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Tamil Journalist, a political prisoner – transferred to violent prison and jailed amidst criminal offenders in Sri Lanka

Statement by International Federation of Journalists

In a letter sent to Minister for Human Rights and Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe today, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demanded an immediate explanation for the sudden relocation of journalist J.S. Tissainayagam to a notoriously violent army prison in Sri Lanka.

According to the Free Media Movement (FMM), an IFJ affiliate, Tissainayagam, who is currently facing trial under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulations, was moved from a remand prison to Magazine Prison in Colombo following a visit from the Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe, on November 17.

The Minister reportedly agreed at the meeting to improve the conditions of Tissainayagam’s detention, the FMM reports.

The IFJ expressed its extreme concerned for the safety and well-being of the senior Tamil journalist. Tissainayagam nor his lawyers, who appeared in the courts on November 18, were made aware of the relocation to Sri Lanka’s largest prison.

Reports have been received that his food has been confiscated by some of the 140 prisoners sharing his cell. No other food has been provided.

“The IFJ demands an immediate explanation for Tissainayagam’s transfer and a government guarantee of his safety,” IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

“The manner in which Tissainayagam has been arrested, detained without charge, indicted under draconian laws and imprisoned in appalling conditions is a gross abuse of his fundamental human right to justice.

“Tissainayagam’s safety is now at even more serious risk than it was before his transferral to Magazine. It is the responsibility of the Sri Lankan Government to abide by internationally endorsed norms of justice to protect him from violence and torture while he is held in custody.”

Tissainayagam has been held since he was arrested on March 7 by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Sri Lankan Police. He was detained without charge for more than 150 days.

On August 25, Tissainayagam was charged under Emergency Regulations and the PTA, accused of printing and distributing the North Eastern Monthly magazine and aiding and abetting terrorist organisations by raising money for the magazine. His trial is presently before the High Court in Colombo.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide

An emissary of India will lead towards solution of the crisis in North-East of Sri Lanka, according to a brief excerpt from a book quoting Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Mahanayake Thera.

Sri Lanka’s premier Tamil Daily Virakesari has published these quotations of Most Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Mahanayake Thera, about the ongoing war in Sri Lanka North-East. His remarks appear on page 137 of the book titled ‘Apata nopenena lokhaya ha venath theh’ (The world we don’t see and other matters), according to Virakesari.

The book is written by Mathugama Mahinda Wijethilleka and published by Sadipa Printers.

A translation of Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Mahanayake Thera’s observations, as it appears on the Virakesari website – as follows:

Solution for the crisis facing the North-East is long over due. Today it has caused a deadlocked situation.

The continuation of the war is not going to bring any benefit. It will not solve the matter either. Prayers for peace must be held around the country at a given time, around the country without divisive Sinhala-Tamil tones. It is true that prayers like this will rid of anger, grudge and selfish attitudes and promote common good. But even the well learned will say this is out of stupidity.

In the years of yore, there lived a hermit (rishi) named named ‘Pulasthi’. He has mentioned about a Tamil Pundit who lived around the 1800s and wrote a book titled ‘Ancient Jaffna’, in one of his ancient manuscripts. ‘Pulasthi’ has written the remarks made by this Tamil Pundit in the manuscripts. He mentions that Sri Lanka will continue to face civil strife and troubles after independence. A representative will be appointed by India and thereafter a solution for the crisis will be found, according to the historical book. Many of his observations seem to be valid today.

However people disregard these. But they cannot be completely overlooked. Our vengeful desires lead us to commit sins. They must be constrained for us to be directed on the rightful path, according to Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Mahanayake Thera.

Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Mahanayake Thera, regarded as a scholar monk, passed away on July 18, 1998 at the age of 102.

General Manager of Tamil FM radio station ‘Vetri’, Journalist Mr. A. R. V.Loshan was arrested early in the morning today, Saturday before dawn at his residence at Wellawatte by Sri Lanka Terrorism Investigations Department (TID), according to Colombo’s premier Tamil daily Virakesari website.

Virakesari report says the Tamil journalist was arrested on charges of alleged links with ‘terrorists’ and for aiding in ‘terrorist activities’. Police sources said he was to be held at the Bambalapitiya station, but his family members have reported it is not known where he is detained at the present time.

