Many professional journalist associations in
Sri Lanka told the Indian High Commissioner (ambassador) in
Colombo that since both India and Sri Lanka hold the freedom
to express opinions as a fundamental right in their supreme
law the envoy should make his good offices to get the robbed
copies of the film “Prabhakaran” released from
the studio immediately. Injured Thushara Peiris said, I was
kept in a room in the laboratory and was not allowed to talk
to the media." In a joint statement the journalists
associations told Colombo’s Indian High Commissioner
Alok Prasad, “We believe that right to hold and express
opinions are fundamental rights accepted by both our
countries (India and Sri Lanka) and enshrined in our
respective constitutions".
In the joint
memorandum addressed to the envoy the Sri Lankan journalists
said, that creating films or any other cultural production
connected to a social, economic or political theme is to
exercise "this inviolable right".
The
journalists further asserted, "It is in this context
that we believe the recent attack against Thushara Peiris is
a violation of that right...We wish to register our disquiet
about this incident."
In an earlier report the
victim Thushara Peiris told newsmen , "They punched me
on the eye, on the nose and hit me on my head. I fell on the
ground," describing the attack on him by allegedly pro-
LTTE elements in Chennai.
In their joint statement
the Sri Lankan journalists thanked the security personnel who
had come to rescue film director of the film Prabhakaran from
the marauding politically motivated mob who prevented further
physical harm to him and said, “Our organisations have
been informed that the master tape of the film is still at
the Studios and we urgently request the intervention of your
good offices to return these master tapes.”
A
scene from film Prabhakaran While the journalists were
protesting in Colombo pro-LTTE groups in the DMK coalition
government and who were allegedly involved in the assault of
the film director were bringing pressure on the Tamil Nadu
government not to release the illegally seized film. A group
comprising Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president
Thol Thirumavalavan, his sidekick Vanniyarasu, pro-LTTE
director Seeman, Dravidar Iyakka Tamilar Peravai president
Suba Veerapandian reportedly met the Chief Minister Muthuvel
Karunanidhi in this regard.
A scene from film
Prabhakaran Indicating the film “Pabhakaran” has
already become a hot political issue in Tamil Nadu , a Tamil
Nadu Congress leader Ilayankudi S Shabir Ali lodged a
complaint with the Chennai Commissioner of Police Nanchil
Kumaran to take action against director Seeman, Dravidar
Iyakka Tamilar Peravai president Suba Veerapandian and VCK
functionary Vanniyarasu for opposing the film as it would
amount to supporting the terrorist outfit. They reportedly
threatened a fast in front of the police station if no action
is taken against the obvious illegal act.
Thushara
Peiris , whose company spent 35 million Rupees in making the
film told a Sri Lankan Sunday newspaper that after the attack
at Chenniai Gemini Colour Laboratories where he was
processing the Tamil version of the film " I was kept in
a room in the laboratory and was not allowed to talk to the
media." Thushara said , after the assault a meeting was
summoned with the film technicians, police and officials of
the Indian Censor Board and had demanded to watch the film to
which Thushara had agreed. However Thushara was made to sign
a letter stating that if it contained any scene against
Tamils or terrorists it would not be allowed to be screened
in India, the newspaper said. During the attack the mobsters
were shouting to burn the film, he said.
Many
analysts in Colombo said the pro-LTTE elements in Tamil Nadu
certainly did not want the Tamil population to know how Tamil
children are being treated by the Tamil Tigers and hence this
seizing of the film occurred taking law into their own
hands.
By Walter Jayawardhana
- Asian
Tribune
