MR pardons Tissainayagam

3 May 2010 05:40 am - 46 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Sumaiya Rizwi

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to pardon journalist J.S. Tissainayagam who is out on bail after being convicted on 31 August 2009 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris told reporters a short while ago. He was given pardon on World Press Freedom Day which falls today.

“The President has taken this decision in view of World Press Freedom Day,” Prof. Peiris said and added that the decision to pardon Mr. Tissanayagam coincided with the discussion on the need to amend the emergency regulations.

Tissainayagam was convicted on three counts including editing, printing and distributing the publication North Eastern Monthly magazine during the period between June 1, 2006 and June 1, 2007. He was arrested in March 2008 and released on bail in January this year.

He stands charged on the count of inciting communal disharmony which was an offence punishable under Prevention of Terrorism Act. He was also convicted for collecting money to run the magazine and thereby furtherance of terrorism, an offence punishable under Emergency Regulations.

Tissainayagam was arrested in March 2008 when he visited the Terrorist Investigation Department in search of his colleague and publisher V. Jasikaran. He was held without charge for almost six months and then on August 25, he was charged with writing to incite ethnic disharmony.

The trial lasted one and a half years and Mr. Tissainayagam was convicted for 20 years hard labour on August 31. The case attracted attention within and outside the island nation. U.S. President Barrack Obama had said that he was concerned about threats against the media the world over, and mentioned the plight of Sri Lankan journalist J. S. Tissainayagam who has been detained for over a year. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 46

Monday, 03 May 2010 08:54 AM

He has shown his class long before :D

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:25 AM

first we have to appreciate the good things and criticise other things later

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:26 AM

who knows that ekneligoda hid himself to discredit our mother lanka.

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:29 AM

He is a LTTE Supporter no doubt about that. This country should be very strict if you want to develop. No body should write any thing whick make rises of Coumunal violances.

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:30 AM

i agree with you. he was clearly convicted by the court there was a mistake by his lawyers. MR shows good buddhist philosophy.

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:40 AM

Goog move Mr. President

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:47 AM

At last MR thought of it at this stage; should come forward to protect all Sri Lankan Journalists.

Monday, 03 May 2010 08:06 AM

Since he has pardoned a double-murderess who is the wife of a cabinet minister, this is nothing so great. He should also pardon General Fonseka as he is now a member of the parliament.

Monday, 03 May 2010 08:08 AM

Freeing a man or animal is a great good act, a pina, blessed be the President.

Monday, 03 May 2010 08:46 AM

at last it seems MR is working truly like a national leader. This is good news for this country. Lets pray that MR will have the wisodm to lead this counry without malice or revenge in the coming 7 years. We have had enough of revenge taking by leaders of this country for past 30 years.

Monday, 03 May 2010 08:50 AM

President can pardon anybody only if he or she is found guilty by a court of Law not before that. Pardoning before that amounts to interfereing with the legal system and charges should not be brought in the first place.

Monday, 03 May 2010 08:54 AM

Of course he is, trying to be a good boy :D

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:24 AM

It is time to release all unlawful detainees and show the world that we respect human rights. Be a country among the true democracies in the world.

Monday, 03 May 2010 08:58 AM

Brilliant move by Govt. or do you prefer otherwise ????

Monday, 03 May 2010 09:02 AM

they have already started it with GAS Prices ;)

Monday, 03 May 2010 09:06 AM

Only a Kangaroo court would have convicted him, so the pardon is merely a mockery of the word

Monday, 03 May 2010 10:22 AM

exactly!

Monday, 03 May 2010 10:26 AM

Exactly.He is out on bail to fight his case as he was sick and unable to get proper medication.Only goes to show he was charged unjustly.

Monday, 03 May 2010 10:29 AM

HE IS AN INNOCENT JOURNALIST,, " WHAT IS THERE TO PARDON "

Monday, 03 May 2010 10:30 AM

Suckers born every minute...

Monday, 03 May 2010 10:40 AM

What is the good he doing this after Tissa suffered so much for false implication

Monday, 03 May 2010 10:45 AM

After having him charged, then release him. What is so good in it.

Monday, 03 May 2010 11:22 AM

PAY HIS 100 MILLION RUPEES COMPENSATION FOR THE HARRASMENTS HE HAD UNDERGONE FOR FALSE CHARGESS.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:22 AM

MR asks for Opposition Support? Then why did ITN make programmes against Ranil?

Monday, 03 May 2010 05:46 AM

Let Tissanayagam pardon MR, on his ugly arrest

Monday, 03 May 2010 05:53 AM

MR has to pardon SF also as he has done a great job in Sri Lankan history.

Monday, 03 May 2010 05:54 AM

Is President trying to hoodwink International community to extend GSP + ????

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:02 AM

What happened to Pradeep Eknaligoda?

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:04 AM

Well done MR. You have showed the world your class.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:05 AM

The Int. Community will not pardon Sri Lanka until Ekneligoda is found. MR should use his presidential powers to find him.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:07 AM

Something very wrong with the Law in SL. we need an overhaul of the Law concepts. there Too old and borrowed from Europe mainly. That's why Mr had to interfer to correct the system.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:08 AM

Pardon for what crime? Please elaborate.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:09 AM

What is going on with the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda?

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:16 AM

This is crazy. I am not against Tissa, a innocent journalist who express his views
Why is MR pardoning Tissa, after being convicted guilty by the court.
There is no need of a judiciary system if the president can overrule and make ad hock decision such as this.
After all MR and Tissa are both humans, not GOD and EVIL.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:19 AM

Too late but happy news.

Monday, 03 May 2010 05:46 AM

who has done the crime? It should be other way around.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:32 AM

Is there a need to pardon him? The Courts released him on bail because the prosecution could not sustain the charges against him. The CID/TID was unable to find reasonable/reliable evidence in support of the purported charges!

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:39 AM

Only if SF makes a confession of his sins committed against his former Boss, i'm sure he too will get a pardon to count his blessings & gifts received during his service to SL Govt which he never disputed or returned even though he calls the govt corrupt.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:40 AM

Comments show how negative people are. Now some people say that MR is trying to please IC. If he had done that we would not have seen the end of war in our life time. Be reasonable. When somebody does someting good accepet it gracefully.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:41 AM

Why should MR pardon someone whom the courts have branded as a traitor to the nation? Just goes to show that all is not right in SL.

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:46 AM

Good Start Mr.President

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:53 AM

Now that we have a country free from war and a President elected with a good majority, we should all get together and do what ever we can and improve the country to get it back to what it was and help the poor people who cant afford to have a proper meal

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:00 AM

For once He has made the right decision. Please follow suite with the others Mr. President.

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:10 AM

today is press freedom day...

seems like a cover up to show that there still is press freedom in SL.....

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:15 AM

Jolly good, if MR pardons Mervin Silva its no wonder that he can pardon the journalist. anyway what did he do wrong????

Monday, 03 May 2010 07:15 AM

President felt the Pressure by International community So he pardons Tissa, but keeps mum about Pradeep Ekneliyagoda,

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MR pardons Tissainayagam

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