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 Journalist Parameshwary Munusamy walked out of the Terrorism Investigations Department on the morning of Thursday, March 22, 15 kilos lighter in weight. A greater weight was off the mind of this 24 year old journalist when the Supreme Court ordered her release last Wednesday after the Attorney General said there was no evidence against her to frame charges of having links with the LTTE.
Her release came on the orders of the Attorney General who said there was no substantial evidence of any involvement with the LTTE.
As she walked out of the Magistrate's Court of Colombo the following day, free of all the dreaded allegations, media activists Sunanda Deshapriya, Sita Ranjani, Sarath Balasuriya representatives of all media organisations, the Free Media Movement, and the Working Journalists Association gathered around her.
It was a very personal story, a happy story. Welcomed into the media world again with a garland made of pens, Parameshwari beamed with happiness more at her freedom regained and heaved a sigh of relief as the allegations crumbled and justice rose to her rescue. Clearly, Parameshwari Munusamy has made an indelible mark in the history of journalism in this country with her courage and strength of character.
Media campaign
This dedicated journalist of the much tormented Maubima newspaper who covered the crime beat in a sad turn of events was not only made to suffer criminal injustice when she was arrested without warning on November 23, but also great pain of mind and loss of face. For, certain sections of the media itself began a campaign against her branding her as a 'terrorist' and sensationalised her arrest. Officers who had examined her possessions attributed the notes in her reporter's notebook to information gathered for the LTTE.
"They were false allegations but there was no one who would believe me. I was taken away along with my roommate Susanthi in a white coloured van. The men were not in uniform and we did not know where we were being taken. Later we saw uniforms and suspected that they were from the Special Task Force," said Parameshwari recalling the events of Thursday November 23. She remembered the constant lump in her throat and the dread in her heart as she was driven into the Terrorism Investigations Department without any intimation or explanation.
End of an ordeal
Parameshwari Munusamy was arrested when she accompanied her friend in distress, Susanthi Thambirajah when the latter received a telephone call to come near the Savoy cinema if she wanted to see her brother. Susanthi Thambirajah had been a newcomer to the boarding house in Ramakrishna Road in which Parameshwari lived since June 2005.
But on Thursday the ordeal was over for the happy go lucky journalist who dared to be different by working for a Sinhala newspaper - the Maubima. "But it is a trauma that will never leave my mind. I was trapped in the Terrorism Investigations Department with no access to what was happening in the outside world. I was not allowed to read any newspapers and not allowed to watch television. I received a book to read from the Red Cross and that is the only reading material I had for these four months. All the women in there received their toiletries from the Red Cross too," explained Parameshwari.
Remembering with sadness her cell mates, Parameshwari said that she was called 'reporter' in the TID and all the other LTTE suspects did not even allow her to hang her clothes. "They were very respectful and helpful. But they did not tell me anything about the activities because they said they were frightened that I will publish such information in the newspaper," said Parameshwari.
Scary place
"The Terrorism Investigations Department is a very frightening place. I did not know whether it was day or night. We were cut off from the whole world. There were women guards too. We were interrogated, but I was never beaten or physically abused. During the first few days of interrogation they were very frightful, they shouted too. The army, navy, STF, CID and NIB visited us for questioning at different times," said Parameshwari shuddering at the memory of her life behind bars.
The cell had been small and Parameshwari said that the worst discomfort was sleeping on the floor sans bedding. "It was impossible to move without banging on to the other cell mates. I felt so sorry for the girls in there. Many of them were without parents and had got themselves in there. No one ever came to see them. They live sad lives and cry too for they have no life," said Parameshwari. "I became friends with Manohari, Vijitha, Karunanayaki, Rajeshwari, Thawalamathi, and Christina" she said.
"None of these girls have clothes nor did they have any fancy items or food and I felt very sorry for them. There were many girls in there but the number of men in there were staggering. I was told that the men were being beaten, but I did not see anything while I was there," said Parameshwari.
Giving an insight into a department that the general public have no access to, Parameshwari said that they were given paratha, bread or noodles and dhal was an every-morning 'occurrence'; and packets of rice for lunch and dinner. Though the food was wholly unpalatable, the staff of the Terrorism Investigations Department had left a good taste. "They deserve commendation," she said.
"Doing their job"
"I can only say that they were merely doing their job. They were very nice to me and I remember once when I asked for a yoghurt they bought me one. As time went on they were friendly. I wish to specially mention the new DIG who got off his vehicle and approached me on Thursday as I was leaving the premises. I think his name is Wickremasinghe. I will also not forget Chief Inspector Jayewardena," said Parameshwari.
