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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

[chottala.com] Sri Lanka Makes Journalism an Act of Terrorism



Sri Lanka Makes Journalism an Act of Terrorism

Clothilde Le Coz

by Clothilde Le Coz, December 15, 2009

Tagged: , , , , ,

tissa_002.jpg

J.S. Tissainayagam

As of December 10, J.S. Tissainayagam, a respected Tamil journalist and editor, had served the first 100 days of a 20-year sentence in a Sri Lankan jail. In his World Press Freedom Day statement, President Obama cited Tissainayagam as an "emblematic example" of a journalist who was being persecuted. Amnesty International also named Tissainayagam a prisoner of conscience, and held a vigil for him in the U.K. in early September.

Yet the hopes for Tissainayagam's release grow dimmer by the day. His case is attracting attention -- and outcry -- because it is the first known instance in the democratic world of a journalist being charged under the provisions of an anti-terror law.

Writing as an Act of Terrorism

J.S. Tissainayagam wrote for the North Eastern Monthly Magazine and the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka, and is the founder of the website Outreachsl.com. He was arrested on March 7, 2008 and held without charges for six months. On August 25, 2008, he was indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act on three counts.

The Judicial process lasted a further 12 months and on August 31, 2009, Tissainayagam was found guilty on all three counts. He was sentenced to 20 years of "rigorous imprisonment." The National Post of Canada wrote an editorial defending Tissainayagam and calling for his release. This is how the Post explained the Sri Lankan government's case against him:

While he is accused of having taken money from the outlawed (and brutal) Tamil Tigers to operate a website providing the Tamil version of facts about the civil war, Mr. Tissainayagam's main crime seems to have been writing two articles in the now-defunct Northeastern Monthly magazine in 2006 and 2007 criticizing the Sri Lankan persecution of the Tamils, who were seeking an independent homeland in the north-east corner of the island nation.

Mr. Tissainayagam criticized wartime tactics employed by Sri Lankan leaders, including the alleged withholding of food, medicine and other essential items from Tamil areas as a way to strike back at the Tigers. He also complained that the Sri Lankan army was conducting extrajudicial executions -- murdering civilian Tamils as a warning to the Tigers that Colombo was not to be messed with and a caution to ordinary Tamils not to abet the Tigers.

None of the charges stated that Tissainayagam received funds from a terrorist organization, nor was he accused of funding terrorist organizations. Neither his coerced confession nor the evidence presented in court revealed that he had received funds from the Tamil Tigers. Therefore, it seems that his only act of terrorism was his writing -- a dangerous precedent.

Lack of Press Freedom in Sri Lanka

Inside of Sri Lanka, state media are providing biased accounts of the situation. This isn't surprising, as the president controls the state media and uses them to campaign against the opposition. This is putting other Sri Lankan journalists in danger.

During the opposition United National Party's convention in Colombo on December 5, seven journalists working for state TV stations Rupavahini and ITN were slightly injured and their equipment was damaged when they were manhandled outside the location of the meeting. UNP leader Ravi Karunanayake said his party was not involved in the violence, and confirmed that the journalists had not been invited to the meeting. It is still not known who was responsible for this act. Meanwhile, in November, the three main Tamil dailies in Jaffna received threatening letters accusing them of playing into the hands of "terrorists."

On the eve of the commemoration of International Human Rights Day on December 10, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that "the Obama Administration is dedicated to upholding the tenets of the Universal Declaration at home and championing them abroad through a policy of principled engagement." This policy must be followed in Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka, there will be no post-war reconciliation if a Tamil intellectual such as Tissainayagam can be found guilty of such baseless charges. Tamil journalists, human rights activists, politicians and other groups will naturally feel at risk if they too can be jailed at any time for 20 years. Clearly, the use of the anti-terrorist act in this instance is an attempt to intimidate government critics.

The United States must include Tissainayagam's release as a benchmark for the restoration of the rule of law in Sri Lanka. Without press freedom and freedom of expression, the country will never be united, peaceful and on the right track for economic development and good governance.

Another Journalist in Danger

Tissainayagam is far from the only journalist suffering in Sri Lanka. Below is a video interview with Frederica Jansz, the new editor-in-chief and news editor of the independent Sri Lankan weekly, The Sunday Leader. She received death threats 10 months after Lasantha Wickrematunge, her predecessor, was murdered. No real investigation has been made regarding his case:

Image of J.S. Tissainayagam via Mizozo.com

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2009/12/sri-lanka-makes-journalism-an-act-of-terrorism349.html

It seems that his only act of terrorism was his writing -- a dangerous precedent."

