| Fiji falls furthest, but big advance by Maldives Check your country ranking on: http://www.rsf.org/en-classement1003-2009.html Political power grabs dealt press freedom a great disservice again this year. A military coup caused Fiji (152nd) to fall 73 places. Soldiers moved into Fijian news rooms for several weeks and censored articles before they were published, while foreign journalists were deported. In Thailand, the endless clashes between “yellow shirts” and “red shirts” had a very negative impact on the press’s ability to work. As a result, the kingdom is now 130th. The authoritarianism of existing governments, for example in Sri Lanka (162nd) and Malaysia (131st), prevented journalists from properly covering sensitive subjects such as corruption or human rights abuses. The Sri Lankan government had a journalist sentenced to 20 years in prison and forced dozens of others to flee the country. In Malaysia, the interior ministry imposed censorship or self-censorship by threatening media with the withdrawal of their licence or threatening journalists with a spell in prison. War and terrorism wrought havoc and exposed journalists to great danger. Afghanistan (149th) is sapped not only by Taliban violence and death threats, but also by unjustified arrests by the security forces. Despite having dynamic news media, Pakistan (159th) is crippled by murders of journalists and the aggressiveness of both the Taliban and sectors of the military. It shared (with Somalia) the world record for journalists killed during the period under review. The Asian countries that least respected press freedom were, predictably, North Korea, one of the “infernal trio” at the bottom of the rankings, Burma, which still suffers from prior censorship and imprisonment, and Laos, an unchanging dictatorship where no privately-owned media are permitted. The media in China (168th) are evolving rapidly along with the rest of the country but it continues to have a very poor ranking because of the frequency of imprisonment, especially in Tibet, Internet censorship and the nepotism of the central and provincial authorities. Similarly in Vietnam (166th), the ruling Communist Party targets journalists, bloggers and press freedom activists over what they write about its concessions to China. In the good news section, Maldives (51st) climbed 53 places thanks to a successful democratic transition while Bhutan (70th) rose another four places thanks to further efforts in favour of media diversity. Asia’s few democracies are well placed in the rankings. New Zealand (13th), Australia (16th) and Japan (17th) are all in the top 20. Respect for press freedom and the lack of targeted violence against journalists enable these three countries to be regional leaders. South Korea (69th) and Taiwan (59th) fell far this year. South Korea plummeted 22 places because of the arrests of several journalists and bloggers and the conservative government’s attempts to control critical media. The new ruling party in Taiwan tried to interfere in state and privately-owned media while violence by certain activists further undermined press freedom. Two Asian countries were included in the index for the first time: Papua New Guinea (56th), which obtained a very respectable ranking for a developing country, and the Sultanate of Brunei (155th), which came in the bottom third because of the absence of an independent press. Asia-Pacific Desk |
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| The Intern ational Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today said that the report of the Intern ational Commission of Jurists (ICJ) on the trial of Sri Lankan journalist J. S. Tissainayagam vindicates the criticism of the 20 year jail term imposed on him by the High Court of Colombo on 31 August.
Tissainayagam was found guilty of “causing communal disharmony” and “receiving money from Tamil Tiger rebels to pay for his website” in a case that sparked global condemnation from journalists and human rights ‘ groups. “The report is a clinical analysis of a flawed judicial process,” said Aidan White , IFJ General Secretary. “It shows, in particular, lack of reliable evidence against Tissainayagam and an apparent conflict of interest. These conclusions indicate that the sentence is unsafe and should not stand.” The ICJ report issued today raised a “number of concerns regarding fair trial standards, including the judge ‘ s interlocutory decision to allow into evidence what counsel for Mr Tissainayagam described as a forced confession, and subsequent denial of his right to appeal”. The report noted that presiding Judge Wijesundara is the sister of the officer who signed the Indictment against Tissainayagam . The ICJ says the case of Tissainayagam , a prominent Tamil journalist, was the first prosecution of a journalist under terrorism charges for “exercising freedom of expression, despite these laws being on the books for decades”. The group criticised the government for its decision to maintain the charges after its military victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels.. The group says the trial of the journalist fits the pattern of government ‘ s “attacks and threats of attacks against journalists and critics of Government policy, including public accusations by persons associated with the Government that equate such critics with terrorists and traitors, for example, in commentaries posted on an official website of the Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order”. “This report adds to the outrage felt across media community and human rights organisations after this miscarriage of justice against Tissainayagam ,” added White. “He must be released immediately.” To read the ICJ Press Statement, go to: http://www.icj.org/IMG/ICJ_press_statement_-_Tissanaiyagam_-_11_Sep_09.pdf To read the ICJ Briefing Report on Sri Lanka ’s Emergency Laws, go to: http://www.icj.org/IMG/SriLanka-BriefingPaper-Mar09-FINAL.pdf To read the ICJ Trial Observation Report, go to: http://www.icj.org/IMG/ICJ_Tissa_Trial_Observation_Report_11_Sept_09.pdf For more information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207 |
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IFJ |
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| Reporters Without Borders/Reporters sans frontières Press release 31 August 2009 SRI LANKA http://www.rsf.org/spip.php?page=article&id_article=34343 Reporters Without Borders is appalled by the “shameful” 20-year jail “The imposition of this extremely severe sentence on Tissainayagam The press freedom organisation added: “We strongly hope that the Global Media Forum and Reporters Without Borders have chosen to The prize will be awarded at a ceremony presided over by Washington When a Reporters Without Borders representative met Sri Lankan Aged 45, Tissainayagam, wrote for the Colombo-based Sunday Times Tissainayagam has been detained since 7 March 2008, when he was After five months in detention, during which many national and During his initial period in detention, Tissainayagam was allowed Tissainayagam is the first Sri Lankan journalist to be convicted The origin of the charges against him boils down to two articles Tissainayagam’s family and lawyers have said he will appeal against |
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NSLJA Saddened at Newspaper Burning
We note with extreme sadness the burning of newspapers in Jaffna peninsula at a time the government says it makes maximum efforts to restore democracy in the counrty and the peninsula in particular, while taking steps to hold a free and fair local government election in the region.
