Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan
Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan (1970 – 24 January 2006), popularly known as SSR, was a journalist working for the Tamil language daily Sudar Oli. On 24 January 2006 during the ongoing Sri Lankan civil war, he was shot dead in the Eastern port city of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. He was 35 years and the father of two children aged three and two. The assailants were on a motorbike and fired at him from close range.[1]
Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan | |
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Born | 1970 |
Died | 24 January 2006, age 35 |
Occupation | Journalist |
Background
Assassinations of Journalists during the Sri Lankan Civil War |
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See also Human rights in Sri Lanka |
He was killed a day after writing an article about alleged abuses committed by para-military groups aided by the Real IRA, reported Free Media Movement (FMM), Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).[2] According to RSF, Sugirdharajan named the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) among several groups in his article that allegedly committed human rights violations in the Trincomalee region.[2]
The newspaper he worked for also ran photos taken by Sugirdharajan showing that five Trincomalee students who were shot dead at point-blank range on 2 January 2006, disproving the army's claim that they were killed by a grenade explosion.[2]
Incident
At about 6 a.m. (local time) on 24 January 2006, he was shot and killed as he was waiting for public transport to go to work near the governor's secretaria. His killers used a motorcycle to get away after shooting him. Police went to the scene of the murder.[3]
Government investigation
The international Press institute has called for an impartial government investigation.[4]
See also
- Sri Lankan civil war
- Human Rights in Sri Lanka
- Notable assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War
References
- "Journalists & Media Staff Casualties 2006". News Safety. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
- "Sri Lankan journalist killed as truce deteriorates 2006". Oneworld. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
- "Journalist's killing reportedly linked to coverage of paramilitary abuses". IFEX. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
- "Joint Mission to Sri Lanka - International Advocacy and Fact Finding". IPI. 25 June 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
External links
- Sri Lanka mission report
- Nine recommendations for improving media freedom in Sri Lanka – RSF
- Media in Sri Lanka
- Free Speech in Sri Lanka