SRI LANKA: A call for prompt investigations into threats to lives of three journalists in Jaffna

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that on 14th April 2015 at around 9.45 p.m., three journalists have been threatened with their lives and from continuing their work as journalists while they were travelling near the Kandaswamy Hindu Temple in Nallur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

According to information received, two unknown persons, have threatened the three journalists brandishing knifes and threatening to kill them. Prior to that, the two unknown men have followed them on a motorcycle for around 2 kilometers on the road leading to the Nallur Temple. They have been threatened after thee were intercepted and forcibly stopped by the two attackers near the Kandaswamy Temple. The three journalists were on their way home after attending a public protest and a hunger strike against the oil pollution of the waters around Jaffna. The journalists have managed to evade the two unknown men and had rushed to the Headquarters Police Station, in Jaffna to lodge a complaint against their attackers. While at the police station they had – to their dismay – seen the motorbike of the attackers parked inside the premises and that the alleged attackers were in fact a police inspector and a sergeant at the police station. The police officers on duty at the time had refused to accept and register their complaint. However the complaint has been recorded the following day after much agitation and red tape. However, to this date, neither an inquiry nor an investigation has commenced into this incident following their complaint.

The victims and residents of Jaffna are awaiting justice to be served, in such brutal attacks against ordinary citizens going on about their daily lives. This case is yet another illustration of the collapse of the framework of rule of law in the country.

CASE NARRATIVE:

According to the information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), on 14th April 2015 at around 9.45 p.m. three journalists have been threatened with their lives and from continuing their work as journalists while they were travelling near the Kandaswamy Hindu Temple in Nallur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

The three journalists who were so threatened were; Mr. Tharmapalan Vinojith – Staff reporter at ‘Yaazh Thinakkural’, and Chairman of Jaffna Press Club (JPC); Mr. Piratheepan Thampithurai, the Jaffna correspondent for ‘Hiru TV’; and Mr. Mayurathan Sreeramachandran, Colombo based radio journalist and reporter for ‘Ada Derana’ and ‘Tamil Mirror’.

They were travelling on their motor cycles after attending the public rally, as journalists to report a public protest and a hunger strike which was being held in the Jaffna city center demanding a halt to the pollution caused by oil leaks in the waters around Jaffna. While they were travelling back they noticed two unknown men following them on a motor cycle for around 2 kilometers, all the way from Jaffna city till near the Nallur Temple.

According to the journalists, the men who threatened them were wearing police jackets marked with the Sri Lanka Police logos over civilian clothing and that only one of them was wearing a helmet. They were able to identify the red motorcycle bearing registration number NP BAL2172 belonging to the attackers. The two men who had intercepted the journalists near the Nalloor Temple had first asked to see their identification documents. Since the two men were not in their police uniforms the journalists had in turn asked to see their identities as well, to which they were met with abusive language and aggressive behavior. The two men had then proceeded to threaten and intimidate the three journalists and had taken out a knife and threatened to kill them. At this point, the journalists fearing for their lives have managed to escape unhurt.

Thereafter the three journalists had made their way directly to the Jaffna Headquarters Police Station to lodge a complaint. While they were waiting, to record their complaint the journalist have observed that one of the two men who was wearing the police jacket were inside the police station. At the police station, they saw the motorbike of the attackers parked inside the premises. They identified the alleged attacker as a police inspector and a sergeant. At this time, one of the attackers, the police inspector had approached the journalists and attempted to assault them. Another police officer on duty at the police station had intervened and stopped him.

According to reports, police officers on duty at the police station had refused to register their complaint. The complaint had been eventually accepted only on the following day after a long process at the police station and had been registered as a ‘minor offence’.

According to the journalists, later on the same day, the Senior Superintend of Police (SSP) in Jaffna had contacted them and tried to negotiate a settlement in order to avoid legal proceedings against the policemen.
Therefore, the situation at present is that the police have, in fact admitted that it were the two police officers who attacked and threatened the journalists with a knife and are taking the stand that the knife was used for their personal security and not to attack the journalists. The two police officers involved in this attack have instead alleged that the three journalists had attempted to assault them.

The journalists maintain that the two policemen intended to cause major harm, as they had followed them for 2 kilometers and pointed knives at them once they were apprehended near the temple.

In the meantime, the Jaffna Press Club has stated that the journalists have been continuously harassed by the Sri Lanka Police in Jaffna, by officers attached to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) and the officers belonging to the Military Intelligence Units.

This is not the first instance that journalists in Jaffna have been the target of police officers. Prior to this incident, journalists Mayoorathan and Vinojith have both been harassed after they published the news of houses being destroyed inside the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Valikaamam North. Majorathan was subjected to an attack on the road , also by ‘unidentified’ attackers. The JPC said further that the TID at the Jaffna police have been harassing them continuously.

The journalists, who do not want to drop the case against the police officers, have lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), regional office in Jaffna on Thursday. 

The journalists are seeking justice for this attack by police officers attached to the Jaffna Headquarters Police Station. They demand protection for their lives and protection to continue their professions in Jaffna. To date, three days following this attack neither of the suspects have been arrested nor produced before the court for prosecution.

SUGGESTED ACTION: 

Please write to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about this incident and requesting an immediate investigation into the allegations of threats against the journalist by the officers attached to the Jaffna Headquarters Police Station and that they be subject to prosecution under the law of the country. 

The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER