Tissainayagam honoured with Peter Mackler Award

By Raisa Wickrematunge

On Friday, October 2, J.S Tissainayagam received the first Peter Mackler Award for courageous and ethical journalism, as announced by the Global Media Forum and the US branch of Reporters Without Borders.

Ronatte Asirwatham, Tissainayagam’s wife spoke at the ceremony, held in Washington D.C.

In her speech, Asirwatham said she was “honoured and humbled,” to be receiving the award on behalf of her husband.

“Today my husband is continuing to teach me courage and grace in difficult times,” Asirwatham said.

A gentle man

She described her husband as, “a gentle man. A man who has never hurt or intended to hurt anyone. And I miss him.” Asirwatham added that her husband always strove to treat fellow human beings with kindness and dignity.

She bemoaned the fact that her husband had been incarcerated for half of their three years of marriage.

Asirwatham appealed to the President to free her husband. “I hope he will be released and we will be reunited soon,” Asirwatham concluded.

The Peter Mackler Award is given to those journalists who fight courageously and ethically to report the news.

Tissainayagam was sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment, on August 31 for ‘creating communal disharmony’ as a result of certain articles in the magazine North Eastern Monthly.

On September 25, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) announced that Tissainayagam would receive an International Press Freedom Award.

Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam is a name that has saturated the news lately. Some applauded the sentence passed by the High Courts on August 31. Others, hearing of the landmark judgment, saw it as a death-knell to freedom of speech.

Peter Mackler Award

 Tissainayagam was therefore alternately viewed as a terrorist, or a man trying to do his job to the best of his ability.

Not long after Tissainayagam’s sentence, the Global Media Forum and the US branch of Reporters Without Borders announced that he was the winner of the Peter Mackler Award, for Courageous and Ethical Journalism.

On September 25, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) announced that Tissainayagam would be the recipient of an International Press Freedom Award. CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon, speaking of the award recipients, said, “These journalists are being honored not only because they embody what CPJ stands for, but because they have fought against injustice to uphold the values of press freedom. Imprisonment, harassment, and threat of death cannot deter these extraordinary journalists from continuing their work.”

High praise indeed. For obvious reasons, Tissainayagam will not be able to personally receive his award.

But the question must be asked. Is this flood of media attention and international awards warranted? After all, it must be remembered, Tissainayagam was sentenced to 20 years Rigorous Imprisonment, and one can hardly question a judgement in a court of law.

Tissainayagam as we all know was arrested for inciting racial disharmony as a result of certain articles published in the magazine, North Eastern Monthly. The articles contained a couple of sentences condemning the Government’s treatment of Tamil civilians. He was additionally accused of LTTE funding.

Opinion varies

So were those articles mere terrorist propaganda? Opinion varies according to who you ask.

Take Sunil Jayasekara, Secretary to the Free Media Movement. He said, “Tissainayagam was jailed for writing two letters in a monthly magazine. People have completely forgotten how he wrote articles on behalf of the Sinhalese in 1988 and 89. It’s very sad that for such a small issue, he was given a sentence of 20 years rigorous imprisonment. But the fact that he was recognised internationally with an award is beneficial to media freedom.”

President of the Editor’s Guild, Manik De Silva, said “I was happy that award was made at a time when a most excessive jail term was imposed. In that sense, I’m pleased that (Tissainayagam) received this award, which focused attention on his plight.” 

De Silva hoped that appeals that have been made on Tissainayagam’s behalf by various journalists’ and other organisations will be heeded, noting that Tissainayagam had been in custody for one and a half years and is in indifferent health. “All of us hope this matter will be looked at in a humane manner with all relevant circumstances taken into account,” he said.

US President Barack Obama referred to Tissainayagam as an “emblematic example,” of an unjustly persecuted journalist recently. Amnesty International criticised the court decision, and religious leaders Anglican Bishop Duleep de Chickera and Buddhist monk Ven. Samitha Thera clamoured for his release. Yet many members of the general public see Tissainayagam as a terrorist, or a journalist who went a few steps too far and thus had to pay the price.

Despite this, on November 24, Tissainayagam will be honoured in a New York ceremony, along with Mustafa Abdinur (Somalia), Naziha Regiba (Tunisia) and Eynulla Fatullayev (Azerbaijan).

“The pen is mightier than the sword,” goes the popular aphorism. It could be argued that journalists have the power to influence public opinion. So at what point does a written opinion become treasonous? At what point does exercising one’s right to freedom of speech cross over into creating communal disharmony? Did Tissainayagam cross that line? The High Court says he did. The CPJ, it seems, begs to differ.

Sri Lankans face forced removal from Australia

On Thursday night the men were being flown from Christmas Island, where they have been detained since arriving in November, to Perth.

They are expected to be detained for two days before being placed on a commercial flight to Sri Lanka.

The men were part of a group of 12 whose boat reached Shark Bay, 800km north of Perth, before being spotted by campers. Two of the men have already returned home voluntarily.

The Australian understands the nine men were found by Department of Immigration and Citizenship to have come to Australia in search of work.

Another man from the group remains on Christmas Island where he is appealing the rejection of his asylum claim through the Federal Court.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans said none of the men would be in danger when returned to Sri Lanka.

“All protection issues raised by this particular group have been fully assessed against Australia’s international treaty obligations and there are no protection issues which would prevent their return to Sri Lanka,” he said.

But refugee advocate Ian Rintoul said it was outrageous the government was deporting one of the men, Sarath Tennakoon, after he claimed his life would be in danger if forced to return. In an interview with The Australian in August,  Tennakoon said he had told the Department of Immigration and Citizenship that his life was in danger after he was identified by the Tamil Tigers as a member of the air force intelligence unit in 2002.

