Lal
Wickrematunge, the brother of the assassinated editor of the Sunday Leader,
Lasantha Wickrematunge, and until very recently the owner of Leader
Publications, spoke yesterday to the BBC Sinhala Service. He stated that it is
dangerous today to be engaged in publication work in Sri Lanka. Giving views
other than the government's version of things is almost impossible. Under the
present conditions media personnel are afraid to engage in free reporting.He admitted that for the sake of preserving the jobs of the employees he had to agree to sell shares of Leader Publications. He also stated that reporting on the issues relating to minorities including the Sri Lankan Tamils has collapsed to a great extent. The major reason for this is the government attaches the 'Tiger' label, or Tiger friendliness to media personnel who report on the minorities.
When questioned as to whether in the near future people in Sri Lanka would be able to know the truth about what is going on he replied, "That cannot be expected. In the foreseeable future that cannot be expected". He also admitted that the failure on the part of the owners of the media establishments to stand up for free media was also a reason for the success of the government's repression.
He said that owners of the media are also businessmen engaged in other businesses besides publishing. They are afraid that their other businesses will be badly impacted if they don't submit to the government's wishes.
Azath Salley's arrest, detention and release
In
the fundamental rights application that was filed before the Supreme Court on
behalf of Azath S. Salley, the following statement was made about the
circumstances of his arrest:
"The Petitioner (Azath Salley's lawyer) states
that, Azath Salley, together with the MUPS have constantly been critical of
certain Sinhalese Buddhist extremist groups that led attacks on Muslin and
Christian religious establishments and the demands that were made by them to
refrain from certain religious practices. The Petitioner respectfully annexes
herewith an Affidavit from Dr. Vickramahahu Karunarathne marked "P1".
The Petitioner states that, Azath Salley personally
provided information regarding those responsible for the Dambulla Mosque,
Anuradhapura Mosque attacks and the imminent attack on the Kurugala Mosque to
the Hon. President of the Republic and pleaded that action should taken so as to
prevent further attacks on such religious institutions. The Petitioner states
that, Azath Salley, at all times he endeavoured to ensure that all disputes
would be settled peacefully.
A true copy of a Letter sent to the President
dated 26.04.2013 is annexed herewith and marked "P2".
The Petitioner states that, Azath Salley was
instrumental in compiling a collection of Articles written essentially by
Sinhalese writers against the conduct and actions of extremist groups and
towards the promotion for unity and tolerance and also organised a programme
titled "Unity in Diversity towards a True Sri Lankan Identity" which
emphasised the importance of racial and religious intolerance.
A true copy of the said compilation titled
"Unity in Diversity towards a True Sri Lankan Identity" is annexed herewith
marked "P3".
The Petitioner states that, Azath Salley
participated in several television debates and discussions and expresses strong
views against the attacks on minority religious establishments, on behalf of The
Movement for Unity and Power Sharing. He was critical about the fact that
certain extremist groups including the Boddu Bala Senawa ("BBS") was
inciting Racial and Religious intolerance and disharmony at a time in which the
Country has come out of a 30 year long Ethnic War.
The Petitioner further states that, Azath Salley
was also critical of the inaction on the part of the Government's and Law
Enforcement Authorities in taking meaningful steps to douse the Racial and
Religious intolerance spearheaded by the BBS and other extremist groups.
The Petitioner specifically states that, Azath
Salley was oppose to any kind of violence and has never advocated violence or
terrorism of any form. He was constantly advocating against terrorism, ethnic
and religious sectarianism and authoritarianism.
Consequent to the Azath Salley's vocal criticism
against the activities of the BBS and the Government's inaction, the Petitioner
states that, there was an isolated media campaign carried out against Azath
Salley and series of anonymous hate web-postings and SMSes which were false and
malicious and which was circulated with the malicious attempt of targeting Azath
Salley.
True copies of certain web postings against
Azath Salley is compendiously annexed herewith and marked "P4"
The Petitioner specifically states that, from early
2013, Azath Salley along with a group of lawyers monitored the hate campaigns
lashed out at the Muslim minority communities and as and when the information
was collected, was reported to the Inspector General of Police.
True copies of the said Letters are
compendiously annexed herewith and marked "P5".