"In a way the staff and the officers and security personnel of the Terrorism Investigations Department helped me more than certain sections of the 'government's kept media' who wanted to somehow get sensational and throw mud at me. They did not even spare a fellow journalist..." said a disappointed Parameshwari.
"But however nice the people in the TID were, my heart and mind were with my family. I wanted to get out of there and go home. I missed my newspaper, missed writing stories. I desperately longed to read a newspaper," said Parameshwari who was not able to read a newspaper from November 23 to March 22.
Desperate
"I cried everyday. I was desperate. I wanted to tell them that I had nothing to do with terrorism, that I was a journalist. But they did not believe me. I spent my time crying and thinking. For the first few days even my parents were not allowed to see me. When I saw them, my heart threatened to break into pieces at the anguish in their faces. My father looked more feeble and my mother's eyes were an eternal pool of tears," said Parameshwari breaking down at the thought of the nightmare and the grief and heartache it had caused her ageing parents, and her siblings.
"While expressing my disappointment at the conduct of some fellow journalists who were quick to paint me as a terrorist even before a simple inquiry, I have to thank the journalists and the newspapers who have stood by me and have helped and comforted my parents," said Parameshwari. Her mother joined in, thanking these journalists - the Maubima newspaper, Sirasa TV, Shakthi TV, Sooryan FM and all others.
Thursday, March 22 was a happy day for all journalists, for it was a day when a fellow journalist came out from an ordeal which also involved authorities scrutinising her notebooks and her notes - paraphernalia that all journalists have. It was a clear case of mixing up journalism with terrorism.
For flower merchant Selliah Munusamy and his wife Raman Valiamma, it was a day filled with fragrance. "I am taking her home to feed her with all the food that she likes to eat. All our friends and relatives will gather in our home today," said Raman Valiamma wiping away the tears.
Maubima Editor begged them to take him and not her
Maubima Editor, veteran journalist Tillekeratna Kuruwita Bandara who had made several pleas to the Terrorism Investigations Department to take him in and release Parameshwari Munusamy appeared as if it was he who had been released from a nightmare.
Happily welcoming his star journalist back to the editorial department, Editor Kuruwita Bandara went on to question the credibility of media persons who had earlier labelled Parameshwari a 'terrorist.'
"Every person is innocent until proven guilty of the allegations. And it is a decision by the court that will prove so. But in the case of Parameshwari Munusamy, even before there was an inquiry, some newspapers labelled her a terrorist. It was an inhumane act and now that she is innocent of all these allegations, my question is 'What is the credibility of these media persons and newspapers?'" queried Editor Kuruwita Bandara.
While speaking of the need to re-examine the responsibilities of the media by these journalists, Editor Bandara said that he bows his head in deep respect to the Court and to the system of justice in the country and said that he is reassured that justice truly prevails, as it has in the case of Parameshwari Munusamy.
'Another foolish move by the government' - Sita Ranjani
Journalist Sita Ranjani, a strong activist involved in the protection of the rights of journalists said Thursday that the arrest of journalist Parameshwari Munusamy was another foolish move by the government. "This is a wrongful arrest. She was taken into custody without any allegations and the arrest had no meaning. It was clearly done to harass the Maubima newspaper. Now this arrest has only made the Maubima newspaper even more popular," said Ranjini.
After months of trudging from their Gampola residence to various departments, newspapers and authorities in a desperate bid to release their daughter, it was finally her fellow journalists, colleagues, editors and management of Maubima newspaper who took Parameshwari's plea to court, where justice prevailed for a journalist, opening a new chapter in the life of Parameshwari Munusamy.
She was a victim of a persistent campaign of hate
by government and some media - Free Media Movement
The Free Media Movement in a statement Thursday expressed relief and elation over the release of journalist Munusamy Parameshwari and thanked the local and international media organisations, the free media and media rights activists who campaigned for her release. "We wish to especially thank the International Federation of Journalists and other leading international press freedom organisations who organised a worldwide campaign to release Parameshwari," the statement said.
The statement went on to say; "We underscore that Parameshwari was released without any charges against her. She was subject to and a victim of a persistent campaign of hate by government ministers, select media and ultra nationalist voices who blatantly paraded lies and baseless allegations in a reprehensible attempt to mould public opinion against. We note that the day after she was arrested three Sinhala newspapers carried headline stories stating that as a result of the statements to the police by her female friend, who was also arrested along with her, they were able to recover 10 kg of high explosives and 10 claymore mines.."
The statement added "Even worse, several government ministers went on record saying that she was being held in custody because of her connection with terrorists.."
"Parameshwari's release is a triumph for truth and justice and also demonstrates the clear danger of the Draconian anti-terrorism and emergency regulations which are a serious and continuing threat to media freedom in Sri Lanka," the statement warned.
Sunday Leader
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