“The appalling human rights abuses of the Sri Lankan government is well known to the world,” Rintoul said.

“It is too dangerous for anyone with problems with the Sri Lankan government, Tamil or Sinhalese, to be sent back.”

Rintoul said he was attempting to lodge a last-minute appeal to the Federal Court against Tennakoon’s deportation.

All nine men appealed against the department’s decision to the refugee review tribunal but were unsuccessful.

Slaughter of animals and World Animal Day 

By Risidra Mendis

Today is World Animal Day. But as Sri Lankans we need to take a look at what improvements have been achieved with regard to animal welfare in the country.

The slaughter of animals in public places and the inhumane slaughter of animals continues in a predominantly Buddhist country that is about to celebrate World Animal Day. A delay in the approval of the amended Animal Welfare Act in Parliament has also contributed towards the continued cruelty to animals.

While JHU MP Athuraliye Rathana Thero has accused some police officers of taking bribes from cattle thieves, the Mahanayakes of the Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters were at the centre of controversy when they approved the separation of two suckling baby elephants from their mothers at the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. The two Mahanayakes even allegedly approved the immense cruelty imposed on the two baby elephants by Diyawadane Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara in order to train them for future Kandy Esela Peraheras.

A lady down Frazer Avenue is constantly harassed by her non Buddhist neighbours for taking and looking after helpless strays from the streets. Two of her dogs were stolen allegedly by the complaining neighbours but were later found outside her gate. These are just a few of the hundreds of incidents reported in the country.  

Rights of animals

“There is a law in the country to protect the rights of animals. But unfortunately the relevant authorities are not using this law to arrest the culprits. Cattle are illegally taken from farmers for slaughter and killed in the most inhumane manner. I’m not happy with the work done by some police officers and urge the IGP to take immediate measures to solve this problem,” Rathana Thero said.

“There are many animal welfare organisations in the country. However these animal welfare organisations are confined to Colombo. Due to a lack of animal welfare oganisations in the outstation areas, animals suffer immense cruelty at the hands of humans. The lack of awareness among villagers on animal welfare has also resulted in many animals suffering. When a lorry transporting illegal cattle is seized by the police there is nobody to give the animals some grass and water. This is not because the villagers are cruel towards animals but because they don’t realise that these animals are starving and haven’t had any food and water for days. When we tell these villagers to help these animals by giving them some food and water they willingly do. At such times even the police are helpless and cannot help these innocent animals,” Animal Rights Activist Irangani De Silva said. 

She added that when illegal cattle are seized by the police there is no proper place to keep them. “But thanks to Omalpe Sobitha Thero we now have a place in Embilipitiya. If not for this cattle orphanage I would have to take all these cattle home. The Munneswaram Kovil recently slaughtered 200 goats in the presence of police officers as part of a religious ritual. The police could have stopped this slaughter as it is against the law to slaughter animals in public places. Large swords were used to cut the throats of these innocent animals in front of devotees,” De Silva explained.

Human elephant conflict

According to De Silva some people think of saving a cow or bull from slaughter when they are diagnosed with an incurable disease. “It is only then that they remember that an animal is on the verge of being slaughtered. Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka is yet to solve the human-elephant conflict. Hundreds of elephants are dying due to electrocution, poison and gun shot wounds. The elephant is an endangered species and will soon be extinct if speedy measures are not taken to protect them. Even the dogs that serve in the forces for many years are not given the welfare they deserve. After retirement these police dogs are auctioned. Most often it is drug addicts and people interested in making money who buy these dogs. Maximum use is got out of these dogs by breeding them. Constant breeding is too much of a strain on these dogs and results in early deaths,” de Silva said.             

She added that a small adjustment in the Animal Welfare Act has prevented the slaughter of pregnant cows, milking cows and buffaloes. “However some police officers and lawyers are still not aware of the amended laws. This ignorance is the result of a cattle mafia in the country. Those who steal cattle for slaughter have gone to the extent of threatening those who file legal action and help save these animals from slaughter,” de Silva said.

“There are so many issues with regard to animal cruelty in the country. The inhumane slaughter of cattle and goats among others and parrots and pigeons kept in small cages as pets are just a few of them. But nobody has realised that to produce rice out of paddy has resulted in the killing of many tiny insects such as birds, butterflies, dragonflies and bees among others. These insects and animals are destroyed by the poisonous pesticides used by farmers. The use of pesticides has even affected the health of people.

“The genes of trees and animals are used to produce food. People are not aware that consuming this type of food will have long term repercussions. Even today deformed babies and animals are born in Anuradhapura and Puttalam due to the consumption of this type of food. If possible people should refrain from eating meat because apart from the cruelty it is healthy to be a vegetarian,” Ratna Thero explained.  

The Thero added that there is a law in the country to protect the rights of animals, but unfortunately the relevant authorities are not using this law to arrest the culprits. “Cattle are illegally taken from farmers for slaughter and killed in the most inhumane manner. Some police officers are known to take bribes from the cattle thieves. I’m not happy with the work done by some police officers and urge the IGP to take immediate measures to solve this problem,” Rathana Thero said.

Embark

Ambassador for World Animal Day, Otara Gunewardene said Embark was introduced by her to protect the welfare of animals. “Over 2000 dogs have been sterilized and many puppies re-homed. We have also rescued and cured many dogs and puppies taken from the streets. Breeding pedigreed puppies and keeping them in small cages for sale is the latest on animal cruelty. We were informed of six great-dane puppies who were in a very bad state because their owners couldn’t sell them. These puppies couldn’t even stand up. But unfortunately we were able to save only one puppy who is now doing fine,” Gunewardene said.  

Gunewardene added that money collected from the sales of Embark products are used for this type of work and said she will also support anybody and any organisations working towards animal welfare with the proceeds earned from Embark products.