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Batticaloa journos’ seek SSP probe into defamation/interference 

04 May 2022

  • Blame Govt.-affiliated parties for posting photos of journos, family members
  • Online complaint lodged with IGP
The Batticaloa District Tamil Journalists’ Association has written to the Batticaloa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office, requesting that parties aligned with the Government who have been allegedly defaming and interfering with the work of journalists in the District, be inquired into. The letter, sent on 2 May, states that “in the past few years, individuals who call themselves Ziyam Shivaa and Dayasingam Pakkiyarajah, who are supporters of parties that are allies of the Government in Batticaloa, have been posting photos of the family members of journalists, with the intention of defaming them with false information”. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (4), journalist Sasikaran Punniyamoorthy said that last week, Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal MP Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan alias Pillayan had gone to attend an event in the Batticaloa District, when a crowd had protested against him, prompting him to leave without attending the said event.  “We were in India at that moment. But people connected to Pillayan posted pictures of me, and another journalist (Selvakumar Nilanthan), including family pictures, on social media, accusing us of being involved in the protest and severely defaming us. For the past three years, similar attempts to silence journalists and mudslinging posts have been carried out by this same group of people,” said Punniyamoorthy.  “If we write something, they threaten us. We have no freedom to work. Today, we get threats, tomorrow, our families will get threats. I even personally informed Pillayan about the aforementioned incident but there has been no action from the party or the Police,” Punniyamoorthy added.  "Regarding the 'Go Home Gota' coverage in the Eastern Province, we publish a lot about it, and write and share fearlessly. That is also a big problem for the Government now," Punniyamoorthy elaborated. The letter by the Association said that the journalists who are subjected to these defamatory posts are “vexed and unable to continue their journalistic work”. The Association has urged the Police to call the concerned persons, conduct an inquiry and to file a case in this regard. Punniyamoorthy has also lodged an online complaint with the Inspector General of Police (IGP).   “We condemn this as one of the worst attacks on media freedom as it tarnishes the dignity and undermines the work of the journalists of Batticaloa,” said the Association in its letter to the SSP office.   Attempts by The Morning to contact Santhirakanthan yesterday, proved futile.


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