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Please Mr President

Jaffna Press Club writes to President Maithripala Sirisena calling for an impartial inquiry into journalist murders and missing persons

With the assassination of journalist Mylvaganam Nimalarajan in 200, setting the stage for violence against Tamil journalists, the path was opened for many to go missing or be killed in the North-East, ever since. In particular, many journalists have been killed in the Jaffna Peninsula. Some have gone missing. Other media workers have also been killed or gone missing and Media organisations have been attacked several times.

At the same time, many journalists were killed and gone unidentified in the Vanni during the war period. Even today, there is a continued narrative wherein those who have been killed are not acknowledged as journalists. In particular, there is no verifiable information whatsoever about missing and dead journalists during the final stages of the war.

Not a single inquiry has been undertaken into the unlawful killings and abductions which have taken place. After the initial stage inquiries, they have been left pending. Yet, several different parties have come into power and have initiated Commissions to appear as if they are undertaking inquiries and by claiming that these Commissions will bring about resolutions, have instead destroyed the statements and testimonies of colleagues of the killed or missing. To this day, we still cannot learn what has happened to those Commissions or their reports.

In relation to fellow journalist Prageeth, you have proclaimed that inquiries into missing people will recommence. The Jaffna Press Club wholeheartedly welcomes this announcement. But we hope that it will not merely be an inquiry in name and will be left pending as before.

While speaking of Prageeth, we must emphasise the need for inquiries about the disappearance of Ramachandran in Jaffna and journalists and media workers who have gone missing from the Vanni. We would also like to stress the need for inquiries into the murders of all journalists and media workers, and that those responsible must be brought to justice.

However, we have no faith in inquiries undertaken with the same security mechanisms related to journalist killings and abductions as was done in earlier instances. Therefore we would like to clarify our demands for inquiries carried out under the scrutiny of impartial international media organisations.

That man in khaki...

He lived many years ago. If my memory serves me right, say up to the late eighties, he wore a brown pair of khaki shorts and a brown khaki shirt. A pair of black shoes and socks, and also a brown hat.

On rainy days, he wore a black raincoat. He rode a bicycle which had red mudguards. He had a brick coloured thick bag in which all the articles were carefully kept. On his hat, and shoulders the three letters G.P.O. (General Post Office) were inscribed. He was known to everyone and was a friend to the villagers. People knew the time he would arrive because of his punctuality.

He peddled down smooth roads as well as down gravel muddy roads. Inside his bag there were ordinary letters, registered letters, official letters and foreign letters and parcels too. In the past, communication was only through letters. He was a man in need.

In the past, the mail bus or mail train did not hand over mail or accept mail if the person in charge of the mail was not in full uniform.

This well- dressed man in khaki who did yeoman service to the Postal Department was the postman of yesteryear. I am sure the older generation will remember him with a smile on their faces.

This uniformed government servant was known as ‘Piyum Mahattaya’ by the elders and ‘Piyum Mama’ by the young ones in the villages.

Lilina Dekumpitiya
Moratuwa