Posts filed under 'Press Statement'
Statement by National Peace Council of Sri Lanka:
The silencing of journalists by killing and intimidating them has become a major problem in Sri Lanka. The National Peace Council condemns the killing of Paranirupasingam Devakumar who is the ninth journalist to be killed in the past two years. We are appalled at the brutal manner of his death by waylaying him as he was traveling and hacking him to death. This killing comes soon after the brutal assault and torture of senior journalist Keith Noyahr in Colombo.
International experience has shown that a key component of any political solution is its acceptance by the people of the country. It through public awareness creation, in which the media plays a central role, that the people’s mandate for a sustainable political solution can be found. The National Peace Council notes that the government continues to stand by the position that it is for a political solution to the ethnic conflict and the ongoing military operations are meant to facilitate that political solution.
In this context, the killing of Paranirupasingam Devakumar, who worked for a national television network in Jaffna will be a further constraint on the free flow of information from the war zones of the north. We reiterate our concern about the continued incarceration of senior journalist J S Tissaianayagam, whose arrest and detention now continues into its third month without charges being made against him in a court of law.
We are perturbed by statements made by senior Defence Ministry officials that the military and its leadership should not be criticized by the media and that journalists working for the state controlled media had no right to criticize the government. While welcoming the Media Minister’s statement that this is not government policy, we ask the government to ensure a unified media policy as contradictory statements may be taken by various groups as a further license to behave with impunity towards the media.
The National Peace Council expresses solidarity with those journalists who are courageously committed to revealing realities from the ground and to risking their lives in the service of truth. We express our admiration of the willingness of media personnel to continue their work in the face of such fatal risks. We call on the government to put in place protection mechanisms that would ensure the safety of journalists in Sri Lanka and the right of citizens to access a diverse media that provides free and accurate reporting on national affairs.
Media Director
On behalf of the Governing Council
National Peace Council of Sri Lanka
May 30th, 2008
Statement by Reporters Without Borders:
Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the murder of Paranirupasingam Devakumar, a television reporter of Tamil origin, who was hacked to death yesterday evening as he was returning to his home a few kilometres outside the northern city of Jaffna. A friend who was with him was also killed in the attack.
“Devakumar is the latest journalist to fall victim to the spiral of violence that has wracked the Jaffna peninsula since fighting between the government and Tamil Tigers resumed in 2006,” the press freedom organisation said. “The government in Colombo must do everything possible to establish the circumstances of this murder and identity those responsible, so that it does not go unpunished as so many others have.”
Reporters Without Borders added: “Although no suspect has yet been found, the security forces should explain how this attack took place in an area of the peninsula that is supposed to be under close military control. The government is exposing both its inability and its lack of political will to protect journalists.”
Aged 36, Devakumar had worked for the past three years for the three stations owned by the Maharaja Television group-MTV, Sirasa TV and Shakthi TV. He was hacked to death by an unidentified group of assailants at Navanthurai, a few kilometres outside Jaffna, as he was returning to his home in Vaddukoddai. The friend accompanying him, 24-year-old computer technician Mahendran Varadan, died later in hospital from the injuries he sustained in the attack.
The government has reportedly assigned three police teams to probe the incident. Priority could not be given to any hypothesis for the time being as Devakumar was known for covering both sides of the war between the government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He had not been criticised or threatened in the past and a personal motive cannot be ruled out.
Stressing that Devakumar’s murder was just the latest in a series of killings of journalists in the troubled Jaffna region, the Free Media Movement said condemnations and promises of investigations had no meaning “without the political will” to complete the investigations. “The repugnant impunity that aids and abets violence against journalists and media personnel must come to an end,” the FMM said.
Caught in the crossfire between two armed forces, journalists in the Jaffna peninsula are constantly the targets of threats, kidnappings and murders, and many of them have been forced to flee the region.
