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Seven Journalists detained in Sri
Lanka
WSN Bureau
Having
unilaterally abandoned the ceasefire agreement with the Liberation
Tigers fighting for Tamil Eelam, the Sri Lankan government has
detained seven editors and journalists covering the strife-torn
country during the past one week. Without access the lawyers and
families, the journalists belonging to
www.outreachsl.com including its editor J. S. Tissainayagam.
The owner of E-Kwality
Printers N. Jasiharan and a writer for the website, and his partner
Valarmathi have also been detained. Reporter K. Wijesingha, visual
editor Udayanan the editor of the Tamil language Sarinihar
magazine, S. Sivakumar, website cameraman, Ranga, have also been
questioned and harassed.
The
International Federation of Journalists and the Free Media Movement,
have condemned the arrests and said that while the law enforcement
agencies have a right to investigate leads in the public interest
and take appropriate action as stipulated by the law, due process
must be followed and their right to have legal advice while in
police custody cannot be compromised. “Their right to inform family
and colleagues as to their location while being questioned must be
observed, as must the presumption of innocence,” IFJ Asia-Pacific
Director Jacqueline Park said and urged the Sri Lankan Government to
comply with international human rights and legal instruments to
ensure the protection of the rights of journalists and other
citizens within the legal system.
12
March 2008
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