Sri Lanka: HRD target of smear campaign in media after engaging with UN Human Rights Council
Event- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Jan 30, 2011
- Event Description
Mr. Visuvalingam Kirupaharan has been subjected to harassment and intimidation as a result of an ongoing smear campaign against him, by various newspapers and websites in Sri Lanka. It is alleged that the articles are published in pro-Government newspapers, in English, Singhalese, and Tamil. As a result of this smear campaign, Mr Kirupaharan has received numerous threatening phone calls. Mr. Kirupaharan has engaged with various UN mechanisms and brought to the attention of the UN Human Rights Council the situation on human rights in Sri Lanka. He exposed the alleged lack of adequate investigations into human rights violations. On 30 January 2011, a Sri Lankan newspaper called Divaina published an article claiming that Mr. Kirupaharan, along with 20 others, were wanted by Interpol for his alleged contact with people from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). However, Interpol reportedly holds no information concerning Mr. Kirupaharan in its files. The articles reportedly branded Mr. Kirupaharan as a "traitor" stating that he is an agent of the LTTE and suggested that "these people should be kept out of the UN". The publication of this article reportedly forms part of an ongoing smear campaign against Mr. Kirupaharan. It is alleged that a similar article was previously published by Divaina on 21 March 2010, labelling Mr. Kirupaharan a non-patriot and a terrorist, who had betrayed Sri Lanka and should therefore not be permitted access to the UN. The article was printed alongside a photograph of Mr. Kirupaharan which was taken as he attended the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 12 March 2010. The photograph was reportedly taken by a driver for the Sri Lankan Permanent Mission whose name is known by the Special Rapporteur, while Mr. Kirupaharan was speaking to another Sri Lankan human rights defenders at gate 40 of the UN Palais des Nations. Approximately 15 minutes after the photograph was taken, Mr. Kirupaharan was approached by the same man who had photographed him, who asked him to confirm his name. The man then allegedly asked Mr. Kirupaharan to accompany him to a quieter location within the Palais de Nations, where they spoke briefly. It is alleged that the objective of this conversation was to threaten Mr. Kirupaharan.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Vilification
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Event Location
Latitude: 6.92708
Longitude: 79.86124
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
Mr. Visuvalingam Kirupaharan has been subjected to harassment and intimidation as a result of an ongoing smear campaign against him, by various newspapers and websites in Sri Lanka. It is alleged that the articles are published in pro-Government newspapers, in English, Singhalese, and Tamil. As a result of this smear campaign, Mr Kirupaharan has received numerous threatening phone calls. Mr. Kirupaharan has engaged with various UN mechanisms and brought to the attention of the UN Human Rights Council the situation on human rights in Sri Lanka. He exposed the alleged lack of adequate investigations into human rights violations. On 30 January 2011, a Sri Lankan newspaper called Divaina published an article claiming that Mr. Kirupaharan, along with 20 others, were wanted by Interpol for his alleged contact with people from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). However, Interpol reportedly holds no information concerning Mr. Kirupaharan in its files. The articles reportedly branded Mr. Kirupaharan as a "traitor" stating that he is an agent of the LTTE and suggested that "these people should be kept out of the UN". The publication of this article reportedly forms part of an ongoing smear campaign against Mr. Kirupaharan. It is alleged that a similar article was previously published by Divaina on 21 March 2010, labelling Mr. Kirupaharan a non-patriot and a terrorist, who had betrayed Sri Lanka and should therefore not be permitted access to the UN. The article was printed alongside a photograph of Mr. Kirupaharan which was taken as he attended the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 12 March 2010. The photograph was reportedly taken by a driver for the Sri Lankan Permanent Mission whose name is known by the Special Rapporteur, while Mr. Kirupaharan was speaking to another Sri Lankan human rights defenders at gate 40 of the UN Palais des Nations. Approximately 15 minutes after the photograph was taken, Mr. Kirupaharan was approached by the same man who had photographed him, who asked him to confirm his name. The man then allegedly asked Mr. Kirupaharan to accompany him to a quieter location within the Palais de Nations, where they spoke briefly. It is alleged that the objective of this conversation was to threaten Mr. Kirupaharan.