Seven journalists attached to Tamil newspapers in the Northern province had been detained last night and questioned for over six hours by the law enforcement authorities sabotaging a workshop they were planning to attend in Colombo today, under charges of possessing marijuana.
The journalists had been en-route to Colombo to participate in a workshop last night. Tamil politician Gajendra Ponnambalam who has been tweeting on the incident claims the van had been tailed by the military since the group left Jaffna. According to his tweets the vehicle had been initially stopped at Mankulam and searched by the Army.
Thereafter the second stop had been made at the Omanthai checkpoint where three Army personnel had placed in the front seat of the van, which had been searched thereafter. During the search, a packet of marijuana had been recovered from the van. Ponnambalam’s tweets state that at least three journalists had witnessed the bag of cannabis being placed in the front seat of the van by the Army personnel.
The group had thereafter been taken to the Omanthai Police where they were questioned for over six hours. The journalists also state that although they attempted to lodge a complaint concerning their suspicions over the planting of evidence, the Omanthai Police did not accept it.
Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya commenting on the incident claims the checking was carried out after the officials at the Omanthai checkpoint received a tip on a possible transportation of heroin last night.
“About ten minutes later, this vehicle in question had approached the checkpoint and it had been stopped to be checked during which, a packet of marijuana had been recovered. The driver and the van has been detained but the other seven passengers have been released. It is unfortunate that they had to be journalists,” he said speaking at a media conference today.
He also rejected allegations of an Army official stationed at the check point planting the evidence and said it could not have happened since it was two Police officials who discovered the marijuana packet from the van.
Meanwhile, during a media conference organized by the Free Media Movement (FMM) today to raise objections over the harassment of the seven journalists, it was revealed that its Convener Sunil Jayasekara has been receiving death threats for holding the event.
“I received a call from an unknown number, which I could not dial back – and the individual on the other end said he will not let me live if I hold this press conference today,” he said adding that democracy and civil rights in Sri Lanka have been severely threatened presently and accused the Rajapaksa regime of attempting to turn journalists into puppets under their control.
Related posts;
Lapatiya / July 27, 2014
“Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya commenting on the incident claims the checking was carried out after the officials at the Omanthai checkpoint received a tip on a possible transportation of heroin last night”
What a nice Brigadier for Madamulana Rajapaksha Brigade.
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Peace Lover / July 27, 2014
The soldiers are just living upto the Sumansekera doctrine where all things are permissible post Nanthikadal by the rulers
Hats off to the great man K A Sumansekera for thinking of such a doctrine ;-)
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 27, 2014
A good experience I had At a Sri lanka’s Check point,
about 5 years back, One day when I was passing Sri Lanka’s Eastern province Major Check point,
we had to go on a line for the checking as we had some traveling bags full of Clothes.
As our baggage’s were checking, suddenly we heard Screech sounds of Vehicles Stopping and there were Higher ranking S L Armed Forces Officers in Land Rover Jeeps proceeding with their security Convoy of vehicles,
All of the officers at the Check point got in to attention and saluted the Officers of convoy’s.
When they are saluting, One of the Middle ranking officer’s peak cap fell down and In side the cap there were few small Cannabis packets scattered all over the place and
we noticed the faces of all Checking Armed forces personnel’s going pale in front of civilians but Women folks did not understand what the packets containing, but we did.
got idea, that either they are doing a good business of Marijuana or they are heavily addicts to Drugs.
So there is Nothing new at Major Check point Manning Army official stationed at the check point planting Marijuana or Heroin as There BOSSES are In the wHoLe SaLe BUSSINESS of Heroin and marijuana.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 28, 2014
Cool story bro. Can you tell us the one about “Thamizh Eezham” next :D
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 28, 2014
Siva Sankaran Sarma aka DAVID B.
What about Child Rapists and dead body rapists in the Armed forces and in the UPFA Political arena with Patronage of Jarapassa, His clan and Supporting Goons like You, Another Thrown out Shit piece of Armed Forces of S L.
why not pay a pros and calm down after ejection like your bosses?.
[ once they,Armed Forces of S L, were reputed security institutions with gentle men, but when you, ball suckers, and dead body rapists, enlisted, they become male and female brothels ].
are you proud of your bosses, rank and file.
what a shame D B.
