IFJ Demands End to Mistreatment of Editor Detained in Sri Lanka

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands that Sri Lankan authorities end the mistreatment and possible torture of N. Vidyatharan, a Tamil newspaper editor detained on February 26 and held since then on a vague and undefined pretext.

 

Vidyatharan, the editor of the Tamil language newspaper Sudaroli published from Colombo and Uthayan published from Jaffna, was snatched from a family ceremony by unidentified persons in a kidnap-style operation. The Sri Lankan police initially said he had been abducted, before clarifying almost three hours later that he had been taken in for questioning in connection with an insurgent air raid in the capital, Colombo.

 

The accusation was reiterated by Sri Lanka’s Minister for Media and Information, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

 

Vidyatharan’s family has had only sporadic contact with him since his detention. They report that he has been beaten severely in detention and has suffered injuries to his head and legs.

 

“It is beyond belief that a newspaper editor could have been involved in this lethal air operation that killed three and injured several,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.

 

“The IFJ learns that Vidyatharan may have been detained on the basis of certain telephone contacts he had with the northern Wanni area of Sri Lanka during and after the air raid.

 

“We believe these contacts fall within the scope of legitimate journalistic activity, and do not disclose any motive other than to uncover facts and information about events of public concern.”

 

In the absence of credible charges, the Sri Lankan authorities have launched a public campaign of vilification against Vidyatharan. A posting on the Sri Lankan Army’s website accuses him and his newspapers of following the “terrorist line” of the Tamil Tiger insurgents. It observes that despite its printing press being set ablaze some years back, Sudaroli has “continued its publication unhindered”.

 

Apparently with the intent of heightening the fear psychosis within the community of Tamil journalists, the police have called in senior office-holders of the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) and questioned them about contacts with Vidyatharan.

 

“Vidyatharan’s detention and the campaign of innuendo that has followed represent an alarming escalation in the war on journalism in Sri Lanka,” White said.

 

“The IFJ calls on the Sri Lankan authorities to release him forthwith and account for the police actions in a transparent fashion.”

 

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

 

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 122 countries