Reporters Without Borders has long condemned the untenability of this situation in its press releases and in a report entitled “Jaffna’s media in the grip of terror” which it published on 24 August 2007 as a member of an international press freedom mission to Sri Lanka.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently reiterated his determination to “defeat the terrorism” of the Tamil Tigers, who are blamed for the frequent deadly bombings in the Colombo region. Despite their attempts to suppress the information, the security forces have sustained heavy losses in the course of their attempts in recent months to dislodge the LTTE from the Jaffna peninsula.
May 29th, 2008
Statement by National Peace Council of Sri Lanka:
The abduction of senior journalist, Keith Noyahr, Associate Editor of the Nation newspaper just outside his home in a residential suburb of Colombo is a shocking incident that highlights the vulnerability of human rights and the media in Sri Lanka. Mr Noyahr wrote the defence column for his newspaper in addition to editing it. The National Peace Council condemns this abduction which adds to the dismal toll of victims of serious human rights violations. Ironically, this incident occurred on the day after Sri Lanka failed to obtain re-election to the UN Human Rights Council which demands that member countries demonstrate the highest adherence to human rights norms.
The bruised face of Keith Noyahr-pic AFP via Yahoo! News
A notable feature of these abductions is that they take place even in areas where there is a high level of security and checkpoints at regular intervals. It appears that the abductors are able to take their victims through these security checkpoints with impunity. In addition there have been a number of attacks on journalists, leading in some cases to their death, in which the perpetrators have been able to get away with impunity.
While we are happy to note that Keith Noyahr has been released following appeals to the highest government authorities we are appalled that this incident took place. He had been physically assaulted and we join his family and loved ones in wishing him a speedy recovery. The sooner those who ordered the abduction and those who carried it out are identified and brought to justice, the sooner will it be possible for us to move forward as a society that respects the rights of individuals, even those holding opposing views, and truly re-emerge as a united nation respecting
democratic norms.
Executive Director
On behalf of the Governing Council
National Peace Council of Sri lanka
May 23rd, 2008
Statement by National Peace Council of Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka’s recent unsuccessful bid to maintain its representation on the UN Human Rights Council following a vote by the General Assembly is another event that highlights the deteriorating condition of human rights in the country. Sri Lanka was one of the initial members of elected to the Human Rights Council in 2006 and might have reasonably expected to be re-elected. The country’s failure to be elected for a second term, despite an aggressive campaign to seek re-election, is an indication of a grave human rights situation that has not been dealt with in a constructive manner.
The National Peace Council regrets that the government has responded to criticism of its human rights record with denial and deflection. Human rights violations continue to be a grave threat to all Sri Lankans. For example, recently over 60 Tamil prisoners were transferred from the New Magazine Prison in Colombo to the Boosa Prison in Galle, where they were reportedly abused and tortured. During the past two weeks a spate of abductions, disappearances and arrests have been reported from different parts of the country. The latest one was the abduction and physical assault of senior journalist Keith Noyahr outside his home in a residential suburb of Colombo.
Membership in the UN Human Rights Council confers a moral duty and great responsibility to uphold the highest standards of human rights throughout the world. Sri Lanka’s inability to obtain re-election is likely to hurt the country’s international reputation and be a psychological blow to the
government. NPC sees this reversal as being a wake up call to the government to improve the situation so that greater costs are not inflicted on the country in the future owing to the inability to maintain internationally acceptable standards of human rights.
In November 2007, NPC released a media statement discussing the possible consequence of not implementing international human rights commitments. We expressed our strong concern regarding the possible the removal of Sri Lanka from the General System of Preferences (GSP), giving us exemptions from significant tariffs for trade with the European Union, Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner. Losing these benefits will only worsen an already critical economic situation, which has seen drastic increases in gas, electricity, and food costs. Every Sri Lankan therefore has many reasons to be concerned about the Government not living up to its commitment to improve the human rights situation in the country.
NPC therefore appeals to the government to work with civil society organisations in the country for the benefit of all Sri Lankans and meaningfully respond to all human rights violations, no matter who the perpetrators are.
We recommend full implementation of the 17th Amendment of the Constitution in appointing an Independent Constitutional Council and an Independent Human Rights Commission and other oversight bodies.
