The International Federation of Journalists
(IFJ) has called for a strong international protest in response to the
outrageous arrest of two highly-respected human rights advocates in Sri Lanka
late last night.
Ruki Fernando, one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent
human rights activists and close friend of the IFJ, was detained alongside Fr.
Praveen Mahesan, a Roman Catholic priest and the former director of the
Jaffna-based Center for Peace and Reconciliation, around 10 p.m. on March 16 in
Kilinochchi by Sri Lanka’s Terrorist Investigation Division. The pair was meeting
villagers in the area to investigate recent police and military harassment of
villagers.
Grave fears are held for the safety of the
two men while they remain under arrest. A division spokesperson Ajith Rohana
said they were arrested on charges of “creating communal disharmony and
inciting racial hatred.” The two were transferred to Colombo for further
interrogation.
IFJ said: “It is
reprehensible that the Sri Lankan Government would lay these charges against brave
and dedicated campaigners for human rights and free speech. These arrests are
part of a disturbing pattern of harassment, intimidation and detention aimed at
silencing voices in Sri Lanka – a pattern that is on the increase and that is
observed by journalists and human rights globally.”
These arrests fit within what IFJ affiliate the
Free Media Movement (FMM) describes as a “war against journalism” in
Sri Lanka. Since 2005 more than 80 journalists have been forced to flee the
country.
In a statement, IFJ
affiliate the Free Media Movement (FMM) said: “Ruki Fernando is a leading human
rights defender in Sri Lanka, who works tirelessly with immense commitment to
protect and promote democratic rights including freedom of expression rights. Fr.
Mahesan is a religious leader who enjoys people's confidence and respect for
his dedication to humane ideals, including human rights.
The IFJ said: “For
his dedication and readiness to help the cause, Ruki Fernando has earned huge
respect among his colleagues in Sri Lanka and around the world. He has written
several articles documenting human rights and
freedom of the press violations in Sri Lanka.
As the attention of
the ongoing Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva is drawn to Sri Lanka’s human rights
record, these arbitrary
arrests reconfirm the intensifying suppression of media and human rights each
time the Government of Sri Lanka comes under scrutiny on human rights issues.
IFJ said: “These are
outrageous charges that cut deep to the heart of the deeply disturbing human
rights issues confronting Sri Lanka. The frequency of these assaults
demonstrates that the Sri Lankan Government believes it can ignore global
opinion.” The IFJ, FMM and the IFJ affiliated Sri Lanka Working Journalists
Association (SLWJA) call for their immediate release as well as access to their
families, lawyers and medical aid.
For
further information contact IFJ
Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131
countries