For pursuing his profession and expressing his opinions, J.S. Tissainayagam, Editor of the erstwhile Outreachsl.com and columnist at The Sunday Times was sentenced to twenty years rigorous imprisonment under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Sri Lanka on 31st August 2009. Arrested and charged under Emergency Regulations, he has already languished in prison for over a year.

This is the first time the PTA has been used to sentence a journalist in Sri Lanka. We the undersigned strongly believe this is a dangerous legal precedent and that together with the PTA and Emergency Regulations, create a context deeply inimical to media freedom and the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.

Dear Mr. President,

With the end of war that ravaged Sri Lanka for thirty years, all Sri Lankans are keen to strengthen peace and reconciliation. The media plays a vital role in this long-term and challenging process. The trust and confidence you and your government enjoys must be used to revitalise democracy and heal the wounds of war.

Journalist Tissainayagam is an award-winning and highly respected journalist. Media freedom and the freedom of expression are corner-stones of democracy. We believe they are fundamentally important in the promotion of development, peace and reconciliation. A free media also supports vital discussions on the nature and scope of a political reform that your government is committed to.

We earnestly call upon to use your powers to pardon journalist Tissainayagam and take steps to free him. We believe your pardon will significantly strengthen local and international confidence in your government’s commitment to peace and reconciliation, and further, serve as a very positive marker of your intention to strengthen the freedom of expression in post-war Sri Lanka.
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Added by: freetissa on September 4, 2009, 1:22:15 am
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Free Tissainayagam!

For pursuing his profession and expressing his opinions, J.S. Tissainayagam, Editor of the erstwhile Outreachsl.com and columnist at The Sunday Times was sentenced to twenty years rigorous imprisonment under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Sri Lanka on 31st August 2009. Arrested and charged under Emergency Regulations, he has already languished in prison for over a year.

This is the first time the PTA has been used to sentence a journalist in Sri Lanka. We the undersigned strongly believe this is a dangerous legal precedent and that together with the PTA and Emergency Regulations, create a context deeply inimical to media freedom and the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.

Dear Mr. President,

With the end of war that ravaged Sri Lanka for thirty years, all Sri Lankans are keen to strengthen peace and reconciliation. The media plays a vital role in this long-term and challenging process. The trust and confidence you and your government enjoys must be used to revitalise democracy and heal the wounds of war.

Journalist Tissainayagam is an award-winning and highly respected journalist. Media freedom and the freedom of expression are corner-stones of democracy. We believe they are fundamentally important in the promotion of development, peace and reconciliation. A free media also supports vital discussions on the nature and scope of a political reform that your government is committed to.

We earnestly call upon to use your powers to pardon journalist Tissainayagam and take steps to free him. We believe your pardon will significantly strengthen local and international confidence in your government’s commitment to peace and reconciliation, and further, serve as a very positive marker of your intention to strengthen the freedom of expression in post-war Sri Lanka.

Yours sincerely,

Dharmasiri Lankapeli
General Secretary
Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU)
Sri Lanka
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Added by: freetissa on September 4, 2009, 9:07:53 am
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For pursuing his profession and expressing his opinions, J.S. Tissainayagam, Editor of the erstwhile Outreachsl.com and columnist at The Sunday Times was sentenced to twenty years rigorous imprisonment under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Sri Lanka on 31st August 2009. Arrested and detained under Emergency Regulations, he has already languished in prison for over a year.

This is the first time the PTA has been used to prosecute and sentence a journalist in Sri Lanka. We the undersigned strongly believe that this is a dangerous trend and legal precedent and that Emergency Rule create a context deeply inimical to media freedom and the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.

Dear Mr. President,

With the end of war that ravaged Sri Lanka for thirty years, all Sri Lankans are keen to strengthen peace and reconciliation. The media plays a vital role in this long-term and challenging process. The trust and confidence you and your government enjoy must be used to revitalise democracy and heal the wounds of war.

Journalist Tissainayagam is an award-winning and highly respected journalist. Media freedom and the freedom of expression are corner-stones of democracy and need to be strengthened in post-war Sri Lanka as vehicles that can promote development, peace and reconciliation. A free media also supports vital discussions on the nature and scope of a political reform that your government is committed to.

We earnestly call upon to use your constitutional power to pardon journalist Tissainayagam and take steps to free him. We believe that your pardon will significantly strengthen local and international confidence in your government’s commitment to peace and reconciliation, and further, serve as a very positive marker of your intention to strengthen the freedom of expression in post-war Sri Lanka.

Dharmasiri Lankapeli
General Secretary
Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU)
Sri Lanka
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Added by: freetissa on September 9, 2009, 7:58:07 am
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Added by: freetissa on September 17, 2009, 5:53:09 am
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