Sri Lanka military harass Tamil journalist for filming in occupied cemetery
- Post 23 March 2018
- By Athula Vithanage
Military officers have harassed a Tamil journalist who courageously protected recorded evidence of government moves to indefinitely occupy a burial ground in northeastern Sri Lanka.
The journalist working for Colombo based Asia Broadcasting Corporation had been stopped by soldiers in the Mulaitivu district, Monday (19), who stubbornly demanded to see video footage in his possession.
Shanmugam Thavaseelan had been returning after meeting Alampil residents who were angered after government officials announced plans to permanently acquire a graveyard which has been under military occupation since 2009.
The military had demolished tombstones and denied access to relatives where the bodies of hundreds of fallen Tamil Tiger fighters had being laid to rest.
Land belonging to the cemetery is put to run agri-business by the military.
Soldiers from the 24th battalion of the Sinha Regiment who stopped Thavaseelan by the roadside had accused him of filming their nearby camp that contain several business ventures including a cafe. The cafe also has been built on the graveyard premises.
The journalist had explained that he was covering the issue concerning the Alampil burial ground.
An irate military officer had demanded to see the recording saying that it is a land earmarked for military takeover.
Right to information
The journalist had turned down the request defending his right to report issues that affect residents of the area.
“This is land occupied by military,” Captain Lahiru Priyadarshana had told Thavaseelan in a bid to justify the demand.
Upon refusals by the journalist who stood his ground firmly, he was escorted to the camp to meet its commanding officer.
Colleagues alerted by the harassed journalist while being confronted by the soldiers, intervened to obtain his release after informing the military spokesman.
Mullaitivu is considered the most militarized district in the region where at least one soldier is present for every two civilians.
Lead photo: Destroyed archway of LTTE's Chaaty Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam (Heroes’ Resting Places) / Courtesy:tamilguardian.com
© JDS
