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Alert

Journalist reported missing in Jaffna

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is an FMM press release:

A journalist reported missing in Jaffna

Subramaniam Ramachandran, 37, father of two, working as Vadamaratchi correspondent for "Yarl Thinakkural" and "Valampuri" since 2001, has gone missing, according to FMM contacts in Jaffna. "Yarl Thinakkural" and "Valampuri" are two dailies published in the war-ravaged northern peninsula of Jaffna. He has been reported missing since the evening of 15 February 2007.

FMM is afraid that his life may be in danger as retaliatory killings and abductions are reported in Jaffna on almost a daily basis.

Ramachandran, as per his usual routine, left his private tutorial session at a school situated in Arasadi, Karavetti in Nelliyadi within the Vadamaratchi sector of Jaffna peninsula around 6:30 p.m. and left to go to his home in Thunaallai, Karavetti, which is 1 kilometre away from the school. He did not reach home that evening. Vadamaratchi sector recently came under a dusk-to-dawn curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

His father filed a missing persons report at the Nelliyadi police station. The police told FMM that they have received the report and are investigating the incident.

Since January 2005, 802 persons have disappeared in Jaffna peninsula, according to human rights groups. 66 persons, who surrendered to the Jaffna human rights commission office, are in prison voluntarily for fear of being abducted and killed. In February alone, 15 peopled have been gunned down by unknown gunmen and 9 people have been abducted.

Free Media Movement appeals to whoever is responsible for this disappearance to release or hand over Ramachandran to authorities immediately.