Tamil journalist and writer Murugaiyah Thamilselvan was attacked on the A9 road in Kilinochchi town at around 5.30 p.m. on Boxing Day by unknown assailants.
Thamilselvan was on his way home from work in the evening when two individuals in a vehicle blocked him and tried to abduct him. When he resisted the abductors attacked him and fled the scene. Thamilselvan was taken to the Kilinochchi District Hospital for emergency treatment.
On Friday (27), the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) wrote to Sri Lanka's police chief asking for a "swift, thorough, and independent inquiry" to ensure “those responsible are held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
Thamilselvan has provided a statement to the police, confirming that he is able to identify the driver of the vehicle involved in the attack. But the Sri Lankan police so far failed to arrest the two abductors.
The freelance journalist has been reporting on political corruption, social issues confronting the public, administrative malpractice, corruption, environmental destruction, illegal drugs trade as well as soil and sand smuggling.
This incident is the latest in a long line against Tamil journalists. For decades, Sri Lanka has intimidated, threatened and even murdered journalists, particularly in the North-East for their work that has highlighted human rights abuses faced by Tamils. The lack of tangible action so far by the Sri Lankan police suggests the situation remains unchanged for Tamil journalists despite the change of government in Sri Lanka.
