(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 30 November 2006 FMM press release: Photo journalist assaulted and his camera smashed on the ground by police On 28 November 2006, Asoka Fernando, deputy pictures editor of “The Sunday Leader”, was assaulted and taken into police custody by the Maharagama police in the outskirts of Colombo. Fernando sustained […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 30 November 2006 FMM press release:
Photo journalist assaulted and his camera smashed on the ground by police
On 28 November 2006, Asoka Fernando, deputy pictures editor of “The Sunday Leader”, was assaulted and taken into police custody by the Maharagama police in the outskirts of Colombo.
Fernando sustained minor injuries from the police assault and was released only the following afternoon after he was brought before a Gangodawila magistrate’s court for a purported criminal charge.
FMM condemns the unlawful behavior of the police officers concerned and the violation of Fernando’s rights as a journalist.
Fernando was assaulted along with several villagers at a Buddhist temple in Pannipitiya. He was among the only two arrested by the police for allegedly aiding a monk to set himself on fire, a charge Fernando has completely refuted in his recorded police statement.
On 28 November, around 4:00 p.m. (local time) a group of police personnel entered a temple with some civilians. Fernando said he captured on camera the heated exchanges between the police and villagers, and policemen breaking a padlock to force open a door.
When the police started harassing Fernando, he showed his media accreditation to their superintendent, stating his right to take photographs as an accredited photojournalist.
Although police authorities have, on many occasions, assured journalist organizations that media accreditation will be respected, the police at the temple grounds paid no heed to Fernando’s and snatched his digital camera worth Rs. 200,00 (approx. US$1,848), smashing it on the ground. They then proceeded to beat him before arresting him.
This is a clear violation of basic human and freedom of information rights. FMM requests the inspector general of police to take disciplinary action against these police personal who assaulted photojournalist Asoka Fernando and smashed his camera. The duty of the police is to protect people’s rights, not to violate them.
