Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

IFJ condemns detention of Tamil journalist by Sri Lanka's military

The International Federation of Journalists joined organisations in condemning the detention and threatening of a Tamil journalist by Sri Lanka’s military.

Shanmugam Thavaseelan, of ABC media network was detained for more than two hours by the military and was only released after the newsroom contacted the military spokesperson in the capital Colombo, said the IFJ in a press statement.

The journalist was in possession of a media card and was covering a public protest against alleged land grab by the military in Mullaitivu.

The IFJ said, “The IFJ condemns the harassment of a journalist by the Sri Lankan military. It is a journalist’s duty to cover incidents of public interest, and to expose any wrong doing by any state agency. It is the duty of the Sri Lanka authorities to ensure safety of journalists as well as provide a conducive environment for free and independent reporting. The IFJ urges the Sri Lanka authorities to probe the matter and ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future.”

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.