This is an incident that brings back fear into the minds of the peninsula residents who hope for peace.
We urge the government to take steps to prevent such incidents from taking place at a time when its is believed that an opportunity has arisen to elect suitable leaders to rebuild the devastated Jaffna peninsula. We also urge speedy legal action against the culprits.
We the Northern journalists are in a helpless state unable to do anything other than mourn the threats against the media when the need is for free expression of ideas for a healthy and democratic election.
அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவேண்டும்
நாட்டில் விஷேடமாக வடக்கு
கிழக்கில் ஜனநாயகத்தை நிலைநாட்டுவதற்கு அரசாங்கம் கடும் முயற்சிகளை மேற்கொண்டுவரும் இத்தருனத்திலும், சுதந்திரமானதும் ஜனநாயகமுமான உள்ளுராட்சி தேர்தலை யாழ்,வவுனியாவில் நடாத்துவதற்கு அரசாங்கம் பிரயத்தனப்பட்டுக்கொண்டிருக்கும் இவ்வேளையில் குடாநாட்டு பத்திரிகைகள் தீயப்பட்டமையானது மிகுந்த வேதனையை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.
சமாதானத்தையும் அமைதியையும் எதிர்பார்த்துள்ள யாழ்-குடாநாட்டு மக்களுக்கு மீண்டும் பீதியை ஏற்படுத்தும் காரியமாகவே இது அமைந்துள்ளது.
இடிந்துபோயுள்ள யாழ்-குநாட்டை கட்டியெழுப்புவதற்கு காத்திரமான தலைமைகளை தெரிவு செய்யவேண்டியுள்ள நல்ல ஒரு சர்ந்தப்பம் கிடைத்துள்ளதாக கூறப்படும் இத்தருணத்தில், இப்படியான செயல்கள் மேலும் தொடராமல் இருக்க அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவேண்டும் என்பதுடன் குற்றவாளிகளை இனம் கண்டு நடவடிக்கையும் எடுக்க வேண்டும்.
ஜனநாயகமான தேர்தலுக்கு கருத்துகள் மக்களை சென்றடையவேண்டியுள்ள இச்சூழலில் ஊடகத்துறையை அச்சுறுத்துவதற்காக நாம் வருந்துவதைத்தவிர வேறுவழியின்றியுள்ளோம்.
நன்றி.
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“It is of great importance that the World Press Freedom Day is celebrated in Jaffna peninsula where press freedom is completely restricted,” Chief guest of the event, C. V. K. Sivagnanam, the president of Jaffna peninsula NGOs Federation, said in the event organized by North Sri lanka Journalists’ Association (NSLJA) Sunday around 10:30 a. m in Jaffna University Media Training Centre, chaired by NSLJA President, V. Kathirkamathamby. The portraits of the slain journalists of Jaffna peninsula and Tharmaratnam Sivaram, Tharaki, from Batticaloa and late senior journalists were unveiled in the NSLJA office in the Media Training Centre at the beginning of the event, sources in Jaffna said. Veteran media photographer, Changkarakambar Kahiravelu, 76, was honoured for his continuing dedicated service to the media for the past 45 years, in the event.

Changkarakambar Kathiravelu, the veteran media photographer.NSLJA celebrate Press freedom day in Jaffna
“No journalist shall offer his life for his vocation in Jaffna peninsula; as journalists they have a historical obligation to reveal the truth from being hidden,” Sivagnanam said in his address.“Despite the existing restrictions and pressure the journalists and the media should be alive to write the truth; they must serve with dedication to gather the truth and publish it one day,” he further said.“Despite warnings by International Organizations that Jaffna peninsula is a place where press freedom is totally restricted the media and journalists in Jaffna actively continue to perform their duty even amidst restrictions and pressure,” NSLJA president Kathirkamathamby said.
Hundreds of persons including newspaper editors, media persons and media activists participated in the event which concluded around 1:00 p.m.
The portraits of the assassinated Jaffna peninsula journalists, Mylvaganam Nirmalarajan, Aiyathurai Nadesan, Selvarajah Rajivarman, Paranirubasingham Thevakumar and Bala Nadarajah Aiyar were ceremoniously unveiled in the NSLJA office.
Special tribute was paid to ‘Tharaki’ Tharmaratnam Sivaram, a unique and talented journalist both in Tamil and English media, who paid with his life to his vocation, when his portrait was unveiled.
Portraits of the late senior editors who had rendered remarkable service to the media too were unveiled in the event.
Changkarakambar Kathiravelu, the veteran media photographer, born on 16 August 1933, had begun his service in 1952 for Thinakaran and in Suthanthiran where he worked with many media personalities including Suthanthiran editor, Sivapragasam.
Kathiravelu, though 76, actively continues in his vocation serving Thinakaran, and the Jaffna dailies Uthayan and Yarl Thinakural.
C. V. K. Sivagnanam, the president of Jaffna NGOs Federation had arranged the honouring of Changarakambar Kathiravelu’s dedicated service to the media.
Prizes were awarded to the winners of the essay competition held in connection with the event.
They conducted a media quiz program for the
Public and given cash prize 2500.00 Rs.
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We are going to celebrate press grandlyin Jaffna at 10:30am.We organized a media quiz program (oodaha pothu arivuppotti) and give 2500 rs cash prize for the wiiner. We will open the died journalists
foto’s too, who were (7) killed nimal,varman and who died naturally the
(5) old people.
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