19 March, 2024

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Kaanamylnathan; 1 Out Of The 100 ‘Information Heroes’

For the first time ever, Reporters Without Borders is publishing a list of profiles of “100 information heroes” for World Press Freedom Day (3 May).Through their courageous work or activism, these “100 heroes” help to promote the freedom enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the freedom to “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” They put their ideals in the service of the common good. They serve as examples.“World Press Freedom Day, which Reporters Without Borders helped to create, should be an occasion for paying tribute to the courage of the journalists and bloggers who constantly sacrifice their safety and sometimes their lives to their vocation,” said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire.

M. V. Kaanamylnathan

M. V. Kaanamylnathan – Sri Lanka 

M. V. Kaanamylnathan had 50 years’ tough experience in journalism and had worked for every Tamil-language newspaper in Sri Lanka when he took the helm of the main Tamil daily Uthayan in 1985, two years after the civil war flared up. Dozens of members of the paper’s staff were among the conflict’s 100,000 dead. Bombings, shootings, grenade attacks and murders were used to try to silence a voice that tried to keep to a middle course between the central government and the Tamil rebels. Five years after the official end of the conflict, Kaanamylnathan, who himself escaped an attack in 2001, and his newspaper are still making waves. Last year, a series of articles on land seizures by the Sri Lankan army was followed by a brutal attack on the paper’s offices by six masked men.

Read the full list here

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Latest comments

  • 2
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    Kaanamylnathan’s name is omitted in the list of one hundred top journalists.
    Maybe the compilers of the list had never heard of him due to SL censorship.
    Cameron’s visit to the Uthayan office was not liked by the MR regime, & this maybe one reason.
    Uthayan reports the true happenings in the north,and this is anathema to the army.

  • 3
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    There is no question that Kaanamylnathan is a very brave man. He has taken a stand against the Sri Lankan state’s oppression of the Tamil people and keeps exposing the government despite the several attacks on his physical person.

    But he is a bad journalist who served the LTTE loyally, lying about the LTTE and its atrocities. He badly let down his readers by giving one side of the picture.

    The award of “Information Hero” to Kaanamylnathan undermines the award and makes one wonder what Reporters without Borders seeks to achieve and recognize.

    • 2
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      One wonders the motives of Reporters Without Borders are any different to other fronts such as AI, HRW, UNHRC who seem to be instruments of Neo-Con establishment/s.
      Bravery alone, in this instance, is insufficient to be accredited with a ’tiltle’ of Information Hero. The man’s intellectual honesty, unbiased and fair reporting too should too have been factors to consider. The total commitment to a terrorist, murderous outfit should have disqualified for any wortwhile recognition.

      • 2
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        lal loo

        I am disappointed that none of the laptop journalists names are included in this list. They should have included crusading Malinda Seneviratne in this list.

        Do you share my grief?

        • 0
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          Grievously, they erred in it.

          • 2
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            Buthalazy Mango

            Are you a mango eating descendant of Buddha’s Sakya clan or Zulu tribal chief?

            • 0
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              I felt awkward when you omitted to address me by my surname. I am a child of the ANC (The Anti National Coalition).

        • 1
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          Kaanamylnathan’s name is ‘kaanamal poyi’ in a list of eavesdroppers is so pathetic. Let his brave Gun Milling news waves devovour the shores of the covert Gota’s cold blooded rascals into oblivion.

  • 1
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    Will names of Assange and Snowden be included in this list?

    • 0
      1

      Idiot lal,
      Stop whining and read the list man – Asange is there

  • 1
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    Kaanamayilnathan is a Tamil LTTE terrorist. Oh well which Tamil is not a terrorist today, except ‘Dog’las, Karuna, KP and Pullaiyan ?
    The award should have gone to Malinda Seneviratne or Rajpal Abey. Reporters without Borders are another LTTE rump diaspora terrorist supporters.

  • 0
    0

    President’s way of ruling the country is simple. He protects and look after those ( Judges/ Journalists/ Politicians/Military men etc) who supports him and destroys those who do not toe his line. The country needs to be redirected towards law and order.

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