[A.R.V. Loshan]

Loshan has also served as a journalist for the Asian FM radio ‘Suryan’ earlier. Virakesari reported hours before the arrest, Chandramohan (Chandru) an announcer of ‘Vetri FM’, was also questioned at his residence by the TID.

Vetri 99.6FM station joined the Sri Lankan Radio broadcasting scene in February this year. Vetri FM Broadcasts from Colombo and it is run by Voice of Asia Networks which also operates Siyatha FM.

AI appeals on behalf of Tissainayagam and the Jasikarans:

Amnesty International considers the detained Sri Lankan journalist J.S. Tissainayagam to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for his legitimate work as a journalist. AI calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

With respect to the detained Sri Lankan writer and publisher, Vettivel Jasikaran, and his wife, Valarmathi Jasikaran, AI calls on the Sri Lankan government to provide them with a fair, prompt and public trial in accordance with international standards, and to treat them humanely while they are in detention.

Please visit Amnesty USA-Sri Lanka Action page and send appeals to the Sri Lankan government on behalf of J.S. Tissainayagam and Vettivel & Valarmathi Jasikaran. You will also find at that website an online action on behalf of the Sri Lankan human rights lawyer, J.C. Weliamuna; please take action on his behalf as well. Thank you for your consideration.

[Full Text of Statement by Amnesty International]

[Journalist J.S. Tissainayagam (C) is escorted to High Court by prison officers in Colombo November 5, 2008, pic: Buddhika Weerasinghe, via Yahoo! News]

W.G.Chandrapala

It has been reported in the media that the government has issued a Gazette notification on October 10 introducing new regulations to control electronic media institutions. In short these regulations seek to ensure that whatever is telecast or broadcast is nothing but ‘his master’s voice.’ By this exercise the government hopes to muzzle these institutions with the threat of refusing applications for issue of new licences or cancelling the existing licences of television broadcasting stations.

Under these regulations the government could control the private TV stations since the sole authority for the issuing of licences is the Media Ministry.

It seems that the government is eying the private TV channels while using the Rupavahini and ITN as it mouthpiece. In the 1970s the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike took steps to take over Lake House.

Later her daughter and former President CBK followed her mother’s footsteps and introduced a Broadcasting Authority Bill to parliament. But the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment declaring that it needed a two thirds majority in parliament which acted as an impediment to that bill becoming law.

This time the MR government, which came to power through the same political party, has introduced the above regulations in the name of national security. It is a violation of the fundamental rights of the people as well as the freedom of thought and expression because the regulations lay down that any person who joins any political party cannot have legal authorisation to have a licence to operate a media institution.

It appears, the government already has a grip on the private TV channels although not formally, when one considers how the news relating to defence is telecast by these channels. Every day we are told that areas that were under LTTE control have been captured or how their installations were destroyed by the government forces. It is the thinking of political experts that the war is only being fought in the newspapers and what is said is far from reality.

One week before the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections we were told that the troops were only two kilometres away from Kilinochchi, and Kilinochchi could be seen by the troops. It seems that the government wants to apply the ‘Goebbles theory’ — which is that if you repeat a lie 10 times it would be conceded as the truth.

But the truth cannot be hidden even if new regulations are imposed on the media whether they are electronic or printed.

It is needless to say that the country needs an accepted media policy at this critical juncture. But the government has chosen the wrong path for political expediency without thinking about media freedom. The ‘war against terrorism’ seems to have been turned into a ‘war against journalism.’

I wish that the government sets up the Independent Media Commission through the Constitutional Council without any further delay. It is only then that press freedom in the true sense of the word would prevail.

A letter to the Editor, published in themoringleader.lk

Tamil political prisoners detained at the Colombo remand prison observed a day long fast on Monday Nov 10th, Colombo Tamil daily Virakesari reported.

They are requesting Sri Lanka government officials look into several matters, including release from the remand prison.

Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians Mavai Senathirjah and Sivanathan Kishore and K. Pathmanathan visited the prison and talked to the fasting detainees about their concerns. The members of parliament are have arranged to forward the relevant memorandum to the authorities, concerning the pleas and situation of the prisoners, according to Virakesari.

Major General Vajira Wijegunawardane, Commisioner of Prisons said 50 out of the total 109 Tamil prisoners detained at the Colombo remand prison underwent the daylong fasting.

The prisoners have said they will resort to fast unto death, if their pleas go unheard.