We call for government-civil society dialogue on this and other issues, and stand willing to do our part to bring the human rights of Sri Lankan citizens to the forefront. Only through sustained cooperation will we be able to jointly achieve a just, peaceful, and prosperous Sri Lanka. We believe that human rights and peace are two sides of the same coin. It would be futile to imagine that we can have one without the other.
Executive Director
On behalf of the Governing Council
National Peace Council of Sri lanka
May 23rd, 2008
Keith Noyahr, deputy editor with the English weekly The Nation, was abducted on Thursday night.
A day later, he was dropped off near his residence, badly beaten up and bruised, says the Free Media Movement, a media rights group in Sri Lanka.
The bruised face of Keith Noyahr (Photo: lankadissent.com)
Earlier in an urgent press release, FMM requested all press freedom organizations to take urgent action to get the journalist released:
Statement by Free Media Movement:
Keith Noyahr, Defence writer of English weekly The Nation, is reported missing from late evening today 22nd May 2008.
He has left his office around 10.30 pm but has not reached home. His vehicle was found close to his house, head lights and engine running.
Editor of the nation has made a complaint to the Dehiwala police on the incident.
FMM requests all press freedom orgaisations to take urgent action to save the life of journalist Keith Noyahr.
Please make phone calls:
The President of Sri Lanka + 94 112447400 ; president@presidentsoffice.lk
Secretary to the President +94 112 2326309; prsec@presidentsoffice.lk
Minister of Information + 94 112596557
_____________________________
Free Media Movement
237/ 22, Wijeya Kumaratunga Road
Colombo 05
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 74 519 567/ +94 717 32623
Fax: +94 1 821236/ +94 1 591314
E-mail: fmm@sltnet.lk
__________________
BBC: Journalists have protested in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, after a colleague was abducted and beaten up.
May 22nd, 2008
Full Text of National Peace Council of Sri Lanka Media Release:
The killing of Maheswari Velayutham takes away from the political community another strong personality who headed the Forum for Human Dignity and was also closely associated with the EPDP, a former Tamil militant organisation that is now with the government. She had escaped previous assassination attempts and was aware of the threats to her life, but this did not dissuade her from continuing her work for the rights of the people in Sri Lanka.The National Peace Council condemns the assassination of this activist who assisted victims of war and participated in programmes we organised and who shared her anguish about the war trap that the parties to the conflict were in. In addition, several accounts of human rights violations involving Tamils in the context of the war are being reported by the media.
A tragic example recently highlighted in the media is the rape of two teenage girls and the abduction of one of them in Kalmunai in the presence of their family on the day of the Eastern Provincial Council elections when the presence of security personnel in the area on guard duty was very high. The family alleges that armed men came in a white van who committed the crime on their children. When the mother went to the police station to make a complaint the police reportedly sent her away on the grounds that most officers were on election duty. Later that same night the men returned and took the elder girl away. She is missing since then. The report that the police refused to accept their complaint points to state culpability in the practice of impunity.
In addition, contradicting the claims that abductions and disappearances of Tamils in Colombo have come to an end is the disappearance and abduction in the heart of Colombo of Sinnathurai Varatharajan, a highly reputed tuition master from Jaffna and his cousin. They were allegedly taken away by armed men in uniform who came in a white van. Witnesses were told that they were being taken away for questioning, but they have not reappeared. The National Peace Council appeals to the government to ascertain their whereabouts and ensure their safe return to their families.
We also call on the government to re-organise the security apparatus so that human rights violations listed above do not take place with impunity. The Government should do away with the culture of impunity. It is the bounden duty of any state to protect all its citizens. The state by its failure to protect Tamil civilians may give a message to the world that it is the state of the ethnic majority and excludes the Tamils which can bolster the claim to a separate state among the International community.
Finally, we appeal to the government to immediately release senior journalist and human rights activist, J S Tissainayagam, who has now been in government custody for over-Mr Tissainayagam was detained on the allegation that he had connections with the LTTE. But so far the government has not charged him in a court of law. During the period of the Ceasefire Agreement and peace process from 2002-06, there were many, especially journalists, who made contact with the LTTE for legitimate and peaceful purposes.
