Australians detained in Sri Lanka arrive home protesting at 'harassment'

International Federation of Journalists says detention of its representatives was an attempt to intimidate the media

Australian Associated Press-Saturday 2 November 2013

Jacqui Park and Jane Worthington arrive back in Sydney on Saturday. Photograph: Ava Benny-Morrison/AAP

Two Australians detained in Sri Lanka since Wednesday have arrived back in Sydney

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said its Asia-Pacific director Jacqui Park and her deputy Jane Worthington had been "extensively" interrogated since they were taken into custody.

They were taking part in a press freedom meeting in Colombo, the IFJ said.

Park said after arriving at Sydney airport she felt the questioning was never about them but about the Sri Lankan media, and who they had met.

"From the kinds of questions that we had over the two days it was clear it was kind of a witch hunt against the local media, local journalists and media freedom activists who are really trying to create some free space for freedom of expression in Sri Lanka," she told reporters.

"We know from our work this is not an isolated incident but really a pattern of behaviour of intimidation and threats against journalists in Sri Lanka."

Park confirmed that Sri Lankan authorities had a dossier documenting about 15 trips she had made to the country over 15 years.

"I was surprised but clearly they had been working to prepare that I think," she said.

Park and Worthington believe the interrogation was linked to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka later this month.

They said they were told they were making more trouble for authorities in the lead-up to CHOGM.

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance federal secretary Christopher Warren, who is Park's husband, said it was a great relief to see her.

"Even though I kind of knew it would all be all right ... you just never know what is going to happen," he said. "Things can always go wrong at the last minute."

Sri Lankan information minister Keheliya Rambukwella told local journalists on Thursday the two Australians had arrived in the country as tourists, but were instead engaging in "anti-government activism".

"We have no personal interest in the two individuals but they have broken the visa conditions," the minister said.

"We are treating them according to the law. That means they will be sent back."

The IFJ said in a statement the women's passports were confiscated on Wednesday and although they agreed to leave Sri Lanka the following day, before their scheduled departure on Friday, they were later told they could not leave.

The IFJ has denied the women were involved in any anti-government activities or breached their visa conditions.