2 Tamil journalists file FR petition

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 September 2009, 11:32 GMT]
Three -member bench of the Supreme Court Thursday fixed the inquiry into the fundamental rights violation petitions filed by S. Jaseeharan who is one of the co-directors of the ‘Outreach’ website and his fiancée V. Valarmathi for October 30. The Bench comprised Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justices N. G. Amaratunge and Chandra Ekanayake.

Leave to proceed has already been granted to Mr. Jaseeharan for the alleged infringement of his fundamental right to freedom from torture, right to equality and equal protection of the law, freedom from arbitrary detention, freedom of speech and expression including publication and freedom to engage in any lawful occupation, trade, business, enterprise etc.

Valarmathi was granted leave for the alleged infringement of her fundamental rights to the above as well as freedom from arbitrary arrest.

Petitioner Jaseeharan had been a journalist contributing to the Tamil weekly “Sarinigar”. He is also the publisher and journalist of website “Outreach.sl.com” meant for building peace in the country, funded by Facilitating Local Initiatives for Conflict Transformation (FLICT), a project under the German Technical Cooperation.

Following the arrest of Jaseeharan and Valarmathi, senior journalist J. S. Tissainayagam of “Outreach.sl.com.” website went to TID on the same day and informed them that as a staff member that he wanted to meet Jaseeharan. Only then Tissanayagam was questioned and arrested and detained.

Petitioner Jaseeharan and his fiancée Valarmathi who had been the former programme producer of the Sakthi TV and former temporary lecturer in Drama and Theatre at the Jaffna University cited OIC Prasanna de Alwis, SSP Nandana Munasinghe of the TID, Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse, IGP Victor Perera, Inspector H. M. Janakantha of TID and the Attorney General as respondents.

Mr. J. C. Weliyamuna instructed by Gowri Shangary Thavarasa appeared for the petitioners. Senior State Counsel Riyaz Hamza appeared for the respondents.