Tamil journalists, Kandasamy Bharathan and Thambithurai Pratheepan, were interrogated for six hours by Sri Lankan police at the occupying Palaly Station last week.
The questioning was linked to an alleged Facebook post that reportedly called for the ‘destruction of Tissa Vihara’ in Thayiddy, Jaffna, a controversial Buddhist temple at the centre of a growing Sinhalisation attempts in the region.
The interrogation of the journalists has intensified concerns about attacks and harassment of Tamil media personnel, particularly those covering human rights issues and government abuses. This is part of a wider pattern where Tamil journalists face ongoing threats/ Previously dozens have been murdered or disappeared under suspicious circumstances, yet with no accountability from the authorities.
This latest incident comes at a time when Tamil political leaders and activists are facing mounting pressure by the Sri Lankan security forces. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, a Member of Parliament from the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF), along with former MP Selvarajah Kajendran, TNPF Women’s Wing leader Vasuki Sudhaharan, and Velan Swamigal have all been summoned by the Sri Lankan police in connection to protests against the Tissa Vihara.
The summons is related to a series of protests that have taken place in Jaffna, spearheaded by Tamil political figures and displaced local. These protests, which are held every full moon day, demand the removal of Tissa Vihara, a Buddhist temple that has become a symbol of Sinhalisation in the region.
The Tissa Raja Maha Vihara, constructed in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna, has sparked significant opposition due to its illegal construction on private land, which is owned by Tamils. The presence of the temple in this region has been widely seen as part of the Sri Lankan government’s continued efforts to Sinhalise the Tamil homeland. Tamils have made it clear that the temple is part of an effort to undermine the identity and rights of the Tamil nation.
