Release journalist Parameshawary

His Excellency, Mahinda Rajapaksa

President

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

 His Excellency, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake

Prime Minister

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Dear Sirs,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI) Indonesia , the organisation representing journalist in Indonesia, to call for the immediate release of Mawbima journalist Munusamy Parameshawary (23) who has been detained by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) without charge for more than 60 days.

Parameshawary has been held in the TID office in Colombo since her detention on November 26, 2006, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act on suspicion of having links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.  Yet no charges have been laid against her.   Up until recently she was denied access to lawyers, her editor and media organisations, and in another travesty of justice on January 23, after a brief court appearance, the TID were successful in extending her detention for another 30 days without trial.

This is an absolutely disgraceful situation, and your government cannot remain inactive while a young female journalist is denied her most basic rights, and languishes in detention.  This shocking case has grave implications for press freedom and human rights in Sri Lanka.

Parameshawary is known for reporting on issues related to the Tamil community and had investigated disappearances in Colombo.  In light of her objective journalism and the tenuous claims against her, AJI Indonesia again stresses our concerns that these new Emergency (Prevention and Prohibition of Terrorism and Specified Terrorist Activities) Regulations are being used and abused to oppress the media and silence vital independent voices.

Given that no charges have been laid, and that investigations conducted to date have failed to establish any links between her and terrorist activity of any kind, AJI Indonesia demands the government intervene to facilitate her immediate release.  

AJI Indonesia gives its full and unconditional support to our colleague, the Free Media Movement (FMM) in their campaign for the release of Parameshawary, and join our colleagues around the world to stand in solidarity with Parameshawary, and all Sri Lankan journalists, in their struggle for an independent, safe and free media.

It is time for the Sri Lankan government to show the international community it is willing to defend the principles of press freedom and democracy, by securing an immediate release for Parameshawary.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Heru Hendratmoko     

President                                       

Eko Maryadi

Coord Advocacy Department