Media ID is a threat to the security of journalists!
Mullaitivu-based journalist Jegadeeswaran Dishanth, 29, has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) alleging that he was constantly threatened by the security forces for reporting on issues related to the common good of the people.
He has lodged the complaint against the Mallavi police and Army personnel serving at the security post.
Mr. Dishanth, a resident of Nattankandal, Poovarasankulam, Kombawattakulam, Mullaitivu, says that his media freedom has been restricted due to intelligence surveillance.
He has made this complaint based on a recent incident, but he says that such threats have been made since 2015.
According to a complaint received from the people of the area, when they went to take a photo to cover the Nattankandal Bridge, they pointed out that the members of the military security post there had obstructed their activities and that they had faced many such incidents.
Describing the complaint to the Human Rights Commission, Mr. Dishanth said,
“I and another fellow journalist were on our way to cover the news in Mallavi and Pandianwewa when the soldiers at the army checkpoint stopped us and checked our luggage. Although they showed us their identity cards claiming to be journalists, they did not allow us to leave the place. A few hours later the army officer in charge of the area came and allowed us to leave. This is an impediment to our use of the media. ”
He further added that he was not able to act freely due to the continuous harassment by the security forces and was acting with the mentality that he would face a threat at any time. People tell their problems to journalists and ask for their help in solving them. But there is a conflict with the security forces in providing media coverage for such issues. The reason is that they think that the ideas raised by the people who have been suppressed by the security forces and have lost their freedom of speech may be a problem. Therefore, it is widely believed that obstructing journalists from covering public protests as well as covering events and taking photographs is a deliberate act.
He said that journalists working for the benefit of the people were being closely monitored and that when two individuals claiming to be members of the CID tried to obtain information from him, he asked them to show their identity cards and told him to come to the nearest army camp to obtain complete information. He says.
Deshanth said many were doing their part in the face of threats, fearing for their safety in the event of the loss of their two brothers in the war, and that despite a number of organizations being informed about this, no solution had been found.
Dishanth says that in some cases, the identity cards issued to journalists have become a problem for them and that the security forces are misbehaving in showing their identity cards and verifying their identities.
– Journalist Dishanth
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