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Samitha / July 27, 2014
Sri Lankan Army and Sri Lankan Police – Bugs from Fa-Gota’s toilet seat…Enjoy the toilet while it lasts…The end is near
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Mallaiyuran / July 27, 2014
What kind of Journalist are these guys to have a packet of cigarette box containing Kudu in the van they were travelling? How courageous they are to do a business that directly compete with the Royal Government?
Secret service vehicle has been following them all the way they started the trip. None of them felt like that they may get caught so they have to do something about it instead of allowing to sit under the driver seat?
That is not all, after they were checked at Mankulam, they did not feel like it was narrow escape, so they should take and throw it in the jungle before they reach Omanthai?
None of the journalist were checked at a medical facility for drug abusing, So it appears the crime has been automatically commuted to the driver. Well Then what kind of a driver he is? Does he knows, before he pick up the journalist, he need to cleans the van? Does he know so far the journalist will not have easy passage though check points?
It was carried so publicly, somebody had seen it. They called the Omathai check point and gave the information. At last these guys(noe it is only the driver) were arrested. That kind of idiots are these journalists and the driver.
Is that one of his friends(or competitors) has been framed as the informant? Is that how the other guy gave a complain about this guy carrying of Kudu in his van?
What ever the trick was played by the Royal Government, a big project to frame the journalist as drug users and arresting from going to Colombo workshop has failed. I do not know who is that poor woman who was thinking some money going to come home, now has to redeem the this man from the torture chambers and admit at hospital. Nobody knows if he will be allowed to go to hospital? Who knows even Thalikodi is left this family to pawn and do this things?
This not a country. It is worse than hell!
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Backlash / July 27, 2014
The Rajapakses have no compunction in the country being considered as a Police State where fearless journalists are in the front line of open attack. The UN, AI and all Organisations, concerned with the safe conduct of governance along democratic lines, should protest. This is tacit admission by GoSL the Northern Province is under the heel of the military with civilians having absolutely no rights or safety – notwithstanding the guarantees under the so called “Constitution”
Backlash
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ajith / July 27, 2014
It is an example to show how our security system is good at finding the criminals smuggling drugs. We can now completely trust how the investigations of war crimes by this govt with the international monitors is going to find the true war criminals. We know how our soldiers liberated over 300000 Tamils without using weapons and without even a spending a single injury to any Tamils. Our soldiers never fail to the orders of our President or his brother. They said not to use weapons. They fought the war with the Buddha’s preaching given by Mahinda and Gota.
Lord Buddha, don’t cry. If you cry you won’t get water from your eyes, it will be blood. Water will not flow on Mahaweli Ganga, It is blood on Ganga.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 27, 2014
Good work by the security forces. Run of the mill criminals have been getting away with using the guise of being “journalists” and “activists” as cover for far too long.
“Gajendra Ponnambalam claims..”
Hehehe. It would be prudent to take what any spawn of the Ponna family says with a grain of salt.
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Tamil from the north / July 27, 2014
Siva Sankaran Sarma, why don’t you walk around in your remote village called Hambantota, try your best and find a stick, set it nicely on the ground sitting vertically and then sit on it and rotate. :)
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 27, 2014
This must be a new ritual We Thamizh Hindus are engaging in – I understand the need for an alternative when there aren’t enough meat hooks or lemons to hang off pierced unmentionables :D
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Tamil from the north / July 29, 2014
Idiot Sivasankaran sarma drew up another wrong conclusion. I am not a hindu. Not every Tamil is a hindu you fool. But I have to agree with Native V about you damaging your brain which is sitting not in your skull but in your arse.
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Native Vedda / July 27, 2014
Tamil from the north
“try your best and find a stick, set it nicely on the ground sitting vertically and then sit on it and rotate”
This is cruel.
Are you advising him to damage his brain?
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Duhwood Blocker / July 27, 2014
Siva Sankaran Blacker Sarma
David, you keep turning up like a bad penny. Your boss the Goat is like a bull in a China
Shop. When will the fool ever learn that there are more subtle ways of gathering
Information? Everytime the Goat let’s incidents like this to take place
It’s the country that gets a bad name. What made you come out of hibernation Blacker?
Money? :)
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Native Vedda / July 27, 2014
Duhwood Blocker
Good to hear from you.