As the country prepares to celebrate the holy day of Vesak, we cannot forget that Lord Buddha preached compassion and respect not only for human life but also for the lives of animals. May the spirit of compassion enter the hearts of our country’s decision makers, and may the wisdom of our religious tradition guide them to show their compassion to the victims of human rights abuses, and motivate to solve the country’s problems without harming the lives of innocent Tamil civilians.
Executive Director
On behalf of the Governing Council
National Peace Council of Sri Lanka
May 15th, 2008
The Catholic Bishop of Mannar Rt. Rev. Joseph Rayappu has lodged an urgent appeal that the Our Lady of the Rosary shrine at Marudhamadhu (Madhu) be protected from escalating military activity in the vicinity. Bishop Rayappu makes this appeal to both the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and points out that increased shelling has caused many who sought refuge to move out as shells have started falling withing church area precincts. A prayer campaign has also been launched in this regard.
[Press Release issued by Bishop of Mannar]
[Madhu Church-pic by Mahesh]
April 1st, 2008
from the Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo
Easter is the Christian festival that celebrates the Raising of Christ after His death. This historic event known as the Resurrection, declares the defeat of all evil forces of greed, violence and destruction that culminated in the death of Christ, and proclaims a higher plane of life in which there is liberation from these evil tendencies.
Consequently the celebration of Easter in our beloved Sri Lanka today, ravaged, and torn apart by the ruthless greed and violent machinations of evil persons, brings us hope. Because Christ has been raised from the dead, all that degrades, dehumanises and destroys the dignity of human life around us will not last. And because Christ has been raised from the dead, a new more abundant life of peace, justice and integration is available for all. But for this to happen we are called to renounce evil in its many forms and affirm life in its highest God intended form. Renunciation and affirmation are more than words; they comprise a life style that strives in rhythm to create and sustain an alternative pro-life socio-political culture.
So, Easter is an invitation to renounce lawlessness and affirm order,
renounce killings and affirm life,
renounce poverty and affirm justice,
renounce violence and affirm dialogue,
renounce hypocrisy and affirm integrity,
renounce communalism and affirm pluralism,
renounce authoritarianism and affirm dissent,
renounce intimidation and affirm growth,
renounce ridicule and affirm respect,
renounce false propaganda and affirm truth,
renounce arrogance and affirm humility,
renounce terrorism and affirm freedom,
renounce accumulation and affirm distribution,
renounce exploitation and affirm empowerment,
renounce corruption and affirm transparency.
renounce selfishness and affirm sharing,
renounce revenge and affirm forgiveness,
May this Easter hope remind us that the triumph of evil is at the most only temporary.
May this Easter courage reveal to us all that all who deceive, manipulate and terrorise the people and exploit the poor, will not prevail
May this Easter integrity teach us all that the truth will one day set us free,
May this Easter love transform us one and all to embrace our enemies and convert them into brothers and sisters through repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.
And may this Easter faith lead us all from death to life and darkness to light.
With Easter Greetings, Peace and Blessings to all our people,
The Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera
Bishop of Colombo
Easter 2008
March 22nd, 2008
A Statement by the Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo
Recent news reports about the continuing harassment and arrests of media persons are both disturbing and frustrating. Today the focus of the whole Nation is on the brazen and systematic violence against several Rupavahini media persons, and the recent arrest and indefinite detention without access to lawyers of a group of journalists associated with a news web site and printing press.
These media persons and their families, friends and colleagues feel utterly helpless and vulnerable and have no one to turn to for justice. The values of a democratic system that should spontaneously protect them and uphold their rights as citizens of this country, have sadly eroded; and all other democratic institutions including the Opposition seem hopelessly incapable of correcting this very dangerous trend. In reality these persons are thrust at the very mercy of an unyielding and insensitive political culture in their search for protection and rights.
The current trend of attacks against the Rupavahini staff in the absence of any arrests of the perpetrators is an indictment against the entire police force. The IGP must explain why the quality of intelligence leading to prompt arrests and investigations of those considered enemies of the State, is so clearly lacking in instances when certain media personnel are harassed and attacked by supposedly small time criminals. This disparity in the seriousness of the State law enforcement and protection mechanisms raises questions of professional bias and political obstruction and is totally unacceptable.
