PRAGEETH: MISSING FOR 200 DAYS

Video cortesy: Reporters Sans Frontières

By CRNI Director | Cartoonists Rights Network International
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A number of major free speech organizations are joining together to demand government accountability for Sri Lankan cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda who was disappeared on his way home from the office in Colombo almost 200 days ago.

Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka has taken the initiative on this effort and CRNI partners with them in seeking a resolution to the mystery of Prageeth's disappearance.

"Two hundred days have passed since Sri Lankan journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda disappeared. Prageeth, who regularly contributed to LankaeNews web site, went missing 24th January 2010. Prageeth is a political analyst and a cartoonist known for his outspoken views critical of the government of Sri Lanka.

Since Prageeth’s disappearance his wife, along with media rights and human rights groups, has continuously urged the Government of Sri Lanka to reveal his whereabouts. The Cartoonists Rights Network International acknowledged her relentless campaign by bestowing a Special Recognition award for her spirited challenge to the Sri Lankan government to account for her disappeared husband.

While the police and other authorities have failed in providing any information that leads to finding Prageeth, they haven't taken any steps to counter or investigate freely circulated disinformation that he is in hiding. Whatever took place on the night of 24th January 2010, it is the duty of Sri Lanka’s government, led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to find where Prageeth is and inform his wife Sandya and the world. The inability to do so inevitably affirms Sandya’s repeated assertion that she holds the government of Sri Lanka responsible for the disappearance of her husband.

Therefore, on the 12th of August 2010, the International Day of Solidarity for Prageeth, standing beside Sandya, we, the undersigned organizations, call upon the government of Sri Lanka to fulfil our reasonable demand.

President Rajapaksa: Find journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda and give him back to us!"

Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI)

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

International Media Support (IMS)

Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS)

Media Legal Defense Initiative (MLDI)

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

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