Media organizations demonstrate against detention of journalist Tissanayagam

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 June 2008, 15:26 GMT]
Members of five media organizations staged a peaceful demonstration Monday around 10.30 a.m demanding the release of senior journalist J. S. Tissanayagam who is held in the custody of Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of Sri Lanka police for the last 115 days, in front of Colombo District Court. The Court extended the detention order served on Tissanayagam and two other Tamils, V. Jasikaran and Ms. V. Valarmathy until September 5 on request made by TID.

TID produced the three detainees Monday in Colombo District Court seeking permission to continue detention as inquiries related to the case are yet to conclude.

The Court also directed TID to take Tissanayagam to Government Hospital for treatment if necessary as he has some eye ailment.

Independent Media Movement, Working Journalists’ Association, Tamil Journalists’ Association, Muslim Media Forum and Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions were the five media organizations that took part in the demonstration which went on until 1:00 p.m.

The demonstrators were also present in the court when Tissanayagam’s case was being heard.

Senior journalist J. S. Tissanayagam, the Editor of Outreach web news site and V. Jasikaran, the owner of a press and his wife Valarmathi are detained on suspicion of having contacts with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“Release Tissanayagam detained for 115 days!” read the placards that the demonstrators held during the demonstration.

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