The Petitioner further states that, certain members
of the BBS singled out Azath Salley by making derogatory statements against him.
For instance, the Ven. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thera made a public
announcement in Kandy on or about 17.03.2013 stating that that "Sinhala
Text",යුතු ("We have a big problem with Azath Salley. Azath Salley
must definitely be tied up like a dog").
A copy of the said Video of a Buddhist Monk can
be found on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOO69qvJwqU
and a copy of the same in electronic format is annexed herewith and marked
"P6"
On or about 21.03.2013, the Petitioner states that,
there was an attempt by the Colombo Crime Division to wrongfully and unlawfully
arrest Azath Salley on false charges, for which Azath Salley sought Anticipatory
Bail before the Learned Magistrate of Colombo. Upon an undertaking received from
the Colombo Crimes Division Azath Salley was granted Anticipatory Bail.
A true copy of the Petition is annexed herewith
and marked as "P7" and the Petitioner reserves the right to file the
Order of the Learned Magistrate Judge
On or about 19.04.2013, the Petitioner states that
:
Azath Salley was contacted by officers of the
Criminal Investigation Department ("CID") to inquire about a text message
that was received by him and 26 other persons which was purportedly sent by a
journalist which stated that "Muslims must be careful of the BBS";
In the course of the discussion, the Police
Officers told him that, someone identified as "Fahad" had sent 27 SMSes to
various persons including Azath Salley and the Police was recording statements
from some of the recipients. At no stage did the Police accuse Azath Salley of
sending the SMS
He recorded a Statement with the CID stating,
inter alia, that his telephone number is known to many people and that he
receives many text messages. He said that he cannot recall the receipt of the
text. Azath Salley however told the Police Officer that the Muslims must be
careful of the BBS as the Government is not protecting them but seems to be
supporting the cause of the BBS as there have been no prosecutions and complete
inaction as churches and mosques have constantly come under attack;
The Petitioner is not possessed of the aforesaid
Statement made by Azath Salley and seeks and appropriate Order from Your
Lordships' Court to submit the same to Your Lordships' Court.
On or about 27.04.2013, the Petitioner states
that:
At or about 2.30pm many Police Officers from the
CID arrived in Motor Bikes, a Jeep and a Double Cab to Azath Salley's
residence;
Upon being informed that Azath Salley was out of
Colombo, a Police Officer who identified himself as Sub Inspector Ratnayaka
(3rd Respondent) informed the Azath Salley's wife that Azath Salley
must come back to Colombo immediately in order to record a Further Statement
regarding a Text Message;
Immediately thereafter, SI Ratnayaka telephoned
Azath Salley and stated that the Law required Azath Salley to tender an
Additional Statement and insisted that he immediately return back to
Colombo;
Azath Salley however stated that he had nothing
further to add pertaining to the Statement concerning the aforementioned Text
Message.
The Petitioner states that, he is aware that Azath
Salley was informed by his family that a Police jeep remained outside his house
till the next day [i.e. 27.04.2013] in order to monitor the movements in and out
of the Azath Salley's Residence, while he was away on his political
activities.
On 26.04.2013, Azath Salley was informed by his
family that a purported Notice had been handed over to Azath Salley's wife
requiring Azath Salley to be present at the CID Headquarters – 4th
Floor on 29.04.2013. However, the said Notice did not carry any Official Seal
and/or Letter head. Further it did not indicate the reasons for which he has
been summoned. Upon taking Legal advice, Azath Salley did not report to the
CID.
A true copy of the said purported notice is
annexed herewith and marked "P8"
On or about 28.04.2013, the Petitioner states that,
in response to the continuous malicious media attacks, the Media Unit of the
National Unity Alliance wrote to all State and Private Media Organisations
condemning the defamatory publications made and stating further that such
wrongful accusations were to politically dislodge Azath Salley and to prevent
the Azath Salley from conducting the scheduled May Day rallies in 2013.
A true copy of the said letter dated 28.04.2013
is annexed herewith and marked "P9".
On or about 02.05.2013, the Petitioner states that
at or around 5.55am hundreds of police and Special Task Force surrounded the
residence Azath Salley was staying in. The 3rd Respondent recorded a
short statement from the Petition and stated that he would be arrested. The
3rd Respondent who arrested Azath Salley thereafter issued an arrest
note stating that he is arrested for purported offences committed under section
120 of the Penal Code and section 2(h) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. A
copy of the arrest note is annexed hereto marked "P10".
