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Tamil demonstrators gathered in front of a United Nations office in Jaffna last week to rally behind Inner City Press journalist Matthew Lee, after he was reportedly ejected from a UN meeting and his press pass revoked.
Northern Provincial Councillors Ananthy Sasitharan and M.K. Shivajilingam led a protest in support of the independent journalist. In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Ms Sasitharan said she was concerned to learn that the revoking of Mr Lee's press pass took place “without due process”.
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“Mr Lee, who has a keen interest in upholding the mission of the UN, has extensively reported on corruption within the UN system,” said the letter. “He has also been very critical of UN affiliated personalities, who are alleged of sidelining with genocidal commanders involved in war crimes against the Tamil people. Mr Lee has also exposed the dealings between certain UN Press Corps officials and the Sri Lankan diplomats who were alleged of bribing them. He has consistently highlighted how the demand for international investigations on serious crimes against humanity and genocide is being diluted within the UN system.”
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“On behalf of the stateless nation of Eelam Tamils, I am urging you to resolve the dispute and restore UN accredited media access to Matthew Russell Lee and take disciplinary action against the elements threatening free speech at the esteemed world body,” she concluded.
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See the full text of the letter here.