Another journalist attacked – CPJ

SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York

(CPJ/IFEX) – New York, June 1, 2009 – The general secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Poddala Jayantha, was abducted in Sri Lanka today, beaten, and dropped by the side of a road in a Colombo suburb, according to a release by the association and two colleagues who spoke to him.

The attack came on a busy road during rush hour at 5:15 p.m. Jayantha’s colleagues said witnesses at the scene told them six unidentified men in a white Toyota Hi Ace van with tinted glass windows grabbed Jayantha as he was walking home in the well-to-do suburb of Nugegoda. The same type of vehicles have been used to pick up anti-government figures in the past, CPJ research has found. The journalist was left on the side of the road about half an hour later.

Jayantha declined to speak directly with CPJ, but two colleagues who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution told CPJ by phone that he was beaten with an iron bar and wooden poles – weapons similar to those used in other recent attacks on journalists. Jayantha has a broken ankle and is reportedly severely bruised over much of his body. In an apparent attempt to humiliate him, his abductors shaved the hair on half his head and the other half of his beard. News reports say his injuries are not life-threatening.

“The attack on Poddala Jayantha is part of a trend,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “These attacks are a chilling reminder that journalists remain under attack in Sri Lanka even after the end of the government’s battle with Tamil separatists. We call on authorities to ensure a thorough and immediate investigation into this assault.”

The Associated Press reported that police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said that “authorities don’t know who was behind the attack on Jayantha, who had long accused the government of using threats to silence criticism in the media. No arrests have been made.”

Sri Lankan journalists came under increased attack after the government decided to pursue an all-out victory of the secessionist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2006. Despite the end of the country’s decades-long civil war in May, the climate of intimidation has persisted for journalists.
During much of the fighting, foreign and local reporters were prohibited by both sides from covering the front line, a policy the government is continuing.

CPJ reported extensively on attacks on journalists in “Sri Lanka: Failure to Investigate” and recently ranked Sri Lanka as the fourth-worst country in the world for impunity in attacks on journalists.

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.cpj.org

Sri Lankan journalist assaulted – bbc

poddala jayantha being taken to on a hospital trolly

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8077794.stm)

A Sri Lankan journalist is in hospital after being abducted and beaten by unidentified attacke

Poddala Jayantha received head and leg injuries in the attack near his home in the Colombo suburb of Nugegoda.

Mr Jayantha campaigns for media freedom and is seen by government supporters as an opponent of the authorities.

Critics in Sri Lanka’s local media have come under extreme pressure in the past few years. Several independent journalists have been killed.

Mr Jayantha, the general secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, was kidnapped on Monday while he was walking near his home on the outskirts of the capital.

BBC correspondents say he was named by government politicians as an anti-government campaigner who had been instrumental in tarnishing the name of the government.

As a result of earlier threats and intimidation – which included an armed group trying to kidnap him from his residence – Mr Jayantha spent a brief period abroad, returning to Sri Lanka only a few weeks ago.

Dr Hector Weerasinghe, director of Colombo General Hospital, told the BBC the journalist had suffered injuries to the head and legs.

Reports say his injuries are not life-threatening.

Poddala Jayantha, secretary SLWJA abducted and severely assaulted

MEDIAFREEDOMINSRILANKA

Freedom of Expression news from Sri Lanka

Media alert-  01 June 2009

Poddala Jayantha, General Secretary of   Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association was abducted by an unknown group late afternoon today. He was on his way back home form work and abducted some close to Nugagoda town. Some people who have seen him pushed in to a white van alerted the journalists on the abduction.

Later he was found left on the road side by some people. He had been severely assaulted. Later he was admitted to ICU of the Colombo general hospital. Reports say that he is out of danger.

Inspector General of police accused unmanned journalists for obtaining money form the LTTE to campaign for media freedom in Sri Lanka. State controlled TV net work ITN showed visuals of Poddala Jayantha on its segment called After News while repeating the same accusation.  On 22nd May editorial of the state controlled Sinhala language daily called for stoning and expelling of so called professional journalists who grow beards. (Poddala Jayantha is known for his beard)

Last few weeks has seen continued attacks on journalists who campaigned for media freedom and justice for abducted and killed journalists in Sri Lanka calling them traitors by various politicians and pro state and state controlled media.

MFSL team – working voluntarily for media freedom in Sri Lanka

Head of Norwegian NGO deported

( http://colombotoday.com/english/articles/NEWS/Head-Norwegian-NGO-deported/2993.htm)

The head of Norwegian NGO FORUT was deported last night (May 30) for her involvement with the LTTE and indulging in activities inimical to the sovereignty and independence of Sri Lanka, “Ada Derana” online reports quoting defense sources.

The website says it appears that Ranvei Tvetenes, who was a law unto herself, had ordered the removal of the national flag of Sri Lanka that was hoisted by the local staff to mark the win of the war by the armed forces on May 20.

She had also refused to grant the holiday declared by the President on the occasion.

The staff however had stood firm and demanded the holiday and with great reluctance she was compelled to submit to their demand, “Ada Derana” says