Journo barred from meeting

By dianne

21 November 2010 10:59 am - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A veteran Indian-American journalist was reportedly thrown out of a pro-LTTE meeting held in New Jersey by the organizers, who called him ‘an agent of the government of India and Sri Lanka,’ the PTI news agency reported today.

Dr Prakash M Swamy, a senior journalist of New York and a United Nations accredited correspondent, was allegedly manhandled and pushed out of the venue yesterday after being invited to cover the event by the organisers, Association of Tamils of Sri Lanka in the USA and Ilankai Tamil Sangam.

They also abused him as ‘an agent of the governments of India and Sri Lanka’ while forcibly pushing him out of the door in the cold though he pleaded that he had come all the way from New York to cover the event at their invitation, Swamy said in a release.

Swamy has written on the formation of Trans-national Government of Tamil Eeelam (TGTE) headquartered in New York in the Indian media especially for popular Tamil magazines such as Junior Vikatan.

The day-long programme included news worthy events like video conference from Chennai by Vaiko, MDMK leader.

"These are of great interest to Tamil readers both in the US and in India," he said. Swamy was forcibly escorted outside the ballroom and again asked to show his credentials.

He is also planning to complain to New Jersey Governor Chris Christy and New Jersey State Human Rights Commissioner for preventing a journalist from discharging his duties, Swamy added.

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Comments - 21

lovely Sunday, 21 November 2010 01:20 PM

Isn't the US fighting the war on Terror?

Chenamana Sunday, 21 November 2010 08:47 PM

whoever commented here have you had a thought about your backyard. This is the modaya sinhalese attitude.

Tangalle Tilak Sunday, 21 November 2010 06:41 PM

This is nothing. They are throwing their own supporters out through extreme paranoia and delayed shell shock. A name more apt - trance national

Pedro Sunday, 21 November 2010 04:32 PM

That is nonsense.

Praba Sunday, 21 November 2010 03:56 PM

Very good, send him here

Sapumal Sunday, 21 November 2010 02:49 PM

Junior Vikatan, a TN based magazine, tried its best to destroy the image of Sri Lanka when the SL Armed Forces were surrounding Killinochchi etc. I wonder why the pro-ltte guys throw out a journo from that 'friendly' magazine. Sri Lanka should consider banning this magazine as it is against the govt of Sri Lanka.

Gayan Sunday, 21 November 2010 02:45 PM

Media freedom USA style.

nagu Sunday, 21 November 2010 02:31 PM

LTTE still a facist organisation....

Roweena Sunday, 21 November 2010 02:11 PM

It wrong to believe Obama is pro LTTE. If he is, why Tigers are still a proscribed organisation in America? Tamil transnational organisation must be banned as well.

TERRENCE B. DE SILVA Sunday, 21 November 2010 01:57 PM

"IF THE LTTE "DID AWAY" WITH PRIME MINISTER RAJIV GHANDI WHAT'S A LITTLE "SHOOING AWAY" OF AN UNHEARD OF INDIAN-AMERICAN JOURNALIST?"

Ranjith Sunday, 21 November 2010 01:35 PM

USA is a country waiting to be next Somalia and this is one step for this. What they gave other swill recive them eventually.

Bird Eye Sunday, 21 November 2010 11:06 AM

It may be a racist gathering with hidden agenda.

Rohan Sunday, 21 November 2010 01:06 PM

Yo think in Srilankna he could have discharged his duties without inteference?

Sammy Sunday, 21 November 2010 12:34 PM

This reveals the character of the LTTE and their sycophants. To invite someone and then ill treat them is not a human trait.

Cobra Sunday, 21 November 2010 12:04 PM

But what baffles me is the fact that USA is encouraging pro-terrorist gatherings in a country that is going all out to rid itself of terrorism!

Dave Richards Sunday, 21 November 2010 11:47 AM

Not news... From its very beginning LTTE used to bite who supported them. Now they just throw people out into cold, earlier they executed.

Pottuvil putha Sunday, 21 November 2010 11:39 AM

He paid the price for not agreeing to report the events with the usual LTTE positive spin.

pd Sunday, 21 November 2010 11:35 AM

good lesson for this journo who went to give publicity to terrorist. he shud hv been more responsible. now can see true colours of these people! shame on USA for allowing this. wud they allow al-quaida to hold such a meeting??

sam Sunday, 21 November 2010 11:15 AM

Its no problem as long as Barrack Obama is with Pro LTTE.

MK Sunday, 21 November 2010 11:13 AM

Nice picture

TERRENCE B. DE SILVA Sunday, 21 November 2010 11:10 AM

Journo barred from pro-LTTE meeting - THIS IS WHEN THE PRESS GETS "DE-PRESSED" WITH THE PRO-LTTE SUPPORTERS.

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Journo barred from meeting

Comments - 21

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