Subramaniam Ramachandran is a minority Sri Lankan Tamil journalist for the Tamil newspaper Yarl Thinakural and Valampuri. He also ran a private school. He has been missing since he was arrested in Vadamarachchi north of Jaffna. He was 37 years old. Eyewitness claimed that he was held in a Sri Lankan Army camp. Furthermore, Reporters Without Borders claimed that they are beyond any doubt that the Sri Lankan Army was involved in his disappearances.[1] International Federation of Journalists lists his case in its campaign "Without a Trace" amongst the top 10 cases of enforced disappearances of media workers which still remains untraced in Asia Pacific.[2][3]
Subramaniam Ramachandran | |
|---|---|
| Disappeared | Jaffna ,Sri Lanka |
| Status | Missing for 17 years, 8 months and 28 days |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer(s) | Yarl Thinakural and Valampuri |
Background
editThis incident is part of acts of violence and intimidation against journalists and human rights activists taking place in areas controlled by the Sri Lankan government.[4] Free Media Movement an International Federation of Journalists associate reported that newspapers like Sudor Oli and Thinakkural have received threats from government aligned para-military groups demanding that their distribution be stopped and there were attempts to unofficially censure Tamil media organizations[5] His disappearance is part of a series of disappearances of Tamils in Jaffna which is under Army control.[6] Ramachandran had written an article about illegal sand trafficking which included the license numbers of the vehicles involved and the businessman's connections with certain officers. Ramachandran was also threatened by the Tamil Tigers in the past for having good relations with members of the security forces. The LTTE intelligence services are said to have investigated him in November 2006 after he took photos of a gathering organised in honour of its leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.[7]
Incident
editSubramaniam Ramachandran left the school he runs in Karaveddy along with a friend. When he arrived at the Kalikai Junction military camp he was stopped for questioning by the Sri Lankan Army soldiers. Subramaniam Ramachandran was taken inside the camp for questioning. However, his friend was allowed to leave. Further eyewitness stated that Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) cadres arrived in the army camp along with army informers. Several Jaffna based journalists confirm that he was being held in an army camp.[8]
Reaction
editThe RSF appealed for his release.
We appeal to the authorities to take action to locate and Ramachandran and have him released,
the press freedom organization added.
The fact that the government publicly acknowledges the participation of the security forces in kidnapping and forced disappearance is very worrying, but at the same time gives us hope that Ramachandran is still alive.
Personal life
editRamachandran known to be as a minority Sri Lankan Tamil journalist for the Tamil newspapers Yarl Thinakural and Valampuri. He also ran a private school. He has been missing since February 15, 2007 when he was arrested by Sri Lankan army in Vadamarachchi, north of Jaffna. He was 37 years old. Eyewitness claimed that he was held in a Sri Lankan Army camp. Furthermore, Reporters Without Borders claimed that they are beyond any doubt that the Sri Lankan Army was involved in his disappearances.[10][11] His parents died in 2023.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Army said to be holding tamil journalist who went missing five weeks ago". RSF. 23 March 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Bay, Web (29 August 2016). "Enforced journalist disappearances: IFJ counts the missing days / IFJ". IFJ. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Rajasegar, Selvaraja (16 February 2022). "The Brother Who Never Came Back: 15 Years Since the Disappearance of Subramaniam Ramachandran". Groundviews. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "Sri Lanka: Incommunicado detention/ fear of torture or ill-treatment/ detention without charge\n | Amnesty International". Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
- ^ "IFJ calls for end to brutal targeting of Tamil media workers". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
- ^ BBC White van 'terrorizes' Jaffna
- ^ "Reporters sans frontières - Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
- ^ Army said to be holding Tamil journalist who went missing five weeks ago
- ^ "Army said to be holding Tamil journalist who went missing five weeks ago". Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
- ^ "Reporters sans frontières - Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
- ^ Situation Reports: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka: Jaffna's media in the grip of terror
- ^ "Mother of disappeared journalist dies still in search of son". Tamil Guardian. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
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