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SRI LANKA: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL TO HOLD VIGIL TO MARK THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF RENOWNED JOURNALIST’S DETENTION

04 Mar 2009 19:53 GMT

Published by: Asia Pacific Youth Network

<strong>
Sri Lankan High Commission, London, 1-2pm, Friday 6 March 2009</strong><div>
<p>Amnesty International will hold a vigil to mark a year of custody of Sri Lankan Sunday Times journalist and human rights defender Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam at the Sri Lankan High Commission, London, on Friday 6 March. </p>
Amnesty International considers Tissainayagam to be a prisoner of conscience detained for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression and his legitimate activities as a journalist.</div><div>
He was charged with "aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation". The only material evidence against Tissainayagam relates to two articles covering the Sri Lankan conflict and a confession, which is believed to have been taken under duress.</div><div>
The situation in Sri Lanka has long since passed critical and media workers there are facing increasing persecution. Since 2006, 14 have been killed and others have been arbitrarily detained, tortured or otherwise ill-treated and allegedly disappeared.</div><strong>
<p>To arrange an interview during the vigil with Yolanda Foster, Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka researcher, please call Amnesty International’s press office on +44 207 413 5566. </p></strong><div>
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<p>Public Document </p></div>

Sri Lankan High Commission, London, 1-2pm, Friday 6 March 2009

Amnesty International will hold a vigil to mark a year of custody of Sri Lankan Sunday Times journalist and human rights defender Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam at the Sri Lankan High Commission, London, on Friday 6 March.

Amnesty International considers Tissainayagam to be a prisoner of conscience detained for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression and his legitimate activities as a journalist.

He was charged with "aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation". The only material evidence against Tissainayagam relates to two articles covering the Sri Lankan conflict and a confession, which is believed to have been taken under duress.

The situation in Sri Lanka has long since passed critical and media workers there are facing increasing persecution. Since 2006, 14 have been killed and others have been arbitrarily detained, tortured or otherwise ill-treated and allegedly disappeared.

To arrange an interview during the vigil with Yolanda Foster, Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka researcher, please call Amnesty International’s press office on +44 207 413 5566.

END/

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SRI LANKA: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL TO HOLD VIGIL TO MARK THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF RENOWNED JOURNALIST’S DETENTION

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