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Alert

"Mawbima" journalist freed after four months, no charges; FMM criticises government and media smear

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a 22 March 2007 FMM press release:

A resounding victory for truth and justice: The release of Munusami Parameshwari

The Free Media Movement (FMM) registers its profound relief and elation on the release of "Mawbima" journalist Munusami Parameshwari on 22 March 2007. She was arrested on 21 November 2006and held in custody for four months without any charge being brought against her, by the Terrorist Investigation Division of the Sri Lankan Police. However, FMM notes with regret that even after the Supreme Court was informed that her release order had been sent to Magistrate Court, the police held Parameshwari for another 24 hours.

The FMM, together with local and international journalists' organizations, free media and media rights activists, takes this opportunity thank all those who campaigned for her release. FMM especially wishes to thank the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and other leading international press freedom organizations, along with local counterparts, who organized a world-wide campaign on 31 January 2007 to release Parameshwari, which resulted in a clarion call to officially charge her or release her without any delay.

We underscore that Parameshwari was released without any charges against her. She was subject to, and a victim of, a persistent campaign of hatred by government ministers, select media and ultra-nationalist voices, who blatantly paraded lies and baseless allegations in a reprehensible attempt to mould public opinion against her.

We note that the day after she was arrested, three Sinhala newspapers carried headline stories stating that as a result of the statements to the police by her female friend, who was arrested with along with her, they were able to recover 10kg of high explosives and 10 claymore mines. It was later discovered that this story was entirely fabricated and planted in the media. Even worse, several government ministers went on record saying that she was being held in custody because of her connection with terrorists.

We note with deep regret that, because of these baseless public allegations, the family and friends of Parameshwari will invariably continue to face a great deal of public opprobrium and ridicule, especially in a context where, as the FMM has noted with deep concern in the recent past, Members of Parliament and other ultra-nationalist groups opposed to the peace process brand pro-peace and media rights activists as supporters of terrorism who should be, accordingly, silenced, even through extra-judicial means.

Parameshwari's release is a triumph for truth and justice, and also demonstrates the clear danger of the draconian anti-terrorism and emergency regulations, which are a serious and continuing threat to media freedom in Sri Lanka.

While the FMM is pleased that all allegations against Parameshwari are relegated to the dustbin of history, we reiterate our concern for the many journalists facing similar threats and harassment and call all those in support of democracy to support our work in securing and strengthening media freedom and fundamental rights in Sri Lanka.