 



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Re: [chottala.com] Bhai Akta Proshno



We bengalee and sub continent people just need descipline,dedication and committment to develope the work and our life. We don't have to repeat all the time for noble prize and about great man. Everywhere on earth there is lot of greatman already. Also talking about one man and be proud of that man is just loosing important time in life.


De: "siraj@yahoo.com" <siraj@yahoo.com>
Para: chottala@yahoogroups.com
Enviado: dom,13 diciembre, 2009 19:26
Asunto: [chottala.com] Bhai Akta Proshno

 


As a reply to mahammad rabby asking "bhai akta proshno"...
                              

 

Dear chottala readers, 

Bhai Akta Jowab. (Ref: Googles)

               Dr. Muhammad Yunus a real pride of our nation. 

Dr. Muhammad Yunus by Yodel Anecdotal.

The man who is asking "Akta Proshno" in his challenging attitude to our Shreshto Bangali Dr. Mohd Yunus of this century about his Nobel Peace Prize award why not that gentleman should ask this "Akta Proshno" to those Norwegian Nobel Committee who awarded this Nobel Prize to our pride of the nation. If he asks this sort of question to the common people of Bangladesh nobody can satisfy him properly. Only the proper authority who can satisfy his inquisitiveness is Nobel Peace Prize committee of top graded learned group of the world sitting as the five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee has inspired strong reactions across the country from ... laureates.  In 2006, the peace prize was given to Dr. Muhammed Yunus and Grameen Bank for economic and social development of poor countries. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize in a very likely planned way to give him the Peace Prize in 2006 as because Dr.Muhammad Yunus attempted and somewhat successful for Creating a Poverty-Free World in Bangladesh as the self-proclaimed 'banker to the poor'. Dr. Muhammad Yunus founded the bank in his native Bangladesh to lend small amounts to those poors whom he was sure will repay those amounts of loan in return. The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank for their gaining ground among development experts: that attacking poverty in Banmgladesh help Bringing Grameen Bank Programs to the World's Poorest Families. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, 2006  banking orbit on the ground that they are poor and hence not bankable. In 1974, Professor Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi economist from Chittagong University, led his students on a field trip to a poor village Zobra that it was possible with this tiny amount not only to help them survive but also help bringing Grameen Bank Programs to the World's Poorest Families. Dr. Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank  put their sincerity with the intention to help the poor. But a famine in 1974 ravaged the country, leading Dr. Yunus to alter his thinking  in the home of Grameen Bank, the inspiration of economist Yunus. The idea behind the Grameen Bank is ingeniously simple: extend credit to poor. Professor Muhammad Yunus established the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh in 1983.

I am not sure whether I am able to satisfy the query of that gentleman or not. Still if he is too much interested to know "grameen bank er madhhome asholei ki daridhro ghuchechhe/ghuchchhe bangladeshe? ??" he should also do survey like Dr. Muhammad Yunus by going house to house to those poor people who are taking this microcredit loan from Grameen bank and somehow or other are trying to improve their lot and change their luck.

Dowllah (Dr. Siraj Uddowllah).  

 

From:

mohammad rabby m_rabby@hotmail. com  wrote:
Para: chottala@yahoogroup s.com
Enviado: sáb,5 diciembre, 2009 23:41
Asunto: RE: [chottala.com] Dr. Mohd. Yunus


bhai akta proshno,,,
grameen bank er madhhome asholei ki daridhro ghuchechhe / ghuchchhe bangladeshe? ??

mohammad rabby                                                          



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[chottala.com] War crime tribunal & Jamaat's last dirty tactics !



As matter of fact the Jamaate Islami, as always, is playing the dirtiest games..... 
Their show of love for the Martyred Intellectuals is really a travesty of their
Jehadi support for Izlamic Refublic of Fakistan: The nation has not forgotton
that the Murder of Intellectuals in December 1971  was the sole act of Jamaat's
militia the Al-bodor Bahini under the command of today's Jamaate Islami Chief
Matiur Rahman Nizami:
 
Jamaat proves : Crocodile Tears Are Real   .....!!!!!
 
What Jamaat will do next? Repeat it's role of 1971 at the most
opportune moment to spill the blood of our people again?
 
I bet, it was a tragedy then, but this time Jamaat is turning
itself into a farce.  People of Bangladesh knows Jammat's
ugly face! The masses are saying ... Never Again !!!!
 
" Its been long 37 years! Okay..............." 
FYI, there is no statue of limitations on geonocide, crime against
humanity and war crimes..... This has been established by
number of multileteral international treaties. ..........
 
