[This article talks about the threats and often death is meted out to political opponents by the Rajapakse administration. One such method is to brand those who voice their own opinions `Sinhala Tigers`, legally harassing them and leave them to be murdered by mob or thug violence. There is important work being done to bring attention to the lives of those targeted and those dissapeared.]

The Committee for the Investigation of Disappearances (CID) say that political activists released after being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) are being threatned. Sri Lankan courts ordered the government on the 14th of February to free ten political activists detained for two years under anti-terrorism regulations.

10 trade unionists, media workers and peace activists who were detained following abduction under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) were released today after the state was unable to provide charges against them.

The Colombo Magistrate ordered that Attorney generals department to set free Sarath Kumar Fernando, Lasantha Ranjan Silva, Jagath Udaya Kumara, Udaya R Tennakoon, Krishna Priyan, Rohan Raj Mahendiran,Jagath Udaya kumara Ajith Kumara, RM Sarath and Suresh Kumara Dias who were abducted and later found in state detention. 15 out of the 25 originally detained are still held under the PTA.

The group was released after filing a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition challenging their detention.

It is rather frightening to note that sections of the media accused them as `conspiring with the Tamil Tigers to carry a terrorist attack against the government`

Media bias

State controlled as well as privately owned mainstream Sinhala media along with authorities accused them of supporting the LTTE.

The group was described by Sri Lankan media as `Sinhala Tigers`.

The then military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said the three have confessed to planning and carrying out attacks on behalf of Tamil Tigers.

In a press conference held in Colombo in February 2007, journalists were shown footages of suspects `confessing` to have worked with the Tamil Tigers to stage attacks in the south of the country.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders commenting on the `confession` stated that they appeared under heavy pressure.

`Confessions recorded in an unknown place by unknown people after arrests that look more like kidnapping have no legal validity,` said Reporters Without Borders.

Several media outlets carried accounts of `investigative reports` of a conspiracy with the Tamil Tigers by the group.

Neither the state nor the media carried those accusations have retracted their steps or given an explanation even after they were set free by courts.

Threat Today

Due to malicious propaganda by the government and the pro-Sinhala media, those who have been released by court orders are finding it difficult to go back home and lead a normal life. Almost everybody had to go into hiding as the majority Sinhala community in their hometowns has resorted to threatening behavior. One of the released detainees had bills posted around his house saying `should we allow Sinhala Tigers to be free?`

Until the government and the media comes out in public that those who were branded by them as `Sinhala Tigers` have been found `not guilty` the threat on their lives remain.

Therefore, we urge the Human Rights Community of the World to intervene in this matter and act to safeguard these activists who are being hounded for voicing their dissent.

Thank You

The following attorneys at law instructed by Desmond Fernando PC. appeared on behalf of the accused:

Chandrapala Kumarage, KS Ratnavale, Sujeewa Dissanayaka, Suranga Bandara, Manjula Pathiraja, Senaka Perera and M Samsudeen.

The FR was filed by Attorney at Law MA Sumandiram

CID takes this opportunity to thank all Human Rights Organizations, Trade Unions, media organizations, media and individuals who endeavored to highlight the actual facts surrounding the `Sinhala Tiger` issue and campaigned to get them released.

For Further Details

Chamil Jayanetthi 0094112 430621, Fax 0094112 305963
email: cid@worker.com, chamil.cool@gmail.com
Committee for the Investigation of Disappearances (CID)
Colombo, Sri Lanka