Attack on journalists in Murippu forest: Media groups demand justice

… Freddy Gamage alleges complicity of police

Professionals Web Journalists Association has called for a thorough investigation into the recent attack on two journalists in the Murippu forest in the Mullaitivu district.

The Association’s Convenor Freddy Gamage alleged that journalists Shanmugam Thavaseelan and Kanapathipillai Kumanan had been beaten up by gangsters on Oct 12 while they were covering ongoing illegal felling of trees in the Muruppu forest area.

Gamage told The Island that timber racketeers and illegal sand miners had the backing of local officials, including some law enforcement authorities, hence the reluctance on the part the police to properly inquire into the incident.

The civil society activist pointed out that the Mullaitivu incident took place close on the heels of illegal sand miners attacking a journalist in the Moneragala district. In a joint statement issued by Gamage and Kalum Shivantha, Convenor and Secretary of Professionals Web Journalists Association, respectively, the outfit questioned the complicity of the Wildlife Department in the ongoing deforestation in the Mullaitivu jungles.

The association emphasized that it would be the responsibility of the government to arrest those responsible without delay and ensure the proper investigation.

In addition to the Professional Web Journalists Association, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Sri Lanka associates the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Federation of Media Employees’ Trade Union (FMETU) urged the government to bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to an IFJ statement, the journalists had been attacked by four men on motorcycles brandishing iron rods after they took photos and video footage of the illegal collection of timber in Murippu jungle area. Subsequently, the attackers snatched the camera and journalists’ mobile phones, and deleted the videos. The assailants also looted some jewellery and money. Kumanan received injuries to his head and nose while Thavaseelan lost a tooth. The attackers also threatened to kill them, the IFJ alleged in its statement.

The injured journalists were then taken to Mullaitivu District Hospital, where they received treatment. Media organizations expressed concern over law enforcement authorities turning a blind eye to complaints lodged by the journalists at Mullaitivu police. The journalists have told media organizations that the leader of the gang continued to roam in spite of multiple complaints lodged against him in the past.

Journalists who exposed the illegal smuggling of natural resources are frequently targeted in Sri Lanka, they alleged. Earlier, Derana TV journalist Indunil Wijenayake was attacked by sand-miners in the Kumbukkan Oya area of Moneragala district on Oct 3.

“It is a tragedy that journalists exposing the wrongdoings are attacked and perpetrators go unpunished. We urge authorities to initiate legal actions against those involved, regardless of their rank and political affiliations,” the FMM Convener Seetha Ranjanee said.

The FMETU General Secretary Dharmasiri Lankapeli said: “The FMETU calls for a speedy investigation into this brutal assault on journalists Shanmugam Thavaseelan and Kanapathipillai Kumanan and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

The IFJ said: “Attacks on journalists for exposing the illegal smuggling of natural resources and ongoing impunity in such cases contributes to the disturbing frequency of attacks on journalists. The IFJ urges the Sri Lanka government to take the case seriously and do all that they can to ensure that the perpetrators of these violent acts are punished.” (SF)