  
 
On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 12:14 AM, Mo Assghar <moassghar@yahoo.com> wrote:
 


Ever wonder why Seikh Mujib did not start the war crime tribunal 37 years ago? Why hasina trying to do?

Hasika-tikle-me-war-crime is a farce, all khanki hasina wants to be a 'bongeshori'. Hasina is now erasing the name of Ziaur Rahman, Bir Protik. Zia International Airport will be renamed to Nazi Mujib Airport.

For how long Hasina will play the game with war criminals? Its been long 37 years! Okay, if khanki hasina wants to hang some jamaatis - so be it! Get it over! nobody care about some rajakars 70+, they are dying anyway - hang them all!

But, she will NOT finish  the war crime now. mark my word, Hasina will never finish the war crime, never in her life time. If she finishes hanging some rajakars, what she will do next? Fuking hajari?

Hasina is playing a dirty dangerous game, she is a sly slut! People of Bangla knows her ugly face!


 

--- On Tue, 12/15/09, Syed Aslam <Syed.Aslam3@gmail.com> wrote:

Subject: [khabor.com] Bangladesh mourns for martyred
Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 2:12 AM

Start war trial fast

Seek people as nation mourns for martyred intellectuals

Members of the organisation -- December 14 -- gather at the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial at Mirpur in the capital yesterday demanding trial of war criminals. Photo: Anisur RahmanStaff Correspondent

Amid increasing demand for immediate trial of war criminals, the nation observed Martyred Intellectuals' Day yesterday to commemorate the illustrious citizens killed brutally two days before the victory in Liberation War, 1971.

Thousands of people gathered at the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial at Mirpur in the capital to pay their tributes. Many wore black ribbons, while many people and a number of organisations carried banners inscribed with slogans demanding a quick start of the trial.

To mark the day, President Zillur Rahman placed wreaths at the memorial around 7:00am. A few minutes later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the martyrs.

The premier also paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman placing a wreath at his portrait in Dhanmondi.

Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia accompanied by BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and standing committee members, paid tribute to the martyred intellectuals around 10:00am.

After placing wreaths Delwar told reporters that BNP too wants the trial of war criminals but the trial should not be politically driven.

"Those who have committed such crimes should be tried on the basis of proof and witness but the trial should not be politically motivated," he said.

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad also placed wreaths at the memorial.

People belonging to different political, socio-cultural organisations and students from various schools, colleges and universities thronged the memorial in the morning.

As the defeat loomed large, the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators -- Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams -- abducted frontline intellectuals and professionals of the nation aspiring for freedom on December 14, 1971 and killed them, often after brutal torture, in an effort to cripple the emerging nation intellectually.

The killers dragged renowned academics, teachers, writers, doctors, engineers, journalists and other eminent personalities out of their homes blindfolded, taking them to the killing fields at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and other places in the capital. After the butchery, the bodies were left there to rot.

Awami League hoisted black flags and kept the national flag and party flag at half-mast at the party's headquarters and other offices across the country.

The ruling party leaders and activists laid wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial at Mirpur, Rayerbazar Killing Ground and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's portrait at Dhanmondi in the morning.

The Awami League also held a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre around 3:00pm on the occasion.

The Sector Commanders' Forum paid tributes at the Rayerbazar Killing Ground by forming a human chain in the city and demanded speedy trial of war criminals.

Dhaka University (DU) authorities observed the day by holding discussion and silent procession led by DU Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique. They placed wreaths at different memorials on the campus. The university teachers and students demanded immediate trial of war criminals.
 
Related:
Bhorer Kagoj -
 
Janakantha -
 
Shamokal-
 
 
 
Daily Ittefaq -
 
 
   
The New Nation -
 
 
NayaDigonta:
 
 
 
JaiJaiDin -
 
 
Sangram -
 

গতকাল সোমবার রাজধানীর আল ফালাহ মিলনায়তনে বাংলাদেশ জামায়াতে ইসলামী ঢাকা মহানগরীর উদ্যোগে শহীদ বুদ্ধিজীবী দিবস উপলক্ষে আয়োজিত আলোচনা সভা ও দোয়া অনুষ্ঠানে মুনাজাত পরিচালনা করেন দলের সেক্রেটারি জেনারেল ও সাবেক মন্ত্রী আলী আহসান মোহাম্মদ মুজাহিদ -সংগ্রাম

Month of December vis-a-vis Jamaati tactics today !

Also  read :
 
 
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