Sri Lanka: Media smear campaign, threats and intimidation against human rights defender Mr Herman Kumara

Thursday, 08 March 2012 

Since February 2012, Mr Herman Kumara has been subjected to a media smear campaign, repeated threats, surveillance and intimidation following rounds of protests by fisher people in the Chilaw and Negombo areas against an increase in fuel prices by the Government. Herman Kumara was the Secretary General of the World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP) and is the head of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) in Sri Lanka.

In February 2012, during the protests against the increase in fuel prices, several fisher people were injured when police opened fire, and on 15 February 2012 a fisherman was killed.Read more...