Subramaniam Ramachandran
Encyclopedia
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 by some individuals in Vadamarachchi
, north of Jaffna
. He was 37 years old. Eyewitness claimed that he was held in an 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.
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 His disappearance is part of a series of disappearances of Tamils in Jaffna which is under Army control.Subramaniam 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..
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.
the press freedom organization added.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
newspaper Yarl Thinakural and Valampuri. He also ran a Private School. He has been missing since he was arrested by some individuals in Vadamarachchi
Vadamarachi
Vadamarachchi is one of the three historic regions of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka. The other two regions are Thenmarachchi and Valikamam. Vadamarachchi is sometimes spelt Vadamarachi, Vadamaraachi or Vadamaraadchi.-Etymology:...
, north of Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
. He was 37 years old. Eyewitness claimed that he was held in an Sri Lankan Army
Sri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
camp. Furthermore, Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
claimed that they are beyond any doubt that the Sri Lankan Army
Sri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
was involved in his disappearances.
Background
This 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. Free Media MovementFree Media Movement
The Free Media Movement is media freedom watchdog organization of Journalists from Sri Lanka.It evolved out of the standing committee of journalists, which was formed in late 1991. The standing committee was formed by a group of journalists and media personnel as a reaction to the then government...
an International Federation of Journalists
International Federation of Journalists
International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, is a global union federation of journalists' trade unions—the largest in the world. The organization aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists...
associate reported that newspapers like Sudor Oli and Thinakkural
Thinakkural
Thinakkural is a Tamil newspaper published in Sri Lanka. There have reported number of attempts to force the paper to stop its distribution in recent times....
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 His disappearance is part of a series of disappearances of Tamils in Jaffna which is under Army control.Subramaniam 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..
Incident
Subramaniam 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 ArmySri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
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.
Reaction
The RSF appealed for his release.the press freedom organization added.