All peace-loving citizens of this country welcome security measures taken by the Government to investigate and prevent acts of violence perpetrated by the LTTE. However these measures will be most effective if they also counter the violence caused by other groups and individuals. Most importantly these measures should concurrently ensure the safety, dignity and rights of individuals even when they are politically critical of the Government or when arrested on alleged suspicion of terrorist involvement. This is the hallmark of good governance and sound democracy that the Government of Sri Lanka must uphold and work towards.
Consequently all those media persons arrested on suspicion of terrorist involvement and their families must know why they have been taken in. They must also have immediate access to their lawyers and the assurance of a fair judicial investigation. If found guilty, these persons must face the consequences under the law. If innocent, they must be exonerated.
However late in the day these serious lapses can still be rectified and I call upon the Minister of Justice and the IGP to discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour and in fairness to all. In doing so you will be safeguarding what is today perhaps the most valuable democratic institution of a modern State and you will undoubtedly have the backing of the people. May God give you the wisdom to discern and the strength to act.
With Peace and Blessings
The Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera
Bishop of Colombo
17th March 2008
March 17th, 2008
Expressing concern and ‘hoping due process will be followed regarding the arrested writers and journalists’, Sri Lanka Media Rights Group-The Free Media Movement (FMM) is pointing out that the journalists’ ‘rights are violated more often than not’, in a statement released today. FMM issued a statement after a string of arrests by the Sri Lanka Terrorist Investigations Department (TID) in the past few days.
Full Text of FMM Statement:
Number of journalists arrested; one journalist released after questioning
The Free Media Movement (FMM) expresses its concern that number of journalists have being taken in for questioning on 7th and 8th of March with some of them held incommunicado for hours. Most of the journalists arrested were associated with www.outreachsl.com, a news and features web site.
On the evening of 6th March, E-Kwality printing press owner and writer N. Jasiharan was arrested by the Terrorist Investigations Department (TID) with his partner Valarmathi without any valid reason. His laptop computer and printed material form his printing press was taken in to custody. Jasiharan also works as a writer for www.outreachsl.com.
[J.S. Tissainayagam]
On 7th March, the TID arrested the Editor of www.outreachsl.com and freelance journalist, J.S Tissainayagam. He was taken in for questioning in the morning, kept incommunicado till family was informed that he has been arrested in late evening. The Daily Mirror website reported today (8th March) that the TID refused to elaborate on what he was being questioned about. He was detained under emergency regulation on 8th for 30 days.
Also on the 7th, K. Wijesingha, another reporter of the website was also taken in for questioning, but nothing was heard of him till midnight 7th March. His family was allowed to visit him at TID on 8th. Udayanan, the Visual Editor of the web site too was taken in for questioning on 7th afternoon. No news of him was available till midnight the same day. On 7th afternoon TID came looking for S. Sivakumar (alias Balasubramanium Wasanthan) , Spokesperson of the FMM and Editor of the bi-monthly Tamil language Sarinihar magazine and took a cousin into custody. The FMM was able to negotiate that Sivakumar would be produced at the TID office at 9am on 8th March.
On 8th S. Sivakumar and outreach.com cameraman Ranga was taken in for questioning. High officials of the TID assured FMM that no extra judicial methods will be used in questioning. FMM is happy to note that FMM spokesperson S. Sivakumar was released within twelve hours in late evening 8th March.
The FMM accepts that law enforcement agencies have a right to investigate leads in the public interest and take appropriate action as stipulated by the law. We also hope that due process will be followed regarding the arrested writers and journalists. The right to retain lawyers at police stations while statements are being recorded and their right to inform family and colleagues as to where they are being questioned are basic rules that have to be followed.
We note that these rights are violated more often than not. Maintaining that until proven in a court of law, anyone arrested is innocent and has to be treated as such, the FMM stands for the rights of these writers and journalists and by them as citizens of this country.
March 9th, 2008
Previous Posts