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IFJ
wants fair, transparent judicial process for Tissainayagam
AI
says yet to get prescribed glasses
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) yesterday urged
Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that a fair and transparent
judicial process is applied to senior Tamil journalist J.S.
Tissainayagam, who continues to be detained by the Terrorist
Investigation Division (TID) without formal charges.
A magistrate is due to issue a decision on June 30 in the
case of the editor of the OutreachSl.com news website, who
has been detained since March 7. A ruling will also be delivered
on N. Jesiharan, owner of E-Kwality printers, and his partner
Valarmathi, who have been held since March 6 this year.
The expected rulings follow a court appearance by Tissainayagam
and Jesiharan at Colombo’s Court No. 1 on Monday, according
to the Free Media Movement (FMM), an IFJ affiliate.
“Tissainayagam has been held without charge for 107 days.
Under the Emergency Regulations Act, detainees must appear
before a court upon completion of a 90-day detention order.
However, the TID had previously failed to present him for
scheduled court hearings due to purported administrative delays,”
IFJ said in a statement.
In court on Monday, Tissainayagam’s lawyer, Subandiran,
argued that Sections 19 and 21 of the emergency regulation
in force further required that detainees must be transferred
to fiscal custody (that is, removed from TID special detention
into general detention) upon completion of a 90-day detention
order.
The court also heard allegations that Jesiharan had suffered
torture in detention. Grave concerns are held for his welfare.
“The prolonged detention of Tissainayagam, without explanation,
breaches the basic human right to justice,” IFJ Asia-Pacific
said.
“Fair judicial process must be applied to Tissainayagam,
and all cases, without exception,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International (AI) in an appeal made on
Monday, called for Tissainayagam’s immediate and unconditional
release, unless he is charged with a recognizably criminal
offense before an independent court.
AI also called on the authorities to ensure Tissainayagam
is not tortured or ill-treated, and that he is allowed unrestricted
access to his family, a lawyer of his choice, an independent
court and any specialist medical treatment he may require.
The international human rights organisation pointed out that
Tissainayagam has not yet been given the glasses which an
eye specialist prescribed for him on 9 May, to prevent further
deterioration of his sight. Nor has he seen a specialist since
then to determine whether the condition of his eyes has changed.
“He is at risk of going blind if he does not receive
this treatment. J.S Tissainayagam has only been allowed to
see his lawyer twice since he was detained, over three months
ago. Both times a TID officer was present,” Amnesty International
added in its appeal.
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