officers to pay SL Rupees Fifty Thousand ( 446 US $) as compensation to her.
The SC decision was announced on 16th July 2007 by a three member bench comprising the Chief Justice and two other judges.
At the time of arrested Ms. Sivanathan Sivaramya was attached to Sri Lanka Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC) as a part time announcer.
She was arrested on May 01, 2006 at world press freedom day conference organised by UNESCO as she was entering the BMICH conference hall. Soon after the state controlled media reported that a suspected LTTE female suicide carder was arrested , while waiting to kill a minister. Denying the accusation she told police that she went there to cover the conference as a journalist.
She was released on bail due to local and international pressure after five days in police custody.
The police withdraw the case on June 02nd 2006 as there was no evidence against her. After she was released she filed a human rights petition at the Supreme Court.
Although FMM is relieved that journalist S. Sivaramya has been cleared of any illegal activity by the highest judicial authority of he country, it is disappointed with the nominal compensation offered to her.
FMM requests newspapers, TV and radio stations that painted her as a terrorist to publish an apology to journalist Sivanathan Sivaramya as a matter of social responsibility of media.
[FMM Press Release]
