Posted
March 13th, 2009
by
***UPDATE (4 May 2010): English PEN warmly welcomes the announcement that on 3 May 2010 – World Press Freedom Day - Tamil journalist Jayaprakash Sittampalam (J. S.) Tissainayagam received a presidential pardon. J.S. Tissainayagam was detained in March 2008 and sentenced to twenty years in prison for his critical writings. He was released on bail on 11 January 2010 pending appeal. For more information, please click here. ***
English PEN is seriously concerned about the continued detention of Tamil journalists V. Jasikaran and J. S. Tissainayagam, who have been held since March 2008. We are also deeply worried about reports of J. S. Tissainayagam’s ill-health, and restricted family visits and legal advice. We are therefore seeking assurances of both journalists’ well-being, and continue to call for their immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Sri Lanka is a state party.
V. Jasikaran, owner of the E-Kwality printing works and reporter for the news website Outreach Sri Lanka (http://outreachsl.com/en/), was arrested with his wife V. Valamathy, by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) in Colombo on 6 March 2008. The following day, J. S. Tissainayagam, Tamil journalist for the Sunday Times newspaper and editor of Outreach Sri Lanka, was also arrested by the TID. Initial reports suggested that they were accused of receiving money from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE); however it is widely believed that the two men are targeted for their reporting and analysis on the ongoing conflict between government forces and the LTTE in the northern part of the country. There are also allegations that both men have been subjected to torture and ill treatment by the Sri Lankan authorities in Colombo.
According to recent reports J. S. Tissainayagam has contracted tuberculosis and acute infected scabies while in detention, and is denied access to adequate medical treatment. He is currently being held at Magazine prison in Colombo, where there are fears for his safety.
Recently, six organizations have published a joint action ‘International Press Freedom mission to Sri Lanka’, calling for J. S. Tissanayagam’s release, stating that:
“The charges against Tissainayagam refer to two articles he wrote in 2006 for the “North-Eastern Monthly”, in which he criticises the Government’s military campaign and its impact on civilians. Tissainayagam is the first Sri Lankan journalist formally charged under the PTA and one of less than a handful of journalists facing counter-terrorism charges in any country with a democratically elected government.
On 17 November 2008, Tissainayagam was suddenly moved from a remand prison to the notorious Magazine Prison in Colombo, which is known for violence against Tamil prisoners. Reports at the time said he showed signs of being physically tortured.”
The full statement issued by Amnesty International, Article 19, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), FreeVoice, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Media Support (IMS), International Press Institute (IPI), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and World Association of Newspapers (WAN), can be read here: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/101340/
Other useful links:
- Previous WiPC alert on V. Jasikaran and J. S. Tissainayagam: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.cfm?objectid=4D17E2FF-E0C4-ED84-039A2196510EB872
- Information on Tissainayagam: http://releasetissa.blogspot.com/
- BBC’s country profile: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/country_profiles/1168427.stm
Please send appeals:
• Expressing serious concern about the continued detention of J. S. Tissainayagam and V. Jasikaran, who appear to be held solely for their legitimate journalistic activities, and calling for their immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights;
• Urging the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that J. S. Tissainayagam and V. Jasikaran are allowed unrestricted access to their families, defence and the specialist medical care they require while in detention.
Appeals to:
His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo 1
Sri Lanka
Fax: 94 11 2446657
Salutation: Your Excellency
Hon. Amarasiri Dodangoda
Minister of Justice and Law Reforms
Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms
Superior Courts Complex,
Colombo 12
Sri Lanka
Fax: 94 11 2445447
Salutation: Dear Minister
H. M. G. S. Palihakkara
Ambassador
Permanent Mission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
#630, 3rd Avenue (20th Floor)
New York 10017
United States America
mail@slmission.com
Fax 1 (212) 986-1838
Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Sri Lanka in the UK if possible:
His Excellency Justice Nihal Jayasinghe
High Commission of Sri Lanka
No.13, Hyde Park Gardens
London W2 2LU,
United Kingdom.
Originally posted with the url: www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/bulletins/srilankatamiljournalistsdetainedforoneyearhealthconcerns/
