Tissainayagam's detention highlighted by Obama

May 02, 2009 (LBO) - US President Barack Obama said he was concerned about threats against the media the world over, and mentioned the plight of Sri Lankan journalist J S Tissainayagam who has been detained for over a year.

"In every corner of the globe, there are journalists in jail or being actively harassed: from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, Burma to Uzbekistan, Cuba to Eritrea," Obama said in a statement marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3.
"Emblematic examples of this distressing reality are figures like J S Tissainayagam in Sri Lanka, or Shi Tao and Hu Jia in China.
"We are also especially concerned about the citizens from our own country currently under detention abroad: individuals such as Roxana Saberi in Iran, and Euna Lee and Laura Ling in North Korea."
Tissainayagam has been detained and is on trial over his writings on Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict, especially references to Tamil Tiger rebels and the plight of Tamil civilians affected by the conflict.

17 March 2009SRI LANKA
UN Human Rights Council urged to intercede on behalf of two detained journalistsReporters
Without Borders, which has consultative status with the United Nations Human Rights Council, today asked the council to intercede on behalf of two imprisoned Sri Lankan journalists, J.S. Tissainayagam and N. Vithyatharan, and to meet as quickly as possible to discuss the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.(more)

For immediate release – 6 March 2009
Sri Lanka:
Free Journalist Detained on Terrorism Charges
365 days after Sri Lankan journalist J.S. Tissainayagam was detained underAnti-Terrorism legislation, ARTICLE 19 joins many people and organisationsaround the world calling for his immediate release. (more)
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International Press Freedom Groups Call for Justice for Jailed Journalist
One year after Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam was detained without charge in Sri Lanka, international media rights organisations remain deeply worried about his continuing detention on charges of terrorism.Marking the anniversary of his detention on March 7, 2008, the International Press Freedom Mission is calling for the unconditional release of Tissainayagam, who has been subjected to arbitrary court adjournments and is suffering ill health. (more)
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Vigil at Sri Lankan Embassy (London) calls for renowned journalist to be released, as he approaches one year in prison
( more photos)
Amnesty International today called on the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels to stop the continuing harassment of journalists and media workers - a policy that has left the country's people open to abuse in a conflict that journalists cannot report on freely.
The call came at a vigil outside the Sri Lankan Embassy in London to mark the continuing detention of the renowned journalist and human rights defender Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam, first arrested on 7 March 2008.
Amnesty International's Sri Lanka researcher said:
"Without a free media able to express alternative views and offer the opportunity for public scrutiny, abuses can flourish under a veil of secrecy and denial.
'Sri Lanka's climate of impunity for attacks on the media has made it impossible to get an accurate impartial picture of what is happening in the country. By threatening journalists with the risk of arrest, and failing to protect them from attack, the government is failing its citizens.'
A year ago Tissainayagam, a journalist for the Sri Lankan Sunday Times and the North Eastern magazine, was taken into custody by the Terrorist Investigation Department - part of the Sri Lankan police force. His 'crime' was composing a number of articles critical of the government. His trial has been repeatedly postponed and serious questions have been raised as to whether he will get a fair trial.
Amnesty International believes Tissainayagam is a prisoner of conscience and is calling for his unconditional release.
Since 2006 at least 14 media workers have been killed and hundreds of others harassed and attacked by both sides of the conflict. More than 20 have fled the country in response to death threats. The cases are emblematic of the problems journalists and media workers face in the war-torn country.
Tissainayagam was detained after he went to inquire about the whereabouts of writer and publisher N. Jasikaran and his wife Valarmathi. He was subsequently charged 'causing or commissioning the act of violence, racial disharmony' through articles in the North Eastern Monthly magazine. Although it is not in the official charge, statements by senior governments have indicated that the main reason for his arrest is because of his writing in the Sunday Times newspaper.
The writing and publication of the magazine occurred during the period of the Ceasefire Agreement, where the Government made a commitment not to detain or arrest anyone under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. On this basis alone, the indictments should not have been served.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT Posted: 06 March 2009

Sri Lanka: Free Journalists Held Illegally
Due Process Violated in Tissainayagam Case

(New York) - President Mahinda Rajapakse should order prosecutors to drop all charges against journalists held on politically motivated charges, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the president today. J.S. Tissainayagam, a journalist, and N. Jashiharan, a publisher, and his wife, V. Valamathy, have been in detention since March 2008.
The letter identified serious violations of due process and the right to a fair trial by the authorities in Tissainayagam's case.
"Tissainayagam's arrest was politically motivated and his detention has involved a litany of due process violations," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The prosecution of journalists only reinforces the impression that the government has embarked on a systematic campaign to smother free media."
In recent months, media freedom in Sri Lanka has come under serious assault, including the recent killing of the journalist Lasantha Wickremetunga and an attack on the offices of Maharaja Television in Colombo.

Related Materials:
Letter to President Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka to Free Journalists Unfairly Held
Sri Lanka: Attacks Highlight Threat to Media
Sri Lanka: Free Journalists Unfairly Held

Tissainayagam’s arrest was politically motivated and his detention has involved a litany of due process violations. The prosecution of journalists only reinforces the impression that the government has embarked on a systematic campaign to smother free media.

Being the 300 days of detention

Photos about a vigil on 1st January, 5pm, in front of Fort railway station- being the 300 days of detention of Tissa, Jesse and Valarmathy(more)

a vigil on 1st January, 5pm, in front of Fort railway station

A few of us are organizing a vigil on 1st January, 5pm, in front of Fort railway station – being the 300 days of detention of Tissa, Jesse and Valarmathy

Details to follow – sending this to inform you and seek your support in advance

Kindly request your support for this

Even though its 1st January, try to come and give about an hour for their freedom
Ask other friends, family and colleagues to join
Contribute financially for the posters being printed

Two New Articles

Dangers of doing your job well The irony here is like a joke gone sour; senior Tamil journalist JS Tissainayagam, the editor of a monthly magazine who is in jail for nine months now, is held in a prison in the heart of the capital called, well, Colombo Magazine Prison.The funny part ends there. For Tissainayagam and two of his former colleagues it has been more a tragedy, unfolding rather painstakingly.

(more)
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Sri Lanka Court Upholds Alleged Confession by Tissainayagam
A Sri Lankan court has ruled that an alleged confession made by senior Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam while detained by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) was voluntary and admissible as evidence in his trial on terrorism charges. The International Federation of Journalists
(IFJ) is informed however that Tissainayagam was forced to make a statement to TID under extreme duress.
Giving evidence in Colombo's High Court on November 5, Tissainayagam denied making a voluntary confession. (more)

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