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Human rights

Sri Lankan Authorities Intimidate Tamil Photojournalist Amid Ongoing Media Freedom Concerns

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the Sri Lankan authorities' intimidation of Tamil photojournalist and human rights advocate Kanapathipillai Kumanan. He was interrogated by the Sri Lanka Counter Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID) on August 17 after reporting on mass grave excavations in the country's Northern Province. Kumanan has been consistently harassed by authorities for his journalism, including being assaulted by police while reporting in 2019, threatened while investigating illegal logging in 2020, and summoned twice by police in 2022. The IFJ and its affiliate, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), urge the authorities to respect journalists' rights and uphold democratic values, including freedom of expression and the press.

Key Takeaways:

  • Tamil photojournalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan was interrogated by Sri Lanka's counter-terrorism police on August 17 over his reporting on mass grave excavations.
  • The police summons gave no reason for the inquiry but stated Kumanan's reporting was "disrespectful to the military" with the potential to incite unrest between the authorities and Tamil people.
  • Kumanan has faced ongoing harassment from authorities for his journalism, including being assaulted by police in 2019, threatened while investigating illegal logging in 2020, and summoned twice by police in 2022.
  • The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), condemn the intimidation and harassment of Tamil media workers and urge the authorities to ensure all journalists can work without fear of reprisal.
  • Kumanan has reported on a range of human rights issues, including environmental destruction, military land acquisition, and enforced disappearances since the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009.
  • The use of counter-terrorism apparatus to target journalists for their reporting is highly concerning and an effort to silence independent and critical media in Sri Lanka.

Statistics:

  • More than 140 skeletons were exhumed from mass graves in the Chammani and Kokkuthodvai sites in Sri Lanka's Tamil-majority north over 41 days.
  • Kumanan has been documenting human rights issues in Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war in 2009, reporting on environmental destruction, military land acquisition, and enforced disappearances.
  • The number of journalists facing harassment and intimidation by authorities in Sri Lanka is increasing, with a total of 5 journalists, including Kumanan, having received police summons or interrogation orders in the past 5 years.

Sources:

  • International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
  • Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA)
  • Facebook statement by Kanapathipillai Kumanan on August 18

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