“What made you come out of hibernation Blacker”
What made you come out of hibernation Duhwood Blocker?
Is Siva Sankaran Blacker Sarma Menon getting into your nerves?
He hoped he would never see establishment of International Commission to investigate war crimes and crime against humanity. He fought good fight in these forums and elsewhere demanding evidence.
Probably he is now ready to provide evidence to commissions. Those who now zealously deny war crime will one day turn out to be the traitors who can be persuaded or even motivated to betray their colleagues and comrades.
Money is not the only reason for their treachery.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 27, 2014
Siva Sankaran Sarma, Alias Bxxx SXXXXr.
You Know Who are the Ponna FAMILY living on Sucking blood of Sri lankans,
They are your Sitting on the Brain, Looters Ponna Jarapassa Family.
Siva Sankaran Sarma,Alis Leela, Lorezo.
You are Another Ball sucker of them Supporting the Heroin Regime of Jarapassa looters.
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Peace Lover / July 27, 2014
@ Siva Snakaran ‘Blacker’ Sarma
Are you upset as your ex colleagues in the army has now got competition in the business?
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Saman / July 27, 2014
After Gen.Sarath Fonseka left Sri Lanka Army, now Sri Lanka Army has become a “Buffalo Solja” Army.
Now Army is been used to clean Parks, putting up Tents and cutouts, clean drains, sell vegetables and for road and park constructions.
It is not an Army anymore but a bunch of Labourers of dogs doing manial labor, working for a bunch of crooks.
Shame to say Sri Lanka Army anymore.
These clearly shows that Sri Lanka is governed by the Dictator family.
Journalists should file a case with Human rights commission on this matter.
Only option to face gone crazy Gota/ Mara thugs harasment is to face them direct face to face and never to bow down.
They try to intimidate journalists for submission using supressive tactics. This will not work in Sri Lanka. Not even in Palestine.
All should rally together to throw this Dictator family out.
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paul / July 29, 2014
What is opposition’s plan for the defence force personnel when they come back to power? Get the elaam war going again to keep them busy? Retrench?
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Spring Koha / July 27, 2014
Oh I say, this must have one helluva trip.
Are bookings open for the next one?
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jay pathbey / July 27, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Javi / July 28, 2014
Kotchi chee chee USA!
Your chemistry set has exploded!!
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Benjamin Bakalakakul / July 27, 2014
The incident is a strong message to all journalists –
if you displease those in power by writing or behaving
the way they dislike, there will be ganja or weapons
introduced to fix you. So comply or cut it out from
your copy.
That is the Wonder of Asia, the dhammadeepa of Lord
Mahinda and Emperor Gothabaya. Is there no God? If
there is one, why does not retribution catch up with
these cold blooded murderers?
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Tamodaya / July 27, 2014
If you are a Tamil journalist you can sell and transport drugs with impunity!
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Abhaya / July 27, 2014
I guess that explains where the fund run Colombo Telegraph comes from .. lamo
Cheers
Abhaya
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justice / July 28, 2014
The Rajapakse Terror Regime has perfected the art of intimidation and consequent incarceration of journalists.
Open brazen introduction of ganja onto a vehicle transporting journalists while they watch shows the ultimate contempt of the regime to those targeted.
This technique has been used hitherto by police who introduced weapons into homes of citizens who they wished to arrest, detain and torture.
This is the government which trumpets its adherence to Human Rights – there is even a “Commission” to “enforce” human rights.
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Omega / July 28, 2014
HRC is a white elephant and should be disbanded forthwith
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MirakRajBanda / July 28, 2014
Lasantha Wickramatunga happened to ba journalist to be killed unfortunately.
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Lanka Liar / August 1, 2014
Is it a good way to commit suicide
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paul / July 28, 2014
What is an Airline supposed to do when they receive a call “a bomb on board”? Assume it is Al-Qaeda hoax and ignore?
Similarly if the police or any other law enforcement agency receive a tip-off someone is carrying a dead body in the car-boot should they consider it a hoax and let them go?
What is the difference ( or bring them to the front of the queue) because they are on their way to an important meeting?
To me all this is empty talk.
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paul / July 29, 2014
What is opposition’s plan for the defence force personnel when they come back to power? Get the elaam war going again to keep them busy? Retrench?
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