US ambassador discusses press freedom with JPC

by Sivakami
Mar 11, 2019

The United States ambassador, Alaina Teplitz met with the Jaffna Press Club on Saturday and discussed the importance of free press for democracy. 

"A free press is a pillar of democracy.  Discussed with #Jaffna Press Club how safeguarding media freedom and journalists is essential to support checks and balances. Proud to support their work. #SriLanka," Teplitz tweeted following her visit. 

Her visit comes amid renewed concern over the safety of journalists and the intimidation of Tamil journalists by military personnel. 

Last month Sri Lankan police assaulted a Tamil journalist in Jaffna, Nadarajah Kugaraj, who had travelled to Kokkuvil to cover an attack on a house in the area, which reportedly had petrol bombs thrown at it overnight.

Journalist Kugaraj assaulted by police officers

The attack on Kugaraj followed an incident a few days earlier when freelance journalist Selvaraja Sumanthan was photographed and videoed by soldiers in Mullaitivu, before being warned by a senior army official to halt his work and leave the area. 

Related news:

Army threatens journalist in Mullaitivu

TID resumes targeting of Tamil Guardian correspondent, issuing 12th summons to friend 

Foreign journalist intimidated in Sri Lanka

Harassment of TG correspondent recalls Sri Lanka’s worst period of persecution of Tamil journalists - RSF

Sri Lanka has historically been one of the most dangerous places in the world for a journalist, with report by Together Against Genocide finding that from 2004 until 2009 at least 48 journalists were killed.  At least 41 of those media workers were Tamil. See more here.

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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.

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The genre of war epic makes its grand re-entry to Tamil cinema with director Rajkumar Periasamy’s sophomore feature film, ‘Amaran.’ As is often the case with this genre, one cannot help but feel the events of the ‘true story’ onscreen have been heavily modified for easy consumption.

 

 

 

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