By Irving Feng
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Human rights organizations around the world are urging the United Arab Emirates (UAE) not to deport Tamil journalist, Rathimohan Lohini, back to Sri Lanka where she may face torture and other reprisals for her affiliation with the rebel group.
Lohini, along with 19 other Tamil refugees in the UAE, were given the deadline of April 11th to leave the country. Lohini faces deportation from the UAE despite enjoying UN refugee status which gives her the right to stay. Because of her status, she should be afforded basic rights under international refugee law and international human rights law.
Lohini, an ethnic Tamil who was born and raised in Northern Sri Lanka, lived in the Kilinichchi District which the Tamil rebels retained control over during their bloody, twenty six year civil war with the current Sri Lankan central government.
She went to work for the National Television of Tamil Eelam (NTT) in June of 2006. She attained the post of main female news anchor and gained notoriety and fame with the domestic news watchers. Lohini left the television network in December of 2008, and fearing for her life, she fled Sri Lanka in April of 2009.
Lohini knew that her post as a Tamil news anchor woman and her regular appearances on the evening news would make her easily identifiable to the military and central Sri Lankan government authorities. She fled to Dubai in October of 2012, believing that it would be a safe alternative to persecution back in Sri Lanka.
Reporters Without Borders and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka both expressed their concerns regarding Lohini’s forced deportation from the UAE back to Sri Lanka. Because of the current political climate and human rights abuses toward the Tamil minority and former rebels, the consequences of Lohini’s forced return are feared to be dire.
The two human rights groups pleaded with UNHRC to at least stay the decision of forced deportation citing that the action by the UAE is a complete violation of international human rights and refugee law. The risks of torture and any bodily harm are apparent as evidenced by the finding of a Tamil reporter in 2009 who was bound and naked.
The reporter was a colleague of Lohini’s and was identified only as Isaipriya. Lohini is currently being held at a refugee camp in Dubai which is operated by UNHCR in cooperation with Dubai immigration awaiting her ultimate fate.
For further information, please see:
BBC – UAE urged not to deport Sri Lanka journalist Lohini – 10 April 2013
Colombo Telegraph – UAE Urged Not To Deport Tiger TV Journalist Rathimohini – 10 April 2013
Committee to Protect Journalists – UAE may deport refugee Tamil journalist to Sri Lanka – 10 April 2013
Tamil Guardian – UAE urged not to deport Tamil journalist – 10 April 2013
