SRI LANKA: An attempt is made to abduct a journalist and human rights defender
July 9, 2012
Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that an attempt was made to abduct Mr. Shantha Wijesuriya, a journalist for Lanka-e-news, Sri Lanka’s most widely read online news publication. Shortly after the publication of a controversial article in which 
Mr. Wijesuriya highlighted the link between a known criminal and the Rajapaksa family, two men in a white van tried to pull Mr. Wijesuriya into their vehicle as he traveled in Nugegoda, a suburb of Colombo.
Mr. Wijesuriya highlighted the link between a known criminal and the Rajapaksa family, two men in a white van tried to pull Mr. Wijesuriya into their vehicle as he traveled in Nugegoda, a suburb of Colombo.
Immediate steps must be taken to investigate this abduction attempt, and provide for Mr. Wijesuriya’s safety, as well as the safety of his family. In light of previous attacks on local journalists, it is imperative that action is taken to preserve Mr. Wijesuriya’s safety. Indeed, Mr. Wijesuriya’s colleague, Prageeth Eknaligoda, of Lanka-e-news, was abducted and disappeared on 24 January 2010. The offices of Lanka-e-news have survived several arson attacks.
As well as Lanka-e-news, Mr. Wijesuriya has written for the Mawubima newspaper, writing about judicial corruption, miscarriages of justice and the necessity of judicial independence. Since he is not a member of the elite classes, these brave attempts to defend the basic rights of working-class people are all the more admirable. Mr. Wijesuriya is concerned with reporting news in a transparent and trustworthy manner, even if this leads to his arbitrary arrest and detention. He has been an active organizer of and participant in public events held to protect and promote the human rights of the Sri Lankan people. He works courageously, with full awareness of the danger that he and his family members might face. The AHRC calls on the Sri Lankan government to immediately provide forces to protect a journalist who works towards the goal of a pluralist, independent media. This case is yet another illustration of the exceptional collapse of the rule of law in the country.
CASE NARRATIVE:Read More…