The Petitioner states that, the main Affidavit
filed in this case is filed by Ms. Sithy Amina Azath Salley, the daughter of
Azath Salley which sets out the details of the arrest.
The Petitioner states that since the time of
arrest, the family of Azath Salley and his Attorneys attempted to see him from
or around 12.00pm. However, his lawyers were permitted to see him briefly in the
presence of the CID officers at or about 3.00pm. Several Parliamentarians
proceeded to the CID to meet him but the CID did not permit any one of them to
see him. Mr. M.A. Sumanthiran, Attorney-at-Law, was however permitted to
interview Azath Salley as his Lawyer but his entire interview was video recorded
by a CID officer. The family members were not permitted to see Azath Salley or
to give him his medicine though Azath Salley was a diabetic patient, undergoing
treatment for about 07 years. The Petitioner states that, the CID Officers
refused to even accept Azath Salley's medicine that was given to them by his
family.
The Petitioner states that, as far as he is aware,
Azath Salley has been questioned regarding an Interview he had given to a Indian
based media organisation named "Junior Vikatan" and that there had been an error
in the article quoted in the interview and that a suitable correction had been
published by the said media unit after Azath Salley had complained to the
"Junior Vikatan".
The Petitioner states that the family member of
Azath Salley have been able to obtain a copy of the interview to the "Junior
Vikatan" and the correction Azath Salley submitted in Tamil is marked
"P11A" and "P11B" respectively and reserves their right to submit
a translation of the same to Your Lordships' Court.
On or about 03rd May 2013, Azath Salley
was admitted to Ward No. 55 of the National Hospital and the defence authorities
had covered the Corpus' bed with a screen so that no one could see him. The
Petitioner further states that there were many Police Officers, CID Officers and
member of the Special Task Force who was guarding the entrances and the
corridors and also prevented Azath Salley's family from seeing or visiting Azath
Salley.
The Petitioner states that, on the very same day
[i.e. 03.05.2013] even though Azath Salley's condition was deteriorating, he was
taken back to the CID.
On or about 06.05.2013, Azath Salley was once again
brought to the Colombo National Hospital. At this point, upon representations
made to the Director of the CID, the family members of Azath Salley were
permitted to briefly visit him. The Petitioner states that Azath Salley was in
very poor health condition and at which point the Hospital Authorities began
forcibly administering Saline to him.
The Petitioner states that, Azath Salley has
hitherto not been produced before a Magistrate nor has he been detained in terms
of any valid Statutory Provision of the Law and that even by 6th May
2013, no valid Detention Order has been handed over to the Corpus.
The Petitioner states that he has reason to believe
that Azath Salley will be kept in long detention, unlawfully and for a
collateral purpose purportedly on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations. In
that event his Right to Life and/or Right to engage in Political activities
and/or Right to engage in legitimate civil liberties will be seriously
curtailed. The Petitioner states that to-date no Detention Order under PTA has
been served on Azath Salley.
In the aforesaid circumstances the Petitioner
states that, Azath Salley's arrest and detention is for a collateral purpose and
without any constitutional justification which is contrary to Articles 13(1) and
13(2) read with Article 12 of the Constitution. Such arbitrary arrest and
detention is likely to deprive Azath Salley of his liberty and in the
circumstances of this case may result in the Azath Salley being extra judicially
executed in violation of Article 11 read with Articles 17 and 13(5).
(Paragraph numbering as in shown in the original petition has been removed)
Azath Salley was released within a few days of his arrest due to the massive protest that arose from within the country which was reechoed by many international players. According to a lawyer who spoke on his behalf an agreement was reached with the government not to proceed with the fundamental rights petition. There is also a habeas corpus application filed before the Court of Appeals which is also pending.
These testimonies highlight the actual conditions under which Sri Lankan citizens are living today. A security apparatus which is sophisticatedly designed carries out surveillance on the media as well as against anyone who dares to express a view that is contrary to the government's version of things. Severe punishments are attached to those who wish to exercise their normal freedoms as citizens. Everyone has to submit themselves to enforced self paralysis.
