Condemning the brutal attack on journalist Vishwalingam Vishwachandran!
On the morning of November 28, 2021, journalist Vishwalingam Vishwachandran was subject to a brutal attack in Mullaitivu while engaging in media reporting. The barbaric attack was carried out with a palm stick wrapped in barbed wire while the victim was taking photographs of the Mullivaikkala name board. Eyewitnesses said that the attack was carried out by a group of army soldiers who were stationed at the scene. It is reported that journalist Vishwalingam Vishwachandran, who is also the treasurer of the Mullaitivu Media Club, has been admitted to the Mullaitivu District Hospital with serious injuries and is receiving treatment.
Mullaitivu journalists have lodged a complaint with the Mullaitivu Police with photographic evidence of the attackers. When inquired about this, the Mullaitivu Police Headquarters Inspector said that investigations have been initiated into the incident. He further said that steps will be taken to send the relevant details of the attack to the Police Media Spokesman and further details should be sought from the Police Media Spokesman. Journalists in the North and East, in particular, have been subjected to constant harassment and it is unfortunate that they have not been brought to the attention of government officials, including the IGP, from time to time.
The Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions (FMETU), a member organization of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), strongly condemns the brutal attack on journalist Vishwalingam Vishwachandran. We consider this attack as an attack on the right of all journalists to report freely. We urge all government officials, including the IGP, to bring those responsible for the attack under the law immediately and to take all possible measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
